Beyond the Breakthrough

Fostering Collaboration to Accelerate Astronomy Education and Outreach

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 14:03:35 -0400

Anica Miller-Rushing, Yasmin Catricheo and Nicolas Bonne, leaders of ASTRO ACCEL, discuss the value in international collaboration in astronomy education and outreach, and how the online Commons platform enables unique partnerships to advance the field.

Links

Join ASTRO ACCEL

Tactile Universe Project

AUI Education and Public Engagement Programs

Connect With AUI

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⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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References

Thieman, J., Ng, C., Lewis, E., & Cline, T. (2010). Sun-Earth days. In J. Barnes, D. A. Smith, M. G. Gibbs, & J. G. Manning (Eds.), Science education and outreach: Forging a path to the future (Vol. 431, p. 115). Astronomical Society of the Pacific. https://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/2010ASPC..431..115T

Capturing Dark Skies

Wed, 25 Feb 2026 19:16:02 -0500

Bettymaya Foott, astrophotographer and communicator for DarkSky International, and Jeff Hellerman, art director at the U.S. National Science Foundation National Radio Astronomy Observatory and dark sky photographer, discuss the role of astrophotography in astronomy and their experience shooting at the Very Large Array.

Links

⁠⁠⁠National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) Website⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Very Large Array (VLA) Website⁠⁠

⁠Very Large Array Astrophotography Project Gallery⁠⁠

⁠Dark Sky International⁠

⁠⁠Dark Sky Week⁠

⁠DarkSky Advocate Network⁠

⁠International Dark Sky Places Map⁠

⁠Light Pollution Map⁠

⁠Bettymaya Foott's Instagram ⁠

⁠Jeff Hellerman's Instagram⁠

Connect With AUI

⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Please note: The Very Large Array and National Radio Astronomy Observatory are facilities of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) operated under cooperative agreement with Associated Universities Incorporated. The opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily represent those of the NSF.

Informing and Inspiring the Public Through Film

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 09:26:37 -0500

Jill Malusky, senior news and public information manager at the U.S. National Science Foundation National Radio Astronomy Observatory, discusses how science films, both factual and fictional, impact the science field and the process of filming projects, like Apple TV’s “Pluribus”, on site.

Links

⁠⁠National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) Website⁠⁠

⁠⁠Green Bank Observatory (GBO) Website ⁠

⁠Very Large Array (VLA) Website⁠

⁠Pluribus First Scene⁠

⁠NRAO Social Media ⁠

Connect With AUI

⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠

Please note: The Green Bank Observatory, Very Large Array and National Radio Astronomy Observatory are facilities of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) operated under cooperative agreement with Associated Universities Incorporated. The opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily represent those of the NSF.

Securing the U.S. Critical Mineral Supply Chain

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Ben Kolendar, World Trade Center Utah, and Matt Schaub, AUI, reflect on the United States’ history with critical minerals and propose solutions to better secure their supply chain.

Learn more

⁠AUI Website

World Trade Center Utah⁠

Join Our Online Community⁠

LinkedIn⁠⁠

Instagram⁠⁠

Facebook

Advancing Science with Technology Transfer

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Bert Hawkins, assistant director of the Central Development Laboratory at the National Science Foundation’s National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NSF NRAO), and Jeff Pixton, technology transfer manager at the NSF NRAO, explain the basics of technology transfer and the benefits for science and beyond.

Learn more

⁠AUI Website⁠

⁠Central Development Lab⁠

⁠Tech Transfer at NRAO⁠

Join Our Online Community⁠

LinkedIn⁠⁠

Instagram⁠⁠

Facebook⁠

The Green Bank Observatory and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory are facilities of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) operated under cooperative agreement with Associated Universities Incorporated. The opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily represent those of the NSF, and the implementation of any radar system on these facilities would be subject to NSF review and approval.

Improving Planetary Defense with Radar

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Will Armentrout, U.S. airman and astronomer, returns to explain planetary defense and discuss the U.S. National Science Foundation Green Bank Observatory’s ngRADAR project.

Links

⁠National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) website⁠

⁠Green Bank Observatory (GBO) Website ⁠

⁠ngRADAR⁠

⁠Tycho Crater image

⁠Will's Website

Related Episodes

Breaking Down Radio Astronomy

Capturing Cosmic Data With Radar

Connect With AUI

⁠Website⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠

Please note: the Green Bank Observatory and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory are facilities of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) operated under cooperative agreement with Associated Universities Incorporated. The opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily represent those of the NSF, and the implementation of any radar system on these facilities would be subject to NSF review and approval.

Beyond the Episode: Learning on Expedition

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Kat Troche and Sarah Treadwell are back for a bonus episode to share their experiences from place-based education programs operated by AUI and its partners. Both science outreach professionals participated in the Astronomy in Chile Educator Ambassador Program (ACEAP) and Sarah took part in the Mission Patagonia program as well.

