This episode has no specific astronomical topic but draws attention to a very special astronomy meeting later this month. The Royal Astronomical Society’s annual National Astronomy Meeting last year was held in Wales, next year it will be in Scotland but this year it is in Manchester. National Astronomy Meeting 2012 or  NAM2012 will be hosted by the University of Manchester in partnership with Germany’s equivalent to the RAS, the Astronomische Gesellschaft in the last week of March 2012. Despite the title it is very much international in nature with professional astronomers attending from USA, Australia and Europe.

I hope be blogging from the meeting, if you are around do stop by and say hello. I plan to record interviews with some of the speakers for future astrotalkuk episodes.

From the evening of Monday 26^th March to Friday 30^th, the weeklong program has a fascinating and varied schedule including free public talks. Although free – booking online is essential. Some of the  outreach elements include

• Two public lectures in the evening on Monday and Wednesday – book here
• Two plenary session talks during each day of the week  between 09:00-10:00 and again between  17:00-18:00 (except Fri 15:45 -16:45). Contact Anna.Mayall@manchester.ac.uk Group booking by astronomical societies are welcomed but should done quickly – its first come first served.
• A program of talks specifically for A level students. They are day-long event not free but refreshments are included.
• A unique social event on the  evening of Tuesday 27^th  in a city centre pub, an unusual blend of standup comedy and science £3.00 at the door.

In the following recording by telephone Dr Tim O’Brien from Jodrell Bank, explains the background to NAM2012 in Manchester.

Incidentally,  like me, you may enjoy a picture on Tim’s website. No doubt taken during the emmensly successful Stargazing live event earlier this year. It show’s Tim falling asleep in his chair with Dara Obriain looking on with Prof Brian Cox in the background. All the links online in episode 49.  Here’s Tim.

Summary of free public talks

Public Lectures

1. Mon 26th March 8pm All from Nothing : The Structuring of Our Universe Prof. Simon White
2. Wed 28th March 8pm The Juno Mission to Jupiter: What’s Inside the Giant Planet?  Prof. Fran Bagenal

Plenary Session Lectures

1. Tue 27th March 9am-10am The Square Kilometre Array Michael Kramer
2. Tue 27th March 5pm-6pm Probing the interior of Jupiter: NASA’s Juno mission Fran Bagenal
3. Wed 28th March 9am-10am Frontiers in gravitational lensing Peter Schneider
4. Wed 28th March 5pm-6pm The protocloud and the large-scale environment of galaxies Joss Bland-Hawthorn
5. Thu 29th March 9am-10am Wonders of the solar atmosphere Alan Hood
6. Thu 29th March 5pm-6pm Astrophotography Nik Szymanek
7. Fri 30th March 9am-10am Catching Shadows: Kepler’s Year-Three Exoplanet Census Natalie Batalha
8. Fri 30th March 3:45pm-4:45pm Cosmology in our backyard

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (8.1MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS | More