Speaker
Description
The consequences of space weather are often viewed as potentially catastrophic and civilization threatening, yet they are very often much less dramatic, but significant, nevertheless. We believe that it’s important for the public to understand how we deal with space weather events, without recurring to Carrington scenarios and scaremongering.
In Italy, public awareness of space weather remains limited. Many people are still unaware that solar activity can have tangible effects on our environment—both on Earth and in the surrounding space.
Motivated by the emotional impact of the auroral displays seen in Italy over the past two years—which have sparked renewed public interest in solar activity—our team launched a monthly live broadcast series on YouTube and Facebook titled Il Lato Oscuro del Sole (The Dark Side of the Sun). This initiative is part of the Italian project Sorvegliati Spaziali, a science communication effort by INAF (National Institute for Astrophysics) focused on planetary defense.
The goal of Il lato oscuro del Sole is to make the complex and often overlooked topic of space weather more accessible and relatable to the Italian public.
With this product, we aim to channel the same sense of wonder to spark curiosity and foster engagement with space weather topics, even in regions where auroras are rarely seen.
Each session explores how solar activity and geomagnetic phenomena impact everyday technologies and systems, from satellite communications and aviation to power grids and GPS, starting with actual stories of people.
A few days before each show, we ask the public a question related to their personal experience with the topic. During the live stream, we open the show by reading and commenting on the responses we have received. This approach boosts audience engagement and clearly shows how relatable space weather is.
This presentation will share our experience in designing and delivering these broadcasts, including topic selection, audience engagement strategies, and the use of visuals and analogies to simplify complex ideas. We will also present data on audience reach, engagement, and feedback, illustrating the growing public interest in space weather when it is communicated in this relatable and consistent format.
| Do you plan to attend in-person or online? | In-person |
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