My first attempt at science communication was writing articles for Macclesfield Astronomical Society’s newsletter while I was an undergraduate student. I started doing occasional public talks and running the odd event during my PhD at Jodrell Bank Observatory way back in 2004, trying to overcome my serious fear of public speaking. During the International Year of Astronomy in 2009 (and until I moved back to Europe in 2011) I was the Outreach Coordinator of the Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy in Perth, Australia, organising large events and travelling exhibitions, field trips to remote communities in the Murchison region of Western Australia, and coordinating a series of talks across the Perth metro area. Since returning to the UK, I have become an accomplished speaker, performing at some of the UK’s largest astronomy events and festivals, and often turning up live on various regional, national and international radio stations or TV news shows talking about astronomy and space news stories (see my media page for more).
23rd September 2024 – Lecture, Flamsteed Astronomical Society, Greenwich (Fly me to the Moon)
16th September 2024 – Lecture, Bradford, Yorkshire (Fly me to the Moon)
2nd-5th August – Astronomy workshop, constellations talk, and stargazing (weather permitting!) at Underneath the Stars festival
26th July 2024 – Talk on the science stage at Destination Blackpool, “First light with the Argus Array: how a newly commissioned telescope is set to revolutionise 24th Century astronomy”
11th March 2024 – Virtual visit to North Halifax Grammar School for National Science Week lunchtime lecture, When Galaxies Collide!
9th March 2024 – PTI New Teacher Subject Day, London
27th February 2024 – Lecture, How not to go the way of the dinosaurs, Rainow
2/3 February 2024 – Lecture, Fly me to the Moon?, Astrofest, London
9th November 2023 – UCLan public lecture, Preston, “How not to go the way of the dinosaurs” looking at what we know about the demise of the dinosaurs, what we know about the current asteroid threats, and how it is getting harder to spot them coming.
4-6th August 2023 – workshop (It IS rocket science!) and talk (Around the Universe in 60-ish minutes), Underneath the Stars Festival, Yorkshire
17-19th March 2023 – Distance Learning weekend, Preston
14th March 2023 – talk and discussion on “Space and Astronomy in the Curriculum” at a PTI CPD event for teachers (online).
3rd & 4th February 2023 – manning the UCLan Astronomy stand in the exhibition at Astrofest (London).
16th January 2023 – talk for Derby High School Astronomy Club (virtual).
3rd December 2022 – Lecture for the Distance Learning virtual event at Alston Observatory.
17th November 2022 – Lecture, Mexborough & Swinton Astronomical Society.
23rd September 2022 – Lecture for the Prince’s Teaching Institute, Cambridge, recorded for use as part of the new PTI Subject Leadership Certificate.
12th September 2022 – Lecture, West Didsbury Astronomical Society.
5th September 2022 – Lecture, The future of Radio Astronomy, Bradford Astronomical Society. (Postponed.)
20th June 2022 – Lecture, The Next Blink of a Cosmic Eye, Didsbury SciBar (virtual).
5th May 2022 – Virtual planetarium show for St. Andrews Rainbows, Preston.
3rd May 2022 – Virtual planetarium show for year 5/6 at Clyro C.I.W. Primary School, Powys.
10th March 2022 – Virtual planetarium show for Nether Kellet Rainbows and Brownies.
5th March 2022 – Talk, The next blink of a cosmic eye, Prince’s Teaching Institute New Teacher Subject Day on Astrophysics (London, virtual).
4th March 2022 – Virtual planetarium show for 1st Lea Rainbows.
28th February 2022 – Virtual planetarium show for 1st Alderley Edge Guides
15th February 2022 – Virtual planetarium show for 7th Leyland Rainbows and Brownies.
9th February 2022 – Virtual planetarium show for 4th Ormskirk Beavers and Cubs.
29th January 2022 – Lecture, The Next Blink of a Cosmic Eye – Astronomy in the next 200 years, Galway Astronomy Club‘s Astrofest 2022 (Galway, Ireland) (virtual).
26th January 2022 – Virtual planetarium show for 1st Yeo Vale Rangers.
26th January 2022 – Virtual planetarium show for Derby High School’s Astronomy Club.
18th January 2022 – Lecture, The Next Blink of a Cosmic Eye – Astronomy in the next 200 years, Fort Wayne Astronomical Society (Indiana, USA) (virtual).
