The telescope serves as a valuable tool to educate the public about astronomy. Dr. Speck believes that astronomy is exciting and serves as a “gateway science” in which people may discover that they enjoy science and further pursue it. Dr. Speck also notes that astronomy, more than any other science, is almost entirely publicly funded and it is “important to convey to people why they should pay for that.” Dr. Speck has made community outreach an important part of her job. Elementary school students from around the region visit the observatory to learn about astronomy and look through thermal telescopes to view the sun. Every October the department hosts a “Haunted Observatory” event, in which children dress as Hogwarts characters and speak to volunteers dressed as dead astronomers. One thing everyone can be excited about is that on the 21st of next August, Columbia will be one of the best cities in the nation to view a total solar
The telescope serves as a valuable tool to educate the public about astronomy. Dr. Speck believes that astronomy is exciting and serves as a “gateway science” in which people may discover that they enjoy science and further pursue it. Dr. Speck also notes that astronomy, more than any other science, is almost entirely publicly funded and it is “important to convey to people why they should pay for that.” Dr. Speck has made community outreach an important part of her job. Elementary school students from around the region visit the observatory to learn about astronomy and look through thermal telescopes to view the sun. Every October the department hosts a “Haunted Observatory” event, in which children dress as Hogwarts characters and speak to volunteers dressed as dead astronomers. One thing everyone can be excited about is that on the 21st of next August, Columbia will be one of the best cities in the nation to view a total solar