National Astronomy Week 2020

Join Luke Jerram (lukejerram.com), Josh Yates (professional astronomical storyteller) and Josh Nall (museum historian) for an evening devoted to the "Tales of Mars" - from Mars through the eyes of astronomical artworks, music and graphics, to the Roman and Greek god of War, and the tales scientists used to tell of Martians building canals on Mars!

** This event has run. You can view a recording on YouTube by clicking here.

About the Speakers:

Luke Jerram's multidisciplinary practice involves the creation of sculptures, installations and live arts projects. Mars is a new touring artwork by UK artist Luke Jerram. The artwork allows us to

view Mars from the air, as though we are a satellite mapping and studying the surface in perfect detail. Every valley, crater, volcano and mountain is laid bare for us to inspect. The artwork transports us to this desert wasteland, to imagine what it's like to step foot on this incredible planet. 

Joshua Nall is Curator of Modern Sciences in the Whipple Museum of the History of Science at the University of Cambridge. He studies Victorian astronomy, with a particular interest in debates over life on Mars, which he wrote about in his first book: News from Mars

(University of Pittsburgh Press, 2019).

Josh Yates:  Josh is a planetarium presenter and educator with a background in puppetry, polar underwater exploration, and science communication. He takes great pleasure in the blending of science and storytelling, and particularly enjoys the weird and wonderful world(s) of astronomy and the search for extra-terrestrial life. 

Hosts: Steve Gray (Cosmos Planetarium), Robert Massey (RAS), Lucinda Offer (RAS)