Outreach
I spend a fair bit of time and energy trying to talk to as many people as I can about astronomy (most research in the field is taxpayer-funded after all, so it’s the least I can do to give back). Here’s a few fun things I’ve been involved in over the years:
One of the oldest, largest refracting telescopes around, Dearborn Observatory is a sight to behold. Every Friday night, the observatory is opened up for public viewing, where a few undergrad or grad students will guide guests through viewing different astronomical objects with the telescope (weather permitting, of course).
In addition to the usual Friday night observing, I also occasionally help out with the monthly Astronomer Evenings event series, in which a few astro folks give short presentations and do QA sessions while the public observing is going on.
Astronomy on Tap is a worldwide series of informal presentations on astronomy, given at local bars/breweries. Along with several other grad students and postdocs, I helped start the local Chicago chapter (Facebook, Twitter). We've been fortunate to partner with some pretty great Chicago area breweries - Smylie Bros Brewing, Half Acre Beer Company, and Begyle Brewing so far. Our events usually feature a few quick, fun talks about various things in astronomy (research, current exciting news, interactive demos), as well as some space-themed trivia rounds. Mostly, we're there to chat and drink beer, though.