6th December 2021 – Lecture, The Next Blink of a Cosmic Eye – Astronomy in the next 200 years, Flamsteed Astronomy Society, London (virtual).
6th December 2021 – Invited talk, How to Sell a Black Hole, at the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration Meeting (virtual).
5th November 2021 – Lecture, The Next Blink of a Cosmic Eye – Astronomy in the next 200 years, Derby Astronomical Society (virtual)
28th September 2021 – Lecture, The Next Blink of a Cosmic Eye – Astronomy in the next 200 years, Mansfield and Sutton Astronomical Society (virtual)
14th July 2021 – Virtual planetarium show with virtual Guides, Staffordshire, via Zoom
12th July 2021 – Virtual planetarium show with 9th Lincoln Rangers, via Zoom
8th July 2021 – Virtual planetarium show with Frome Valley Division Rainbows and Brownies, via Zoom
8th July 2021 – Virtual planetarium show with Frome Valley Division Guides and Rangers, via Zoom
7th July 2021 – Virtual planetarium show with 11th Altrincham Brownies, via Zoom
6th July 2021 – Virtual planetarium show with virtual Brownies, Derbyshire, via Zoom
2nd July 2021 – Virtual planetarium show with Guides, via Zoom
1st July 2021 – Virtual planetarium show with Halesown Guides, via Zoom
22nd June 2021 – Virtual planetarium show with 11th Walkden Brownies, via Zoom
21st June 2021 – Virtual planetarium show with Brownies without a unit, Leeds, via Zoom
19th June 2021 – Lecture, The Next Blink of a Cosmic Eye – Astronomy in the next 200 years, Shropshire Astronomical Society (virtual)
17th June 2021 – Virtual planetarium show with 1st Wigston Brownies, via Zoom
16th June 2021 – Virtual planetarium show with 3rd Portsmouth Brownies, via Zoom
14th June 2021 – Lecture, The Next Blink of a Cosmic Eye – Astronomy in the next 200 years, Open University Space Society (virtual)
9th June 2021 – Virtual planetarium show with 4th Portishead Brownies, via Zoom
8th June 2021 – Virtual planetarium show with 32nd Stafford Brownies, via Zoom
5th June 2021 – Virtual planetarium show x3 with Cheshire Border Brownies at their virtual sleepover, via Zoom
28th May 2021 – Lecture, The Next Blink of a Cosmic Eye – Astronomy in the next 200 years, Mid-Cheshire Astronomical Society (virtual)
26th May 2021 – Virtual planetarium show with 1st Great Ashby Brownies, via Zoom
19th May 2021 – Virtual planetarium show with 1st Cheadle Brownies, via Zoom
10th May 2021 – Virtual planetarium show with Stafford Brownies, via Zoom
4th May 2021 – Virtual planetarium show with 2nd & 5th Addington Guides, Croydon, via Zoom
28th April 2021 – Virtual planetarium show with Market Harborough Brownies, via Zoom
27th April 2021 – Virtual planetarium show with Dollar Guides, via Zoom
22nd April 2021 – Virtual planetarium show with Cwmammam Brownies, via Zoom
20th April 2021 – Virtual planetarium show with Dollar Brownies, via Zoom
14th April 2021 – Virtual planetarium show with Fulwood Brownies, via Zoom
27th March 2021 – Lecture, The Next Blink of a Cosmic Eye – Astronomy in the next 200 years, Merseyside Astronomy Day, Liverpool (virtual)
26th March 2021 – Lecture, The Next Blink of a Cosmic Eye – Astronomy in the next 200 years, Mid-Kent Astronomical Society (online)
24th March 2021 – Virtual planetarium show with Kingswood Brownies, via Zoom
17th March 2021 – Virtual planetarium show with Parbold Brownies, via Zoom
10th March 2021 – Virtual planetarium show with Yatton Brownies, via Zoom
9th March 2021 – Virtual planetarium show with Southport Brownies, via Zoom
4th March 2021 – Lecture, the SKA, Eddington Astronomical Society (online)
3rd February 2021 – Virtual planetarium show with Chester Brownies, via Zoom
1st March 2021 – Virtual planetarium show with Macclesfield Brownies, via Zoom
25th February 2021 – Virtual planetarium show with Great Bowden Brownies, via Zoom
24th Febuary 2021 – Virtual planetarium show with Lancaster Brownies, via Zoom
18th February 2021 – Public lecture, The Next Blink of a Cosmic Eye – Astronomy in the next 200 years , organised by Manchester Astronomical Society (online)
15th February 2021 – Virtual planetarium show with Preston Brownies, via Zoom
10th February 2021 – Virtual planetarium show with 26th North East Manchester Brownies, via Zoom
9th February 2021 – Virtual planetarium show with Sale Brownies, via Zoom
3rd February 2021 – Virtual planetarium show with Caernarfonshire Brownies, via Zoom
2nd February 2021 – Virtual planetarium show with Wigan Brownies, via Zoom
26th January 2021 – Virtual planetarium show with Cardiff Brownies, via Zoom
20th January 2021 – IoP Public lecture (online, book here)
13th January 2021 – Virtual planetarium show with 8th Poynton Brownies, via Zoom.
