DSpOC outreach coordinator TJ Tomaszewski recently gave a public, 70-minute presentation on radiation and radioactivity at Mount Cuba Astronomical Observatory (MCAO). This discussion covered the basics of the electromagnetic spectrum and an explanation of radiation in the form of waves and particles. It ended with an expanded demo of measuring radiation with a series of Geiger counters and the wide applications of ionizing radiation.

This discussion to an audience of ~15 of the interested public garnered significant praise, with an enthusiastic member of the audience emailing the observatory explaining how, “certainly scored a direct hit,” and expressed a desire to see more from the observatory with his grandson.

Anyone interested in attending additional MCAO programming can go to https://www.mountcuba.org/public-programs to see the current schedule of public talks and events!