On this episode we talk to Virginia Pacheco and Professor Karim Jaffer about outreach, inclusion and diversity!
Virginia is a third-year Honours Physics and Mathematics student at Bishop's University. Her involvement in outreach began when she first joined John Abbott College's Space Club and the RASC Montreal Centre in 2018. She is one of the co-founders of the Bishop's University Astronomy, Mathematics & Physics Society, and she is currently serving as the Chair of the Inclusivity & Diversity Committee at RASC National.
Prof. Karim Jaffer has been a member of the Physics faculty at John Abbott College (JAC) since 2006 and began teaching the Introductory Astronomy course in 2016. Employing a unique student-directed & just-in-time teaching approach, the Introductory Astronomy course has evolved to incorporate current astronomical data and research, including experiential learning opportunities with the local Montreal Centre of the RASC (Royal Astronomical Society of Canada). Several students have had their work published in SkyNews magazine and have won local research awards for their work in the Course. This approach has led to the JAC campus embracing Astronomy observing activities, outreach, and Astronomy-related projects in various disciplines, including other Science departments and Visual Arts. Prof. Jaffer has been the Public Events Coordinator for the RASC Montreal Centre since 2017, collaborating with local groups and institutions to increase Astronomy Outreach in Montreal including many partnerships with Space Concordia. He has been a member and project coordinator in the National RASC Education & Public Outreach Committee since 2019. More recently Prof. Jaffer was appointed as an Ambassador for the Explore Alliance, presenting Astronomy Education segments in online Global Star Parties weekly, and is the only Canadian panelist for the Reach Out and Touch Space Show on AstroRadio UK reaching 300,000+ listeners weekly...with more projects and Outreach coming in the near-future ⭐🌛
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