21st December 2020 – On air across the BBC talking about the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. I spoke to BBC 5Live Breakfast at 6.55am, the Today programme on Radio 4 at 8.55am, I was on BBC News at 10.45am, and on Newshour on BBC World Service in the afternoon.
4th December 2020 – Lecture, The Next Blink of a Cosmic Eye – Astronomy in the next 200 years, Furness & South Lakeland Astronomical Society (Zoom)
27th October 2020 – On air with Richard and Anna on BBC Foyle breakfast, talking about the discovery of water on the sunlit surface of the Moon.
26th October 2020 – On air with Anna and Tony on 5 Live Drive, BBC Radio 5 Live, talking about the discovery of water on the sunlit surface of the Moon.
14th October 2020 – On air with John Beattie, BBC Radio Scotland, talking about the UK signing the Artemis Accords and NASA sending a woman to the Moon in 2024.
12th October 2020 – Lecture, The Next Blink of a Cosmic Eye – Astronomy in the next 200 years, West of London Astronomical Society (Zoom)
7th October 2020 – Pre-record for Dotun Adebayo on BBC 5Live, talking about the Draconid meteor shower (and how it isn’t going to be spectacular!).
15th August 2020 – Astronomy Q&A at virtual Solarsphere (Zoom).
12th August 2020 – On air with Anna and Tony on BBC 5 Live Drive, talking about the Perseid meteor shower and how to watch it.
12th August 2020 – On air with Brett Davison on BBC Radio Lancashire, talking about the Perseid meteor shower and how to watch it.
29th July 2020 – Lecture (Going over Galaxies) at Chester Astronomical Society, Waverton (Zoom).
14th July 2020 – On air with Brett Davison on BBC Radio Lancashire, talking about comet Neowise and how to spot it.
9th July 2020 – Lecture (When Galaxies Collide!) at Cardiff Astronomical Society (via Zoom).
2nd April 2020 – Lecture (The SKA) at the Eddington Astronomical Society, Kendal. (POSTPONED DUE TO COVID)
20th March 2020 – Public lecture (When Galaxies Collide) at Shrewsbury School, Shropshire, organised by Shropshire Astronomical Society. (POSTPONED DUE TO COVID)
20th February 2020 – Lecture (When Galaxies Collide) at Manchester Astronomical Society. (POSTPONED DUE TO COVID)
31st January – 1st February 2020 – Lecture (The next blink of a cosmic eye: astronomy in the next 200 years) at Astrofest, London
18th January 2020 – Prince’s Teaching Institute New Teacher Subject Day (Physics), London.
10th January 2020 – Talk (The next blink of a cosmic eye: astronomy in the next 200 years) at the RAS Ordinary Meeting, Burlington House, London.
30th November 2019 – Lecture on radio astronomy and how we can use it to understand galaxies at a New Teacher Subject Day (for physics teachers), organised by the Prince’s Teaching Institute, Bishop Challoner Catholic College, Birmingham.
13th November 2019 – Staff lecture (Going over galaxies with a fine tooth comb) at Daresbury Laboratory.
28th October 2019 – Public lecture about the Moon at Gloucester Cathedral, part of the Museum of the Moon UK tour.
24th October 2019 – Public lecture, When Galaxies Collide, the Winter Gardens, Blackpool, as part of the Sun at Lightpool festival.
