Shaw-IAU Workshops by the OAE

In an effort to bring the awe and wonder of gorgeous astrophotography to all of our students, Brisbane Girls Grammar School has integrated observatory work into our Science curriculum. This presentation will explain how we use a series of ‘Observatory Modules’ in Years 7-9 to teach our students about the universe, telescopes, light, colour, CCD imaging, and image processing as we help them to generate more than 300 astrophotography images every year. The talk will also include an introduction to our school’s remote and robotic telescope facility (the Dorothy Hill Observatory), an outline of struggles that we’ve encountered along the way, and a plan for future outreach and development of our observational astronomy program.

About Gerri Bernard

Gerri Bernard is the Head of Curriculum Development - Science at Brisbane Girls Grammar School and a Senior Physics teacher. She previously completed her B.S. in Physics at Southern Illinois University and her M.S.E. in Materials Science at the University of Michigan. Ms Bernard is responsible for the development of her Secondary School's astronomy curriculum and directs the research undertaken at her school's Dorothy Hill Observatory. Her personal research interests include astronomy in secondary education, student astronomy research in the context of secondary education, and RR Lyrae variables.

Watch a recording of this talk (external link)