 |
21 July 2003
For
immediate use
Astronomer Fred Watson wins Communication
Award
Professor Fred Watson, Astronomer-in-Charge
at the Anglo-Australian Telescope
near Coonabarabran, NSW, was awarded the prestigious David Allen Prize for
communicating astronomy to the public on Saturday 19th July, during the
25th International Astronomical Union (IAU) General Assembly now taking
place in Sydney.
Watson has been able to bridge the gap between the scientific world and
the general public through his media appearances, such as on ABC Radio. He
has a regular column in Australian Geographic and is currently writing a book
on the history of the telescope.
One of Watson's most interesting
contributions includes a musical piece, "Star Chant", composed by Ross Edwards,
which premiered at the Adelaide Music Festival in 2002. Watson noted "Astronomy
is the easiest of the sciences to get into peoples' minds -- it is very
accessible. Astronomy has the potential to give us the answers to our origin."
The judges noted Watson's ability to "engage the public in a wide-ranging
and imaginative approach to astronomy" and "his ease of presentation and
the vast knowledge of his subject."
Watson enjoys living in regional New South Wales. "I think the rural environment
is one that really nurtures you, it brings out the best in people," said Watson. He is responsible for the
scientific output and management of the Anglo-Australian and UK Schmidt
Telescopes. His own scientific interests are in the motions of stars and
galaxies, and in the development of new instrumentation for astronomy.
He also helped pioneer the use of fibre optics during the 1980s, which
has now become a major technique in astronomy around the world.
"I was thrilled to receive the award,
it has added significance to me as I knew David Allen quite well," Watson
said. "He was an extremely gifted person. He not only contributed to a
wide area of science, but could also communicate it well to non-scientists."
The David Allen Prize was established
in the memory of David Allen, also of the Anglo-Australian Observatory.
Allen made major contributions to astronomy before his untimely death
in 1994. He also had a strong commitment to communicating his science
to the public. The aim of the prize is to foster public interest in astronomy
by rewarding the best contribution, or series of contributions, in a calendar
year. It can be awarded for work in any medium that portrays astronomical
information to the general public
in both an accessible and informative manner.
This is the second time the prize
has been awarded. The first winner was Jonathan Nally in 2001, the then
editor of Sky and Space magazine. The David Allen Prize is the newest
in a series of prizes awarded by the Astronomical Society of Australia
in recognition of excellence in astronomy in Australia.
CONTACTS
Fred Watson
Contact via Helen Sim
Mob: 0419 635 905
Office tel: 02 9372 4251
Email: hsim@aao.gov.au
To reach the IAU media room call
+61-2-9282-5418, -5419, -5420. Sydney is
17 hours ahead of U.S. PDT. The
room is open 8am-6pm Australian Eastern
Standard Time (10 hours ahead of
GMT/UT).
______________________________________________
Helen Sim - Public Relations and Media Liaison
Anglo-Australian Observatory
PO Box 296
Australia
hsim@aaoepp.aao.gov.au
tel: +61 2 9372 4251 (bh), 0419-635-905 (mob)
fax: +61 2 9372 4444
|
![](./.."/webimages/spacer.gif"){kind=spacer}
