Astronomy in my shopping cart Today I bought some asteroids, hundreds of black holes and three solar systems! Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2007 Athens, Greece 11 October

About us Caterina Boccato Elena Lazzaretto Astronomy degree INAF-Astronomical Observatory of Padua - Italy INAF Astronomical Observatory of Padua Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2007 Athens, Greece 11 October 1/14

SHOPPING MALLS SUPERMARKETS Aim of the project To bring Astrophysics to real people Why? How? INAF Astronomical Observatory of Padua Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2007 Athens, Greece 11 October 2/14

Towards Pilot project testing implementation new proposal under the aegis of IYA INAF Astronomical Observatory of Padua Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2007 Athens, Greece 11 October 3/14

Shopping malls as real breeding grounds of “science consumers” Follow the Public! Where? “…the activity’s location in space is truly as important as its format” Experience value “…match closely with local demographic profiles” INAF Astronomical Observatory of Padua Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2007 Athens, Greece 11 October 4/14

a γορά INAF Astronomical Observatory of Padua Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2007 Athens, Greece 11 October 5/14

Twosteps Two steps 1. 1.Inside the supermarket INAF Astronomical Observatory of Padua Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2007 Athens, Greece 11 October 6/ Outside the supermarket - inside the shopping mall’s Gallery

The message Astronomy exists and it is an active science To do Astronomy I need a method INAF Astronomical Observatory of Padua Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2007 Athens, Greece 11 October 8/14

The first step’s result Inside the supermarket Interested or not, the generic consumer, at this point, will understand that astrophysics research exists and produces results! INAF Astronomical Observatory of Padua Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2007 Athens, Greece 11 October 10/14

Second step Outside the supermarket Not all the consumers will choose to stop at the stand, only the “science consumers” will INAF Astronomical Observatory of Padua Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2007 Athens, Greece 11 October 11/14 Related activities

Conceptual path INAF Astronomical Observatory of Padua Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2007 Athens, Greece 11 October 12/14 Astronomy exists and it is an active science you CAN understand the Universe despite the fact you CAN’T reach and touch its objects but you have to really make the effort better understanding of natural laws and technology improvement enrichment of human knowledge and improvement of everyday life

The philosophy INAF Astronomical Observatory of Padua Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2007 Athens, Greece 11 October 13/14

Conclusions The ultimate aim is giving our science consumer the possibility to bring home shopping bags filled not only with consumer goods but also with a piece of knowledge about astrophysics and the way astronomers understand the universe and its phenomena. INAF Astronomical Observatory of Padua Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2007 Athens, Greece 11 October 14/14

Contacts Caterina Boccato Elena Lazzaretto Tel: Fax: INAF Astronomical Observatory of Padua Communicating Astronomy with the Public 2007 Athens, Greece 11 October