6th October 2019 – Moon Camp community day, Thurstaston. We Share the Same Moon activities (Moon Globes and Solar System Touch Boxes) at the event organised by hi-impact.
12th September 2019 – Schools workshops, Burnley. Part of We Share the Same Moon.
9th September 2019 – Schools workshops, Bath. Part of We Share the Same Moon.
7th September 2019 – Storytelling and Stargazing event at Troopers Hill, Bristol. Part of We Share the Same Moon. Free, but booking essential.
4th September 2019 – Interact conference, UCLan, Preston.
13th August 2019 – Scale model of the solar system, plus evening observing with Shropshire Astronomical Society at Space Camp, organised by the fantastic folks at hi-impact (read about last year’s event). (Cancelled due to illness.)
11th August 2019 – We Share the Same Moon workshop at Solarsphere astronomy and music festival, Builth Wells, Wales.
27th July 2019 – Panel session on the Moon at Manchester Comic Con, with Kevin Fong and Richard Wiseman.
June/July 2019 – We Share the Same Moon workshops at several schools in and around Bristol and Bath.
8th June 2019 – Lecture (When Galaxies Collide) at Newtown Astronomical Society.
9th May 2019 – We Share the Same Moon workshop for the Science Club at Puss Bank Primary School, Cheshire.
3rd May 2019 – Lecture (When Galaxies Collide) at Newbury Astronomical Society.
19th March 2019 – Lecture (When Galaxies Collide) at Macclesfield Astronomical Society, Cheshire.
9th March 2019 – We Share the Same Moon event at Alston Observatory, UCLan.
21st February 2019 – Lecture (When Galaxies Collide) at Manchester Astronomical Society.
12th December 2018 – When Galaxies Collide at the GCSE Science in Action day, Salford, for an audience of 600 GCSE students from around Manchester, organised by The Training Partnership.
29th September 2018 – Lecture (When Galaxies Collide) at the Cardiff AS/SPA public event.
7th September 2018 – Lecture at Furness and South Lakeland Astronomical Society.
10-13th August 2018 – Lecture, “Finding Earth 2.0”, at Solarsphere Astronomical and Music Festival, Wales.
3rd August 2018 – Art/science panel session with musician Jane Weaver, space scientist Sophie Allan, and pulsar hunter Sally Cooper, at The Hexagon Experiment, Newcastle, part of the Great Exhibition of the North and organised by Brighter Sound.
30th June 2018 – physics activities (and samba-drumming) at the Lancashire Science Festival, UCLan, Preston.
28th June 2018 – On the air with Brett Davison and Sally Naden on BBC Radio Lancashire, talking about how the Saddleworth Moor fires turned the Moon red over the North West this week.
20th June 2018 – On the air with Brett Davison and Sally Naden on BBC Radio Lancashire, talking about living on the Moon.
18-19th June – LCO workshop plus evening observing with Shropshire Astronomical Society at Space Camp 2018, organised by hi-impact and Air Products UK for 60 year-eight pupils from schools around the country.
9th June 2018 – astronomy activities at the Girlguiding UK event Magic and Mayhem for Brownies and Rainbows at Waddow Hall, Lancashire.
12th May 2018 – Lecture (Going over galaxies with a fine-toothed comb”) at Cotswold Astronomical Society.
13th October 2017 – Public lecture at Meole Brace School Science College, Shropshire Astronomical Society‘s annual public lecture.
7th October 2017 – Lecture (Worcestershire): Public lecture, “Around The Universe in 60 Minutes”, as part of the family day at the Malvern Festival of Innovation.
11th to 13th August 2017 – Festival (Wales): The Solarsphere astronomy and music festival, Builth Wells, Wales.
29th June 2017 – Science Festival (Lancashire): Demos on the physics and astronomy stand at the annual Lancashire Science Festival, UCLan, Preston.
10th June 2017 – Workshop (Lancashire): Two Rocket workshops in the Harris Museum’s Maker Space.
31st May 2017 – Lecture (Cheshire): “When Galaxies Collide!” at Chester Astronomical Society.
20th May 2017 – Presentation (Shropshire): presenting astrophotography awards at Shropshire Astronomical Society.
2nd May 2017 – SciBAr (Cheshire): “When Galaxies Collide!” at Chester SciBAr.
