"Starry Nights @ SFU Forever!" was an open house held on Saturday September 18 2010 to raise awareness of the university's project to build an SFU Teaching Observatory and Science Outreach Centre. The event brought out more than 1,000 people who signed the guest book for the afternoon and evening program of events, which ran from 2-9PM.
This turned into an extraordinary volunteer effort with participation by departments from across the university and by many community organizations. The Vancouver Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) provided a key initial impetus for the event by agreeing to host its annual "Astronomy Day" public outreach event at SFU. The RASC Astronomy Day program included its annual Paul Sykes Memorial lecture, held in Images Theatre, which was the keynote event for the day's program. The lecture was presented by Dr. Jim Whiteway of York University, who was principal investigator for the Canadian weather instruments on board the Mars Phoenix Lander. Notable attendees included SFU President Andrew Petter, Acting Mayor of Burnaby Sav Dhaliwal, and Burnaby Councilor Pietro Calendino, all three of whom gave welcoming remarks at the start of the RASC lecture in Images Theatre.
The main venue for the afternoon program was the North Concourse of the Academic Quadrangle, which was filled from end to end with over 30 hands-on activity and display tables, and which was thronged by guests throughout the afternoon. Events were also held outdoors, as far as Convocation Mall, and the day was capped off by a "Family BBQ", by donation, in the outdoor AQ courtyard from 5-7PM, followed by several showings of the movie "Apollo 13" in Images Theatre and Saywell Hall, from about 7-9PM.
Six families also earned telescopes that day, having previously attended a daytime astronomy workshop at SFU, which teaches kids some basics about the night sky and telescopes, plus a total of four Starry Nights @ SFU star parties or theme events (such as the one held today!). They were the Ge's, Sutherland's, Bilawey's, Equia's, Dorvaults, and the Lui's.
The logistics were a ginormous challenge, but thanks to the many volunteers, and some days without sleep, it came off! The departments of biology, chemistry, earth science, and physics organized numerous hands-on science experiments and displays. RASC Vancouver also set up display tables, held general-interest talks, and staffed a solar telescope in a courtyard off the North AQ Concourse. The SFU student astronomy club, led by its President Ciara Morgan-Feir and Vice President Alanna Shuh, organized one of the most popular activities of the day, a "Solar System Race" for kids, with a dozen stations that ran from the AQ interior concourses to Convocation Mall. About 75 SFU student volunteers (organized by Dugan O'Neil) helped with setup and takedown, and served as "Yellow Jacket" escorts and guides. SFU Ancillary Services, Facilities Management, IT Services, LIDC, Parking, and Security provided the extensive logistical support that was absolutely essential to the success of the event. And finally, but most notably, the Burnaby Mountain Business Association and SFU Community Trust organized the wonderful "Family BBQ" (other sponsors included the Vancouver Telescope Centre, the Simon Fraser Student Society, Cornerstone Printing, and TRIUMF.
Look below for lots of pictures of people and activities, along with the action-packed schedule for the day, and the "official" poster for the event!
Special thanks to Robin Munshaw, Dixon Tam, and Victor Thomas
for these great images!