AUI's Place-Based Learning Programs

⁠⁠Astronomy in Chile Educator Ambassadors Program⁠⁠

⁠⁠Mission Patagonia Program⁠⁠

Learn More

⁠⁠Astronomical Society of the Pacific⁠⁠

⁠⁠Night Sky Network⁠⁠

⁠⁠Solar System Ambassadors⁠⁠

⁠⁠Amateur Astronomers Association⁠⁠

⁠⁠Blue Marble Institute of Science ⁠⁠

Connect With Kat

Connect With Sarah

Connect With AUI

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⁠⁠Facebook

Capturing Cosmic Data With Radar

Wed, 30 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Patrick Taylor, radar division head at the National Science Foundation's Green Bank Observatory, explains how advancements in radar technology are enhancing scientists' understanding of the Universe and influencing the future of space exploration.

Links

⁠National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) website⁠

⁠Green Bank Observatory (GBO) Website ⁠

⁠ngRADAR⁠

⁠Tycho Crater image⁠

Connect With AUI

⁠Website⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠

Please note: The Green Bank Observatory and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory are facilities of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) operated under cooperative agreement with Associated Universities Incorporated. The opinions expressed in this podcast do not necessarily represent those of the NSF, and the implementation of any radar system on these facilities would be subject to NSF review and approval.

Breaking Down Radio Astronomy

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Will Armentrout, astronomer and U.S. airman, explains the history and basics of radio astronomy.

Links

Tycho Crater image
Will's website
National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) website
NRAO Radio Astronomy 101
Green Bank Observatory (GBO) Website
GBO YouTube

Connect With AUI

Website
LinkedIn
⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠
Facebook⁠⁠

Navigating Science Outreach in the Digital Age

Wed, 28 May 2025 07:17:57 -0400

Science outreach professionals Space Case Sarah (Sarah Treadwell) and Kuiper Kat (Kat Troche) share tips on how to use social media to reach and connect with audiences and advice for those interested in starting their own outreach efforts.

Learn More

⁠Astronomical Society of the Pacific⁠

⁠Night Sky Network⁠

⁠Solar System Ambassadors⁠

⁠Amateur Astronomers Association⁠

⁠Blue Marble Institute of Science ⁠

Connect With Kat

Connect With Sarah

Connect With AUI

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Facebook⁠⁠

References

American time use survey — 2023 results . (2023, June 27). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved May 28, 2025, from https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/atus.pdf.

Duarte, F. (2025, April 24). Alarming average screen time statistics (2025). Exploding Topics. https://explodingtopics.com/blog/screen-time-stats

Watson, A. (2024, November 13). Average reading time per day U.S. by age 2023. Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/412454/average-daily-time-reading-us-by-age/#:~:text=The%20average%20daily%20time%20spent%20reading%20by,than%20nine%20minutes%20per%20day%20on%20average.

Making Big Science Possible with the User Facility Model

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400

From COVID-19 vaccines to the first image of a black hole, user facilities have made significant scientific breakthroughs possible over the past 70+ years. How do scientists access user facilities to conduct complex scientific research? Allison Costa, associate scientist at the U.S. National Science Foundation’s National Radio Astronomy Observatory, breaks down the process.

Learn More

⁠NRAO Observing Website⁠

Join Our Community

References

"UMR releases annual NIH Economic Impact Report: 2025 update". United For Medical Research. (2025, March 11). https://www.unitedformedicalresearch.org/statements/umr-releases-annual-nih-economic-impact-report-2025-update/

Combating the Challenges of Sourcing Power

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Adam Reed, senior advisor at AUI, and Tom Campbell, cofounder and growth director of LEAP Manufacturing, discuss the challenges the Unites States currently faces with sourcing critical minerals necessary to manufacture batteries used to power items for defense, transportation and everyday tasks. Key players in BEACONS, Reed and Campbell explain how the battery technology initiative can combat these challenges and bolster the country’s authority in critical minerals.

Learn More

BEACONS Website
AUI Website

Join Our Community

LinkedIn
Instagram
Facebook

References

Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment, Fiscal Year 2023 Energy and Fuel Budget Justification Report. Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment. Retrieved March 21, 2025, from https://www.acq.osd.mil/eie/ero/oe/docs/reports/2023/FY23-Energy-and-Fuel-Budget-Justification-Report.pdf

Rimer, S. (2017, November 7). Loaded research question: Do male and female soldiers carry their equipment differently? Boston University. https://www.bu.edu/articles/2017/how-soldiers-carry-weight/#:~:text=In%20a%20combat%20mission%2C%20that,every%20soldier%2C%20regardless%20of%20sex

U.S. Government Accountability Office. U.S. - China relations. GAO. (n.d.). https://www.gao.gov/u.s.-china-relations#:~:text=In%20recent%20years%2C%20tensions%20between,challenges%20to%20the%20U.S.%20military

Introducing 'Beyond the Breakthrough': An Open Science Podcast Powered by AUI

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 12:13:08 -0500

On a mission to expand access to STEM knowledge, AUI’s Kelsey Underwood sits down with experts to discuss their latest breakthroughs in science and technology and their impact on astronomy, energy, education and beyond.

SAVE THE DATE: First episode premiers March 26!