31st March 2017 – Space Lates (Leicester): “The kaleidoscopic universe” at the National Space Centre‘s Space Lates event.
10th February 2017 – School visit (Cheshire): “Around the Universe in 60 minutes”, astronomy and space talks for three classes at St John’s Primary School.
19th January 2017 – Lecture (Yorkshire): “When Galaxies Collide!” at Wakefield Astronomical Society.
14th December 2016 – SciBAr (Cheshire): “When Galaxies Collide!” at Widnes SciBAr.
18th November 2016 – Lecture (Yorkshire): “When Galaxies Collide!” at York Astronomical Society.
4th November 2016 – Lecture (Cheshire): “When Galaxies Collide!” at Altricham and District Astronomical Society.
23rd October 2016 – Event (Manchester): “Cycle the Solar System” with artist Nick Sayers, as part of Manchester Science Festival. Book tickets.
20th October 2016 – Lecture (Cheshire): “When Galaxies Collide!” at SCASTRO, Crewe.
7th October 2016 – Lecture (Cumbria): “When Galaxies Collide!” at Furness and South Lakes Astronomical Society.
12-14th August 2016 – Solarsphere Festival (Wales): possibly the planet’s only astronomy and music festival, Solarsphere, returns to Builth Wells. I’ll be there, giving a lecture.
24th July 2016 – Bluedot Festival (Cheshire): helped out on the Planck stand in Mission Control at the Bluedot Festival.
23rd July 2016 – Soapbox Science (Manchester): speaker at the 2016 event in Piccadilly Gardens, part of Manchester European City of Science.
When galaxies collide! Megan Argo. @SoapboxsciMCR pic.twitter.com/oSKpeszKSn
— SoapBox Science (@SoapboxScience) July 23, 2016
16th July 2015 – Lecture (Shropshire): Invited lecture at the Shropshire Astronomical Society’s Summer Social.
20th June 2016 – Lecture (Cheshire): “Around the Universe in 60 minutes” at Macclesfield’s Barnacy SciBAr. Park Tavern, 6.30pm.
17-26th June 2016 – Barnaby Festival (Macclesfield): Macclesfield’s bi-annual festival, which in 2016 will have SPACE! as the theme. I was part of the live events team and helped to secure funding for the science strand, and I was part of several events over the festival period.
17th June 2016 – School’s event (NW): Meet the expert event at Catalyst science centre.
11th June 2016 – Teacher training (Altrincham): Invited to give a lecture on using high resolution radio astronomy to probe the distant universe to newly-qualified physics teachers at a new teacher subject day run by the Prince’s Teaching Institute.
2-5th June 2016 – IMC (Netherlands): The annual International Meteor Conference, organised by the IMO. I moderated the open (beginners) Q&A session.
16-20 May 2016 – CAP conference (Colombia): Communicating Astronomy with the Public conference, Medellín, Colombia. I gave a talk about the Solarsphere astronomy and music festival.
8th April 2016 – Lecture (West Yorkshire): “When Galaxies Collide!” at Huddersfield Astronomical Society.
25-28th March 2016 – Convention (Manchester): Panel session (“Jodrell Bank Explores the Universe”) at Mancunion.
14th March 2016 – Lecture (West Yorkshire): “When Galaxies Collide!” at Bradford Astronomical Society.
28th February 2016 – Jodcast Live! (Cheshire): Live recording of the Jodcast, with a studio audience, at Jodrell Bank to celebrate the tenth anniversary.
11th February 2016 – Lecture (Cheshire): “The Modern Universe” at High Legh Community Observatory.
5-6th February 2016 – Astrofest (London): Lecture, “When Galaxies Collide!”, at Astronomy Now’s Astrofest.
13th January 2016 – Lecture (Shropshire): Lecture about the Square Kilometre Array at Telford and district Amateur Radio Society.
15th December 2015 – SciBAr (Cheshire): “Around the Universe in 60 minutes” at the Wilmslow SciBAr, The Old Dancer 7.30pm.
18th November 2015 – Nuffield event (Manchester): helping judge presentations of high school students involved in the annual summer research placement scheme organised by the Nuffield Foundation.
10th November 2015 – RAS Public Lecture (London): I gave two (fully-booked!) lectures at the RAS in London, talking about what happens “When Galaxies Collide!” Location: Burlington House, Piccadilly, London. Times: 1pm and 6pm (see the RAS events page for details).
