Programme
Programme Overview:
Data Training Workshops:
Facilitator: Paul Hancock (ADACS)
As part of this year’s science meeting, we are very fortunate to be able to offer some added-value training in data science techniques for astronomers, courtesy of ADACS. This will be available to both in-person and online attendees, and comes in two parts: a single session giving an introductory overview of contemporary data techniques; and a three-session ‘deep dive’ into these techniques, with opportunities for hands-on experience. Each of these sessions will be held twice: between 8:30-10:30am AEST for both in-person and online attendees, and again between 5:30pm-7:30pm AEST (3:30pm-5:30pm AWST) online only. Attendance for the in-person workshop is limited so please indicate if you plan to attend these sessions during registration.
Intro into Machine Learning: This lecture-style session will focus on what is ML/AI, where it's been used successfully, some common pit-falls, and what people can expect in terms of time/effort investment and outcomes.
Deep Dive into Machine Learning (3 sessions): This short course of three sequential and connected workshops will use Google Colaboratory and scikit learn to understand how to "do ML" with some astronomy-relevant data sets. Attendance of all three sessions (one per day) is required.
EPOC Workshop: Creatively Low-Tech Outreach:
Facilitators: Lara Sharp (ASTRO3D), James Murray (AAL), and Jackie Bondell (OzGrav)
In this session, the EPOC team will engage participants in a series of hands-on activities to activate their innovative design skills, review best practices for Astronomy outreach, and create a low-tech demo/activity to use on their outreach endeavours!
SKAO Science Operations Workshop:
Facilitators: Jimi Green (SKAO) & Shari Breen (SKAO)
This workshop will provide an opportunity to interact with SKAO Science Operations, hear about in country SKA developments, including photos (and maybe even videos!) and enquire about the processes and avenues for community engagement.
Harley Wood Public Lecture: “Deadly” Dark Skies: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Astronomy - Krystal De Napoli
Since time immemorial, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have observed Sky Country above and developed complex interconnected knowledge systems informed by these observations. With each star serving as a crucial reference point for seasonal calendars, animal behaviours, navigation, and weather prediction, the stars become our books and Sky Country becomes our library. In this talk, Krystal De Napoli will provide insight into the world’s first forms of astronomy while discussing the necessity of sustaining our dark skies.
Krystal De Napoli is a Gomeroi woman, award-winning author and science communicator devoted to the advocacy of Indigenous knowledges and equity in STEM. Krystal is co-author of Astronomy: Sky Country (2022), winner of the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award People’s Choice Award (2023).
To join this free event in person or online, please register using the following link:
Image credit: Dr Wasim Raja/CSIRO, Dr Pascal Elah/Pawsey