The Astronomical Midlands or AstroLands is an education and public engagement programme launched in 2019. An initiative of Trinity College Dublin and funded through the Science Foundation Ireland Discover Programme and ESERO Ireland, AstroLands uses the recently constructed Irish Low Frequency Array (I-LOFAR) and Education Centre at Birr Castle Demesne to connect with students, teachers and members of the public in rural communities in the Midlands.
Astronomical Midlands embarks on three key initiatives:
Space4Exploration
Creating an engaging, inspirational and multi-use space in the I-LOFAR Education Centre and engaging the local community with public talks and events on space, astronomy and related topics.
This includes tours of the historical Leviathan and modern I-LOFAR telescopes in Birr, as well as collaboration with groups including Pint of Science Ireland and Astronomy on Tap to host free public events in Birr and online. We also connect with local and national festivals and cultural events including Culture Night, European Researchers Night, Science Week, and more.
Public tour from Leviathan to I-LOFAR
Investigating how craters are formed on the Moon
Space4Students
Developing and delivering day-long and week-long space camps and workshops at the I-LOFAR Education Centre during school term and school holidays for students in upper primary, Junior Certificate and Transition Year age groups.
These include talks with astrophysics researchers, hands-on activities and in-depth discussions of a wide range of space and science topics with participants.
Space4Teachers
Creating and delivering Continual Professional Development workshops for upper primary and lower secondary school teachers based around the Primary Science curriculum and the National Junior Cycle Earth and Space strand.
Designing and publishing freely accessible classroom resources – including detailed lesson plans, instructional videos and more – to assist in the delivery of the learning outcomes in the Earth and Space strand of the Junior Cycle Science Curriculum.
Earth and Space Learning Resources
The AstroLands programme is run by our Education and Public Engagement Manager Áine Flood, and overseen by Project Manager Dr Sophie Murray and I-LOFAR Director Prof Peter Gallagher.
Astronomical Midlands opens new conversations with groups that have had little involvement with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) using our unique facility at Birr and, working with colleagues in Birr Castle Demesne, builds on the historic and current science and education activities. Our project allows people in the Midlands to discover opportunities for further education and careers in STEM and inspire the next generation of scientific explorers.
Evaluation of the AstroLands programme has been undertaken by Dr Shane Bergin in School of Education UCD, The full report is available to view here.
Running since February 2019, AstroLands has a strong foundation and continues to develop and deliver activities and events for students, teachers and the general public – all you need is a sense of curiosity!
Supporters
Birr Kids Space Ireland
Birr Scientific & Heritage Foundation
Grant Engineering
Joe Hogan (Openet)
Dermot Desmond
Denis O’Brien
Birr Lions Club
Birr Chamber of Commerce
Funders
Science Foundation Ireland
Enterprise Ireland
HEAnet
Dept. of Jobs, Enterprise, and Innovation
Offaly County Council
Dept. of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural, and Gaeltacht
Dept. for Communities
Consortium Members
TCD
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium
UCD
DCU
UCC
NUIG
DIAS
AIT
Location
Birr Castle Gardens & Science Centre
Rosse Row, Birr,
County Offaly,
R42 VO27
Copyright © 2020 I-LOFAR. All rights reserved | Privacy Policy | Site Map
Netherlands | Germany | Sweden | UK | France | Poland | International
Website hosted by DIAS