26th October 2015 – Short talk (Manchester): “When Galaxies Collide!” as part of the Best of 2015 Mini Pint of Science evening, part of Manchester Science Festival. Location: Pub/Zoo, 126 Grosvenor Street, Manchester. Doors open 6.30pm. Tickets: £3.
10th October 2015 – Star Party (Yorkshire): Five planetarium shows, together with a storyteller, as part of the all-new Settle star party, organised by Settle Stories.
3rd October 2015 – Lecture (Warwickshire): Lecture (the kaleidoscopic universe) at the UK International Astronomy Show, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire.
27-30th August 2015 – IMC (Austria): The annual International Meteor Conference, organised by the IMO. This year I chaired a session, and played a few songs at the social!
14-16th August 2015 – SolarSphere (Wales): Astronomy/music festival. Details and tickets available from the SolarSphere website. I ran rocketry workshops (together with AstroCymru), gave a lecture (When Galaxies Collide!), and was on the panel for the Q&A session. Also on the line-up were astro-journalist Will Gater, planetary imager extraordinaire Damian Peach, and the always excellent Dr Lucie Green.
18th July 2015 – Lecture (Shropshire): Invited lecture at the Shropshire Astronomical Society’s Summer Social, “The Kaleidoscopic Universe”.
5-9 July 2015 – National Astronomy Meeting (Wales): Speaking in both the e-MERLIN (NGC660) and Outreach (IMO fireball form) sessions of the UK’s National Astronomy Meeting, this year held in Llandudno.
18-19 June 2015 – BSA Sci Com Conference: Awarded a bursary to attend the British Science Association’s Science Communication Conference.
8th June 2015 – SciBAr (Cheshire): “When Galaxies Collide!” at the Bollington SciBAr, The Vale, Bollington, 6.30pm.
18th May 2015 – Lecture (Manchester): I gave a talk as part of the international Pint of Science festival, at the Nano to Astro: Extreme Scales” evening, talking about When Galaxies Collide! The Red Lion, Wilmslow Road, Withington, Manchester. This event has now sold out.
13-24 April 2015 – Observatory visits (NL/BE): Data reduction visit to JIVE, followed by a visit and seminar at ROB / BIRA.
28th March 2015 – Convention (Cambridge): SPA convention.
23rd March 2015 – Lecture (Cheshire): Invited lecture at the science group of the Wilmslow branch of the University of the Third Age.
20th March 2015 – Eclipse and Jupiter (Clitheroe): Eclipse talk (Friday) and Jupiter viewing (Saturday) for the Waddow Singing Circle.
20th March 2015 – Eclipse viewing (Cheshire): Visiting my old primary school to do the morning assembly and some safe solar eclipse viewing at the KS2 morning assembly.
13th March 2015 – School visit (Cheshire): “Around the Universe in 60 minutes” at a local primary school.
6th March 2015 – Lecture (Elgin): Invited lecture at Moray’s Astronomy Club, Sigma, “When Galaxies Collide!“.
3rd March 2015 – School visit (Stockport): “Around the Universe in 60 minutes” for two reception classes.
23rd February 2015 – SciBar (Macclesfield): “When Galaxies Collide!” at Macclesfield SciBar, the Park Tavern, 6.30pm.
2nd February 2015 – Lecture (Kendal): Invited lecture at Eddington Astronomical Society, “When Galaxies Collide!“.
31st January 2015 – SPA meeting (London): council and general meeting of the Society for Popular Astronomy.
16th December 2014 – SciBar (Wilmslow): “When Galaxies Collide!” at Wilmslow SciBar, The Old Dancer, 7.30pm.
1st December 2014 – School visit (Oldham): Astronomy activities for ∼360 children at Holy Cross primary school.
24th November 2014 – SciBar (Manchester): “When Galaxies Collides!” at the Salutation, 5.30pm. A blog post about the evening.
19th November 2014 – Youth group (Cheshire): Astronomy evening for Poynton Brownies.
10th November 2014 – Lecture (Manchester): Invited lecture at West Didsbury Astronomical Society, “When Galaxies Collide!”.
3rd November 2014 – Youth group (Cheshire): Astronomy evening for Kingsley and Norley Guides.
