This year, too, the Astronomical Observatory of Cagliari (OAC-INAF) had the honor and privilege of opening its doors to the public for the 2015 European Researchers’ Night, an event funded by the European Commission that simultaneously involves numerous scientific and research institutions across Europe.
Two locations were made accessible for the occasion: the OAC-INAF headquarters, also known as the “Science, Technology, and Environment Campus,” in Selargius, and the Sardinia Radio Telescope (SRT) in San Basilio, about forty kilometers from the capital in the Pranusanguni area.
In total, between the two visiting sessions at 10:30 AM and 3 PM, about forty people visited the SRT, accompanied by researchers Sabrina Milia and Noemi Iacolina, who provided an engaging explanation of the technical and managerial aspects of the Sardinian technological gem and the importance and potential of radio astronomy within the broader context of Italian and international astronomy.
At the “city” headquarters of OAC, activities began at 4 PM with two simultaneous events: a children’s workshop (“Science is a Game: The Invisible Universe”) and a public lecture aimed at a more adult audience (“Sounds and Visions of Radio Astronomy”). This way, less apprehensive parents could leave their children to have fun with Silvia Casu and Sabrina Milia (researchers specialized in education and scientific outreach) while they moved to the Auditorium to attend the scientific lecture by astronomer and former OAC-INAF director Andrea Possenti.
At 5:30 PM, there was a reading of the children’s book titled “Under the Same Sky: Stories of Women, Men, Stars, Planets, and Moons” by Roberto Piumini and Stefano Sandrelli, an event curated by Silvia Casu in collaboration with Emergency, represented on the occasion by its local contact Antonello Murgia and an enthusiastic group of volunteers. In a video link, Stefano Sandrelli explained how the idea for the book came about. This was followed by a debate on migrants and equality of rights.
While all previous activities, although with always different content, had already been proposed and tested in the past, the final one, the show of the brand new Planetarium (The Wonders of the Universe: At the Edge of Knowledge) was a first for our Observatory and the Sardinian public. A full house of 70 people filled the seats of a “sold-out” Planetarium to enjoy an exciting show of images, animations, and videos projected directly onto the brand new dome and masterfully commented on in tandem by Sabrina Milia and Noemi Iacolina.
Throughout the afternoon, all guests could also visit the various laboratories where OAC and SRT technicians, engineers, and researchers demonstrated how they experiment, monitor, and build every single technological artifact necessary for the operation of the SRT: from the microchip inserted in a 3D print to the aluminum knob, the Cagliari technicians are capable of producing almost anything autonomously thanks to cutting-edge machinery.
The public responded enthusiastically to every proposed activity and, in line with the European Commission’s intentions, came into contact with the daily work of the astronomers and technicians who keep the image of Italian astronomy alive and high in the world. The satisfaction for the success of the event can be considered double due to a series of factors that did not facilitate the work of the Observatory staff. The recent move from Poggio dei Pini to Selargius, logistical traffic issues, and the transition phase related to a broader reorganization of Italian radio astronomy were not helpful factors in the organization, yet – thanks to a great team effort by all OAC staff and its offices – the event was perfectly executed, respecting the program in the planned times and ways.
The Astronomical Observatory of Cagliari invites you to the next edition of the Researchers’ Night, and in any case, we will stay in touch with the public through visits to the SRT and other open days at our headquarters several times throughout the year.