Robotic telescopes are the topic of the University of Birmingham's next Patrick Moore Lecture on 6 December.
Dr Paul Roche, Director of the Faulkes Telescope, Cardiff University, will be taking to the stage at the University's School of Physics to discuss the work of the Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network (LCOGTN), which is building a global network of robotic telescopes for research-based science education.
The public lecture, entitled: 'Faulkes Telescope Project' starts at 7.30pm in the Poynting Large Lecture Theatre in the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University's Edgbaston campus.
Dr Roche represents the Faulkes Telescope Project - the education arm of (LCOGTN). Its aim is to provide free access to robotic telescopes and a fully supported education programme to encourage teachers and students to engage in research-based science education.
LCOGTN operates a network of research class robotic telescopes. Currently there are two telescopes, one in Hawaii and the other in Australia. These telescopes are available to teachers for them to use as part of their curricular or extra-curricular activities and are fully supported by a range of educational materials and a team of educators and professional astronomers.
The 8th Patrick Moore Lecture takes place on Thursday 6 December at 7.30pm, with refreshments from 7pm.
Ends
Notes to Editors
Talk, Tea and Telescope is a series of public lectures organised by the University of Birmingham’s student society, Astrosoc, and the School of Physics and Astronomy, funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council. The lectures generally take place on a Thursday evening and are followed (dependent on the weather) by night sky observing with a combination of telescopes focusing on the Astronomical society's historic Grubb telescope (dating from 1872). For further information please visit: www.sr.bham.ac.uk/outreach/talktelescope/
www.talkandtelescope.org.uk
The Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope Network (LCOGTN) is an independent, non-profit private operating foundation based in Santa Barbara, California, that is building a global network of remotely operated telescopes, to be used for both educational and scientific research purposes. LCOGTN operates the largest telescopes in the world partially, but consistently, devoted to astronomy education. LCOGTN is building a global network of 18 x 1-meter diameter telescopes (the Research Network - 18 'scopes in total) in clusters of 3 at each of 6 observatory sites. It will initially deploy clusters of 4 x 0.4m diameter telescopes at 7 observatory sites (the Education Network - 28 'scopes in total) distributed around the world, over the next few years.
Media information:
Kate Chapple, Press Officer, University of Birmingham, tel 0121 414 2772 or 07789 921164.