For nearly two decades, University of Wisconsin students have explored mysteries in the sky via Universe in the Park programming hosted in state parks, which allow students of all ages to explore astronomy-based questions in real perspective.
Astronomy graduate student Paul Sell said he has been involved with the program for five years now. The programs begin with a PowerPoint presentation by a graduate student on a certain topic in astrology and end with the chance for visitors to look through a portable telescope focused on things like star clusters, planets or whatever is the most interesting and visible phenomena deep in the night sky that evening, he said.
“[The presentations] are a great way to learn interesting facts and knowledge basics about astronomy,” Sell said.
Sell added graduate students from the UW Department of Astronomy take turns running each event.
Each year, approximately 40 to 50 UITP programs take place in various Wisconsin state parks from the end of May through the beginning of October, and participation ranges from a handful of people to 100 or more in attendance, Sell said.
Sell said UITP programs started in 1996 under Karen Bjorkman, who at the time was involved with the Wisconsin Ultraviolet Photo-Polarimeter Experiment in UW’s Space Astronomy Laboratory. Now however, UW astronomy professor and Dean of Natural Sciences Eric Wilcots is in charge of the program.
Sell said the event itself is free and geared toward people of all ages.
Graduate student Blakesley Burkhart said she has been involved with UITP programs for the past four years.
Burkhart said the dark skies of state parks serve as perfect locations to share astronomy with the public because they bring people away from city light pollution.
Burkhart said she tries to engage children specifically in her presentations to get them excited about studies in the field of science and really get them thinking out of the box about their place in the universe.
“I feel strongly that we have to fill the gaps in public science education that are widening,” Burkhart said.
Burkhart added she likes to talk with children about topics like dark matter or star formation that are unknown and encourage young students to realize they could someday go out and solve these questions in the field of astronomy.
Burkhart said the department of astronomy at UW has many other year-round educational programs to offer to the public, even with the summer season winding down.
Burkhart has her own five-minute segment that deals with current interesting things happening in astronomy, which takes place during the program “In Our Backyard,” broadcasted from 6:30-7 p.m. Tuesdays on WORT 89.9 FM.
Burkhart said people should also take advantage of public telescope viewings at the Washburn Observatory on campus or with UW Space Place outreach programs offered by the UW Department of Astronomy.
“We are really passionate and want to share that passion with people,” Burkhart said.
More information, including a schedule of times and locations of future events, can be found on the UW Department of Astronomy’s website.