28th October 2014 – U3A (Macclesfield): Invited lecture to the local University of the Third Age science and engineering group.
20 October 2014 – SciBar (Didsbury): “When Galaxies Collide!” at the Didsbury SciBar, The Albert Club, 6.45pm.
18th October 2014 – Starting from Scratch (Batley): Lectures and astronomical discussions from four SPA lecturers (including me!) at the Starting from Scratch day, run by the Society for Popular Astronomy. Details and booking info.
6-10 October 2014 – EVN Symposium (Cagliarli, Italy): The bi-annual scientific and general users meeting of the European VLBI Network.
18-21 September 2014 – IMC (Giron, France): The annual International Meteor Conference, organised by the IMO.
9 September 2014 – SciBar (Congleton): “When Galaxies Collide!” at the Congleton SciBar, The Young Pretender Beer Parlour, 7.30pm.
1 September 2014 – SciBar (Knutsford): “When Galaxies Collide!” at the Knutsford SciBar, Knutsford Sports Club, 7.30pm. Feedback forms returned by the audience said (where 1 = very poor, 5 = excellent): Informative 4.84, Enjoyable 4.7, Stimulating 4.7, Participation 4.7, Overall 4.5. Comments included “A very successful and entertaining evening”, “WOW!”, “excellent”, “superb presentation”. When asked what they liked most about the evening, five people put “the speaker”.
30th August 2014 – SPA Council (London): special session of Council.
2nd August 2014 – Lecture (Rodington, Shropshire): Invited lecture, When Galaxies Collide, at Shropshire Astronomical Society. Blog post about the evening.
26th July 2014 – SPA meeting (London): council and general meeting of the Society for Popular Astronomy.
15th July 2014 – Lecture (Macclesfield): Invited lecture at Macclefield Astronomical Society, “Going over galaxies with a fine-toothed comb”.
22nd June 2014 – Barnaby Festival (Macclesfield): Some science busking, rocketry, and astronomy in the Science Pod at the Hive of Industry event at Macclesfield’s annual festival. I also played in the parade as part of the Macclesfield School of Samba on Saturday June 21st.
25th May 2014 – Bollington Festival (Bollington): Lecture, “Around the Universe in 60 minutes”, for the general public as part of the festival’s star party event. I will also be playing the parade as part of the Bollington School of Samba on Saturday May 17th.
4th May 2014 – Tea & Talk at ArtSpace (Macclesfield): A short talk, “When Galaxies collide!”, over tea and cake at Artspace, Macclesfield. Poster artwork. Here is a review posted to the ArtSpace blog after the event:
“Dr Megan Argo, astrophysicist from Jodrell Bank, amazed and wowed us with a brief traverse across the universe taking in the processes of stars being born then dying and galaxies forming and then colliding, all with some stunning illustrations from optical and radio telescopes – our heads were spinning (like the stars it seems) – only the tea and cakes kept us down to earth!” (read the rest)
27th April 2014 – Treacle Market (Macclesfield): Some science busking at Macclesfield’s monthly lively local market.
26th April 2014 – SPA Council and general meeting (London): invited to visit the Council of the Society for Popular Astronomy.
15th April 2014 – Global Astronomy Month (blog entry): invited to write a post for the GAM2014 blog, a project of Astronomers Without Borders. This year I wrote about Communication Challenges.
20 February 2014 – Kid’s star party (Macclesfield): Tour of the Universe talk and solar system activity at the Macclesfield Astronomical Society Kid’s Star Party at Macclesfield football ground. “Dr Megan Argo will kick off the evening with an interactive talk called “Around the Universe in a Flash”. Megan is a skilled speaker with experience of inspiring children through her outreach activities to school, brownies, cubs and scouts!” Book here.
Event feedback: “It catered for all ages and abilities with an interest in astronomy. The speaker had a passion which came over and made her very easy to listen to. My granddaughter and I both really enjoyed it and she hasn’t stopped talking about it.” “My 5 year old was gripped from the start he sat and listened for 30 mins and asked questions to his grandad (who he went with) when the talk had finished” “Informative and interesting talk followed by great activities lead by enthusiasts”
February 2014 – Jodcast: Presenter on the February 2014 edition of the Jodcast, Jodrell Bank’s astronomy podcast.
