ED51F-05:
Lessons Learned from the IceCube Collaboration Education and Outreach Efforts: The Importance of Partners
Friday, 19 December 2014: 9:00 AM
Jim Madsen1, Silvia Bravo Gallart2, Jean Demerit2 and Megan Madsen2, (1)University of Wisconsin River Falls, River Falls, WI, United States, (2)University of Wisconsin Madison, Madison, WI, United States
Abstract:
The IceCube Neutrino Observatory (icecube.wisc.edu) transformed a cubic kilometer of ice at the South Pole into the world’s largest and strangest telescope. Constructed during the austral summer seasons between 2003-4 and 2010-11, it searches for very high energy neutrinos produced in some of the most extreme environments in the Universe. In 2013, the first evidence for astrophysical high energy neutrinos was published, and Physics World named IceCube the Physics Breakthrough of the Year. The combination of a new way to explore, the exotic South Pole locale, and science success might lead one to believe that outreach would be trivial. However, we have found that it is difficult to ensure a successful event without involving partners who have connections to the desired audiences. Examples of education and outreach efforts and the lessons learned from the last decade will be discussed.
