Open AccessReally Reaching the Public, Face‐to‐Face
Author(s) -
Foukal Peter
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
eos, transactions american geophysical union
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 2324-9250
pISSN - 0096-3941
DOI - 10.1002/2014eo070004
Subject(s) - wonder , face (sociological concept) , observatory , outreach , feeling , active listening , media studies , history , political science , psychology , sociology , astronomy , physics , social psychology , social science , communication , law
This past summer I was able to provide a young couple with their first view of Saturn through a telescope, and afterward they told me what a profound experience this look into space had been for them. It wasn't the first time I'd seen such an emotional response since I opened the East Point Solar Observatory, a small public observatory in Nahant, Mass., in 1995. But listening to them reminded me how lucky we scientists are to pursue a career that brings out such warm feelings in our neighbors. It also made me wonder whether the effectiveness of our national approach to public outreach might be increased by more face‐to‐face contact between scientists and the public.