February 2014 – Immersive Theatre’s Night Sky podcast: Guest presenter on the Immersive Theatre’s Night Sky podcast, talking about the night sky for February, and supernova 2014J in M82.
11th January 2014: Solar system demos and general astronomy demos at the Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester, as part of the Stargazing Live events programme.
13th & 20th November 2013 Brownie group: Observing and activities for the Stargazer’s badge at St John’s Brownies, Macclesfield.
9th November 2013 Lecture at the Tegg’s Nose Star Party: Lecture, “supernovae and other explosions”, at a public star party organised by Macclesfield Astronomical Society and held at the ranger hut at Tegg’s Nose country park.
2009 to 2014 Astronomy.FM: Guest and presenter on the internet’s only dedicated astronomy station, Astronomy FM.
2011 to 2013 CAMRAS (Netherlands): Member of the amateur group operating and maintaining the 25-m Dwingeloo radio telescope. Assisted with several events, including hekvertelling, open weekends, school groups.
2010 to 2011 Guerilla Astronomy (Australia): Co-founded the guerilla astronomy events in Perth, unadvertised public telescope viewings in busy areas of the city.
13th to 22nd August 2010 National Science Week (Australia): Touring exhibition on radio astronomy, the Murchison Widefield Array and the Square Kilometre Array. Visited Joondalup, Perth CBD, Geraldton, New Norcia (ESA tracking station) and Badgingarra.
27th July 2010 Profs & Pints (Australia): Panel member, science in the pub event, talking astronomy and how awesome the cosmos is. Webcast and podcasted by the ABC.
22nd June 2010 Science Awareness Festival (Karratha, Australia): Stall with talks and radio astronomy demos for >500 school kids in Karratha, Western Australia.
25th February and 15th May 2010 UNAWE link-up for ISKAF2010: Astronomy workshop at the Carnarvon School of the Air in Western Australia (February), followed by a video link-up between Carnarvon and schools in South Africa and the Netherlands, part of an outreach project and cultural exchange for the International Square Kilometre Array Forum.
28th November 2009 Astrofest: Western Australia’s finale to the International Year of Astronomy, attracting >4000 people. Co-organiser and CUrtin point of contact.
2nd to 6th November 2009 Midwest outreach tour: Road trip to remote schools in Western Australia, vising Yulga Jinna, Meekatharra and Cue. Telescope sessions, classroom activities and teacher training.
23rd August 2009 WAATA (The West Australian Association of Teacher Assistants) conference: Talk and solar scope demonstration during professional development workshop.
18th & 19th August 2009 Midwest schools visit: Telescopes and observing nights plus teacher professional development sessions at Yalgoo (including staff and students from Pia and Sandstone schools).
30th June 2009 Observing night at Boolardy station: Telescopes, activities and observing night for Meekatharra School of the Air, camping at Boolardy station.
12th May 2009 Triple-S Science Fair: Ice cream comets, Murchison Widefield Array dipole demonstration, 16-inch telescope viewing at the public Triple-S science fair held at St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls, Mosman Park.
2nd to 5th April 2009 100 Hours of Astronomy events: Organised and participated in several events held as part of the IYA event 100 Hours of Astronomy including: Space Pirates (Little Creatures, Fremantle), Big Scopes on the Beach (City Beach, Perth), teacher PD at the Primary Science Conference (Perth), solar viewing at SUNday (Kings Park, Perth).
24th to 27th March 2009 Ilgarijiri project field trip: Participated in a field trip to the Murchison Radioastronomy Observatory with a dozen Aboriginal artists and two other astronomers. Cultural exchange including star parties, observing and storytelling at Mullewa and Boolardy station. Resulted in a highly successful art exhibition, my photos were used in much of the advertising and promotional material.
26th January 2009 Australia Day Eclipse: Took a telescope down to the riverside park in South Perth to show people the Sun in projection during the partial solar eclipse which coincided with Australia Day celebrations. Spoke to about 500 people over the afternoon.
9th to 12th January 2009 Jamboree (Australia): Astronomy activities including evening observing with a 16-inch Dobsonian, at the Venture’s Jamboree at Fairbridge, Western Australia.
2007 50th anniversary of the Lovell telescope: Several activities (open weekends, star parties) at Jodrell Bank as part of the 50th celebrations.