Orwell Astronomical Society (Ipswich)
Workshops/Talks
Many societies have considered how to increase participation of members in activities. In late 1997 - early 1998, Ted Sampson considered how to encourage members of OASI to become more active in the Society's activities. Following discussion with many members, he proposed running a series of informal interactive workshops (IIW) to publicise basic techniques of astronomical observation.
The committee discussed and endorsed Ted's proposal at a meeting on 09 May 1998. Ted and Ken Goward (later FRAS and chairman of OASI 2003-08) canvassed members of OASI by means of a questionnaire distributed with the June 1998 Newsletter. The pair asked for expressions of interest in attending IIWs and suggestions for topics. Some 25% of the membership, of all ages, levels of experience and knowledge in astronomy, gave encouraging responses and many members offered to present sessions. The majority of subjects suggested were related to practical problems in locating and observing objects in the night sky, and this was reflected in the program for the first series of workshops.
A steering group was formed to organise a series of IIWs, and the first, Tools of the Trade: Star Maps, Charts, Books, Magazines, Planispheres, etc was held on 09 September 1998 in a classroom at Orwell Park School. The IIWs immediately proved to be a great success.
Initially, IIWs lived up to their name and were highly interactivity, with many members making ad hoc contributions. However the nature of the events gradually evolved towards informal talks, with limited participation by the audience. As access to Orwell Park School became increasingly difficult, the venue was changed to Nacton Village Hall. In late 2005, Ted stepped down as organiser, Mike Whybray took over, and the IIWs were re-titled simply Workshops. As OASI organised increasing numbers of events at Newbourne Village Hall, this became the venue of choice for Workshops. At the AGM on 16 January 2021, the committee agreed to rename the events Newbourne Talks.
The format is flexible and can be adapted to suit individual presenters and topics. Formats adopted to date include traditional lectures, practical demonstrations, equipment teach-ins, guided observing nights and film shows. Topics to date have been equally diverse, as may be seen from the list of workshops to date. Some workshops are enlivened by the use of demonstration equipment, much of it home-made, with the inevitable risk of malfunction!
Suggestions for workshops/talks are always welcome, and offers to host an event even more so. Mini-workshops/talks, where two or three are scheduled during one evening are also welcome. Previous experience in presenting is not required, as the audience, usually numbering in excess of two dozen, is invariably supportive.
The venue is Newbourne Village Hall.
For more information about workshops/talks, please contact the coordinator, Mike Whybray via workshops@oasi.org.uk.
Photos from some workshops/talks are below.
Ray Larsen demonstrates an optical bench for aligning binoculars, 11 March 2015
Setting up a scale model of Jupiter and Io for workshop on estimating the speed of light by Rømer's method, 13 October 2013
Workshop on construction and use of Dobsonian telescopes, 11 April 2012
Equipment for estimating the speed of light by mechanical methods, 11 January 2012
Coffee break during workshop on astronomical imaging, 02 November 2011
Teach-in on use of the Millennium Telescope, 13 October 2010
James Appleton