The invisible audience

Dhara Patel – Astronomy Education Officer, Royal Observatory Greenwich.

In her 5 years working as a science communicator at the Royal Observatory Greenwich she has presented to a range of audiences in very different settings – from presenting shows in a dark planetarium to delivering science theatre shows at national festivals and all sorts in between. Coming from a formal teaching background, Dhara has taken her passion for teaching science / astronomy and picked up different techniques to effectively communicate concepts to young students and even older adults in settings where she can easily see and interact with the audience and in cases where she can’t see them at all!

Patricia Skelton – Astronomy Education Officer, Royal Observatory Greenwich.

As part of the formal learning team, Patricia’s responsibilities include the development and delivery of the formal learning programme, and delivering public programmes including planetarium shows. Prior to joining the team at the Observatory, Particia taught undergraduate astronomy at the University of South Africa, an open distance learning institution. She has a passion for astronomy and space exploration which she enjoys sharing with people of all ages.

In this interview Dhara and Patricia talk about their approach when presenting to audiences they can’t see. For example, in a planetarium show, through a podcast or in digital sessions. They share some useful tips and tricks for how they still make sessions as vibrant and interactive as possible.

What do you think are the challenges associated with presenting to and audience you can’t engage with?