Shaw-IAU Workshops by the OAE

The sun, moon and stars have remained a fascination from time immemorial but have not entered the classroom in the strict sense. Basic concepts on the reason for seasons, meaning of equinoxes and solstices, or simply the meaning of the Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn have remained elusive for many people. Our festivals, literature (both classics and folk), proverbs commonly used have some astronomical ideas incorporated in them. Thanks to the advances in space technology, the knowledge on planets have escaped from the clutches of the astrologers. Still, the planetary events like conjunctions and oppositions need a clearer understanding.
Here I plan to describe how different concepts of astronomy can be integrated in teaching all age groups not necessarily within the four walls of the classroom.

Biography:

Dr B S Shylaja is a visiting scientist at the Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, where she held various positions before retiring as the Director. She introduced various methods of teaching for age groups 8 to 20+. The planetarium projector itself served as the tool for practical sessions; senior students were taken to the nearby observatory to use 1m telescope. As a professional observational astronomer, she studied the WR stars, novae, magnetic stars and comets.