Citizen Astronomy in the era of large surveys

Presenter(s): Dr Stella Kafka

Affiliation(s): American Association of Variable Star Observers

Session details: Sunday, 2020-04-11 23:30:00, STAR

Abstract

For centuries, citizen astronomers have been making important discoveries and significant contributions to science. With the outburst of all-sky surveys and the availability of appropriate software, professional astronomers depend on the public to analyze, sort and understand large quantities of existing data, or to acquire new data sets leading to noteworthy discoveries. Nowadays our philosophy, our view of the role of the public in time-domain science has changed. From crowdsourcing to data acquisition, citizens are now leaving a notable mark in the science landscape, also assisting professional astronomers with data analysis and publications. In turn, scientific projects and opportunities of active engagement are used to increase science literacy and public understanding of science. I will give a short overview on how astronomy has benefited from citizen contributions in various projects. I will also discuss how now, more than ever, citizen involvement in projects is needed to advance our knowledge and understanding of variable objects, and I will present ways citizen astronomers can significantly participate in new collaborations, complementing data acquired from missions such as TESS for cutting-edge science.

Biography

Dr Stella Kafka is the Executive Director and CEO of the AAVSO (American Association of Variable Star Observers), an international organization focusing on engaging professional and amateur astronomers in science. Within the auspices of the AAVSO, Dr Kafka is working towards enabling individuals from all backgrounds to actively participate in research projects, building a community of science-savvy citizens who work collectively to understand some of the most dynamic phenomena in the universe. Dr Kafka acquired her BSc in Physics from the University of Athens (Greece) and her MA/PhD in Astronomy from Indiana University (USA). Before her tenure at the AAVSO, Dr Kafka held positions at CTIO, Spitzer Science Center/Caltech, Carnegie Institution of Washington/DTM and AIP Publishing. Dr Kafka’s area of expertise is long-term variability of cataclysmic variables and progenitors of SNeIa.