Conveners
CD9 - Communicating Science Through Aurora: Engaging the Public in Space Weather: Orals
- Laure Lefevre (Royal Observatory of Belgium)
- Christine Verbeke
- Lenka Zychova (BIRA-IASB)
Description
The aurora is one of the most captivating natural phenomena, serving as both a visual spectacle and a powerful tool for engaging the public in space weather science. Its beauty sparks curiosity, providing an accessible entry point for discussions on solar activity, geomagnetic storms, and their broader impacts on Earth. This session will explore how the aurora is used as a bridge between complex scientific concepts and public understanding.
We invite scientists, educators, and outreach professionals to share their projects, experiences, and strategies for using the aurora to communicate space weather. Topics may include innovative educational initiatives, public engagement programs, citizen science projects, and the role of artistic and cultural interpretations in science communication. How can we leverage the public’s fascination with the aurora to increase awareness of space weather’s relevance to modern society? What methods have been most effective in turning curiosity into deeper understanding? With Sweden offering frequent and spectacular auroral displays, this session provides a unique opportunity to discuss how this natural wonder can be used to inspire and educate diverse audiences. By exchanging ideas, we can strengthen our collective efforts to make space weather more accessible, inspiring, and impactful for diverse audiences.
It is 1 September 1859, in the morning. Carrington, a solar physicist sees a flash on the sun. A day later, the sky is on fire. The telegraph crackles and sparks. What happened?
What people saw was the result of a massive solar storm slamming into Earth. That was then. Now, anno 2025, this could happen again. Solar storms occur with clock-like regularity on the sun. Although the sun is some...
The aurora is one of the most mesmerizing natural phenomena, but for individuals with blindness or visual impairment, experiencing its beauty through traditional means is not possible. [The ATOS project][1] (A Touch of Space Weather) is dedicated to making space weather science accessible to students with disabilities, particularly those with visual impairments. As part of this initiative,...
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...
Mytherrella is an interactive art installation which creates a dynamic environment collocating scientific data and mythological storytelling to transport the public into an imaginary world where all-sky scientific images of aurora take plenary part in the show through distortion into imagination, fears and myths of older populations from the North. The deep learning core generates real time...
The aurora borealis and aurora australis have been sources of inspiration, interest, and mystery to humans since ancient times. Due to recent advances in technology and space weather awareness, this “once in a lifetime” phenomenon has gained a wider reach. Major geomagnetic storms of 2023 and 2024 provided an initial experience with space weather effects for people who had not seen aurora...
The aurora is a visually stunning phenomenon, yet its beauty can be inaccessible to individuals who are blind or visually impaired, making it more challenging for them to fully engage with its scientific and cultural significance. Within the project A Touch of Space Weather (ATOS)", we have developed innovative methods to make the aurora accessible and meaningful for these communities, thereby...
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The Earth and outer space environment are closely interconnected and mutually dependent. Atmosphere is one of the Earth's spheres that can rapidly show us immediate visually manifested consequences of increasing space activities. Impact of rocket launch and space debris reentry pollution represents an injection of various contaminants in the form of gases and aerosols in the stratosphere,...
There has been a rapid increase in auroral tourism in the European Arctic this millennium. The interest in seeing the Northern Lights has created business opportunities in the north. Local and migrant entrepreneurs offer Northern Lights tours in various forms with the ultimate goal of viewing the aurora. Training courses on the physics behind the Northern Lights increase the scientific...
The aurora, as a captivating and visually stunning phenomenon, provides a unique opportunity to engage the public with space weather science. Within the ESWAN group, we have been reviewing various online tools that can enhance the scientific community's outreach efforts, enabling more effective communication of space weather concepts to diverse audiences. These tools range from webinar...
Due to the amazing worldwide success of the Planeterrella experiment developed by Jean Lilensten, our research group has invested a few years in constructing and exposing this fascinating experiment for both students and the general public. Presentations both onsite, at the Institute of Space Science in Romania, and offsite, at different locations in the country have been performed. Our team...
The Earth’s magnetic field is invisible and cannot be sensed by the human body. Yet, it plays a crucial role in sustaining life on the planet shielding us from harmful solar and cosmic radiation. Auroras are shaped by the magnetic field and are thus not only spectacles of immense beauty, but also concrete reminders of this important shield.
Auroras themselves need no help grabbing the...
The Planeterrella experiment is a modernized version of the clasical Terrella experiment, used to visualize and demonstrate the formation of polar auroras and related phenomena. Since its initial development by Jean Lilensten, the Planeterrella has been adopted as a valuable tool in the popularization of space science to the general public. In particular, a version of the experiment has been...
In 1899, the Norwegian physicist Kristian Birkeland designed an experiment called Terrella, to show the formation of the polar lights. Electrons were shot on a magnetised sphere in a vacuum chamber. The electron gun represented the sun, and the magnetized sphere was naturally the Earth. This experience allowed him to see (without identifying them) also ring current later discovered by James...
Translating complex space weather phenomena into formats that are engaging and understandable for general audiences is an ongoing challenge in science communication. This project explores how authentic scientific data can be transformed into immersive educational experiences—focusing on the aurora and its connection to solar activity, the Earth’s magnetic field, and the ionosphere.
We...
‘Aurora and Spotty’ is a story written to communicate Space Weather to children. This presentation describes an initiative visiting schools and telling the story to children from 4 to 7 years old. The school activity starts before the visit, with the children drawing a picture of the Sun. Then, after the visit, the children draw a second picture of the Sun. Comparison between these two...
