1. In the Spanish TV program “The Comedy Club”, different actors and actresses on the stage, just with a high stool and maybe a drink, perform a (usually very good) monologue. Welcome to “The Comedy Club” (*) Welcome to “The Comedy Club” (*) (*) Please, remember I’m not an actress and my mother language is not English…

2. Communicating Astronomy With the Public ESO- Garching, June 2005 Plenary Session 7: Challenges and New Ideas Communicating Astronomy With the Public ESO- Garching, June 2005 Plenary Session 7: Challenges and New Ideas Inés Rodríguez Hidalgo Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias Museo de la Ciencia y el Cosmos Depto. de Astrofísica, Universidad de La Laguna

3. CAP, Garching, June 2005 Inés Rodríguez Hidalgo As you’ve seen and heard I’ve explained the ecliptic the Zodiac, the concept of angular extent the constellations, the Zodiac ones the rise of the Sun at different points of the horizon the equinox the North (other cardinal) points some simple statistical facts… the planets’ orbits and their inclinations the precession of equinoxes

4. CAP, Garching, June 2005 Inés Rodríguez Hidalgo Challenges and New Ideas Challenges and New Ideas For introducing astronomical concepts I suggest… to use a ‘co-lateral’ story with catches the public’s attention better if it’s doesn’t sound exactly to science (people still fears science…) better if it’s a topic of wide popular interest better if it includes bits of humour and magic

5. CAP, Garching, June 2005 Inés Rodríguez Hidalgo Astrology is a good example astrology it’s not a science, but a pseudo-science… - communicating astronomy with the public mixing up astrological statements and astronomical facts, you invade the personal space, going deep into the individual expectations and wishes - fighting against irrational beliefs that are often presented as scientific knowledge: helping to spread the critical sense, as scientific knowledge: helping to spread the critical sense, in danger of extinction these days… in danger of extinction these days… …so, you can “kill two birds with one stone”:

6. CAP, Garching, June 2005 Inés Rodríguez Hidalgo Astrology is a good example show the ranking of the gravitational attraction and tidal forces exerted by different bodies at the birth’s moment ranking of electromagnetic radiation ranking of particle emission ranking of magnetism more statistical examples of clamorous astrological failures…

7. CAP, Garching, June 2005 Inés Rodríguez Hidalgo Of course, these contents of basic Astronomy (also important!!!) can be presented in a very sophisticated documentary based essentially on spectacular images, with an explanatory text in off… Let’s try: It works… I suggest this other type of communication, less usual nowadays, but quite straightforward, appealing people’s “heart” and mind, and also effective

8. CAP, Garching, June 2005 Inés Rodríguez Hidalgo Other astronomical examples The search for extraterrestrial planets: the speed of light time “is” space / space “is” time astronomical distances actual feasibility of intergalactic communications SETI projects (references in sci-fi literature, films…) actual feasibility of cosmic travels similarities and differences between planets of the Solar System and extraterrestrial planets etc.