Singastro Star Party 2005??

[VinSnr]

Ok guys....maybe we can start doing some discussion on how Singastro Star Party 2005 should be. Never too early to start planning the "wish list".

Before we even discuss things like location, activities, let's ask this basic question :

1) Who is the target audience? Do we want to target students or public? My personal opinion is to target the public because for students, they already have their individual astro events every year. The last Singastro festival was more towards students, so maybe we should go for the public this time.

But bear in mind that targeting public means more cost, more red tapes, more safety measures, more coordination.

Do you really want to do this?

[kayheem]

Ok guys....maybe we can start doing some discussion on how Singastro Star Party 2005 should be. Never too early to start planning the "wish list".

Before we even discuss things like location, activities, let's ask this basic question :

1) Who is the target audience? Do we want to target students or public? My personal opinion is to target the public because for students, they already have their individual astro events every year. The last Singastro festival was more towards students, so maybe we should go for the public this time.

But bear in mind that targeting public means more cost, more red tapes, more safety measures, more coordination.

Do you really want to do this?

Hi,

Besides looking at the target audience, we have to look at what we want to do. I think for something the size of SF2004, it would be better to have it every 2 years. If it is something simple like a public star party, we can have it every quarter or twice a year.

Just my 2 cts.

Kay Heem

[carlogambino]

IMHO, the ultimate aim shld be for public, but then again, there are many students who dont care about astro. I'll give you an example: Last wed I was talking to my classmates about the biology paper mistake(was in the papers) about the pupil dilation in relation to light intensity error in the graph.

None of them, however, knew or bothered/cared what I was talking about when I started the subject on exit pupils and light cones from optical instruments in relation to pupil diameter.(shld be<7mm, etc.)

After further probing, more shocking news was to be discovered. NONE of my classmates knew what a nebula, globular or open cluster was. Some didnt know what was the "Milky way". I think when they seem to be interested in astro, it comes to questions like asking "Why was the moon red yesterday." I think that this is going off topic, but yeah, just like to say that in my class/classes around me nobody seems to care about astronomy. That's why I think students like us shouldnt be neglected. Just my 2 cents worth.

[VinSnr]

IMHO, the ultimate aim shld be for public, but then again, there are many students who dont care about astro. I'll give you an example: Last wed I was talking to my classmates about the biology paper mistake(was in the papers) about the pupil dilation in relation to light intensity error in the graph.

None of them, however, knew or bothered/cared what I was talking about when I started the subject on exit pupils and light cones from optical instruments in relation to pupil diameter.(shld be<7mm, etc.)

After further probing, more shocking news was to be discovered. NONE of my classmates knew what a nebula, globular or open cluster was. Some didnt know what was the "Milky way". I think when they seem to be interested in astro, it comes to questions like asking "Why was the moon red yesterday." I think that this is going off topic, but yeah, just like to say that in my class/classes around me nobody seems to care about astronomy. That's why I think students like us shouldnt be neglected. Just my 2 cents worth.

I thought students have had their astro events every year right? Most education instituitions have their their own astro club......so I guess there is an avenue for students to reach out if they want....

[Airconvent]

IMHO, the ultimate aim shld be for public, but then again, there are many students who dont care about astro. I'll give you an example: Last wed I was talking to my classmates about the biology paper mistake(was in the papers) about the pupil dilation in relation to light intensity error in the graph.

None of them, however, knew or bothered/cared what I was talking about when I started the subject on exit pupils and light cones from optical instruments in relation to pupil diameter.(shld be<7mm, etc.)

After further probing, more shocking news was to be discovered. NONE of my classmates knew what a nebula, globular or open cluster was. Some didnt know what was the "Milky way". I think when they seem to be interested in astro, it comes to questions like asking "Why was the moon red yesterday." I think that this is going off topic, but yeah, just like to say that in my class/classes around me nobody seems to care about astronomy. That's why I think students like us shouldnt be neglected. Just my 2 cents worth.

opps...I was interested in Astronomy when young. In my primary school days, I bought some simple books on astronomy but when I rekindled my interest 2 years back, all I know were planets and comets.
When Remus talked about "open clusters" and "globular clusters:..I was lost too until I read up on it....so not surprising they do not know. You need to have interest to want to know something...be patient, just sieve out those who were interested from those who are not and focus on the former first...the latter group can work on them later...heh heh

rich

[Airconvent]

mm..asking for a 2005 event now is like asking a woman who has just given birth 10min ago if she wants another kid!
as can be seen from the post, the team are exhausted from the event and need some time to recuperate.

Problems raised included :
1. Financing
2. Participation
3. Venue

From the posts, It would seem that had SP provided more resources, many of these problems can be settled. If SP works like any governmental/quasi governmental agency, they plan their activities 1 year ahead, such as now.
By making our request earlier to them, this would enable them to put it into their calender and allocate funds for it as opposed to doing it now and they would have to find some surplus funds from somewhere.

Also, good idea to align the festival to the SP open house. That way, we ride on their activities and the singastro portion can be integrated into their main program, publicity, funds, venue and commitment would be there.

On the Singastro side, perhaps appoint a liaison person to coordinate what resources they can provide, assistance they can render. I can do this role. It beats cold calling via email....

Just a suggestion...

rich

[madscientist]

sure sounds like tuna and dolphin relationship. a very good idea since it solves most of the problems which we can't really do anything about.

My 1 cent worth.

[VinSnr]

mm..asking for a 2005 event now is like asking a woman who has just given birth 10min ago if she wants another kid!
as can be seen from the post, the team are exhausted from the event and need some time to recuperate.

Problems raised included :
1. Financing
2. Participation
3. Venue

From the posts, It would seem that had SP provided more resources, many of these problems can be settled. If SP works like any governmental/quasi governmental agency, they plan their activities 1 year ahead, such as now.
By making our request earlier to them, this would enable them to put it into their calender and allocate funds for it as opposed to doing it now and they would have to find some surplus funds from somewhere.

Also, good idea to align the festival to the SP open house. That way, we ride on their activities and the singastro portion can be integrated into their main program, publicity, funds, venue and commitment would be there.

On the Singastro side, perhaps appoint a liaison person to coordinate what resources they can provide, assistance they can render. I can do this role. It beats cold calling via email....

Just a suggestion...

rich

hahaha...i like your analogy....

Anyway, I thought of raising this thread because everyone is still "hot" from the past event and their 'wish list" should be still on their head....

But I am not too sure if it 's a good idea to make this an SP "baby". I really think we should involve a good mix of people (young and old with the young from various schools). It's time Singastro should try to stand on her own feet with assistance from the various schools.

[madscientist]

haha, give the lady her child and she will say yes. notify sp 1 year ahead, u can be pretty sure it's as good as not telling them,

[Airconvent]

haha, give the lady her child and she will say yes. notify sp 1 year ahead, u can be pretty sure it's as good as not telling them,

mmm..you need to know how larger organisations work.
they compile a list of what they want to do next year. they call this the workplan (or "calender of events" for the layman)

They then get this events approved by the bosses and seek allocation of funds. Based on what is allocated, the bosses prioritise who gets what and how much. Once approval is give for the AOR (approval of requirement), then it ends up on their calender for next year you can sure it will be remembered cos the PIC (person in charge)'s performance bonus will depend on how well he/she does this. they don't pay bonus to you for doing your job, even in Poly . Its the extras you do that matter. Hence by getting it squeezed into the workplan now, you don't need to beg for venue or funds later. It will be made available...

rich