Schooners and Space brings science to the pub

SCHOONERS and space might seem like an unlikely combination, but locals and visiting scientists were more than happy to prove otherwise at a recent Science in the Pub-style event.

Over a few frothies and plenty of cosmic curiosity, guests gathered at Narrabri’s Tourist Hotel for an evening of astronomy, big ideas and relaxed conversation.

Hosted by Narrabri Shire Council in partnership with the CSIRO, the event offered the community a rare chance to hear directly from scientists working with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) – the iconic set of giant white dishes about 25km west of Narrabri, on the road towards Wee Waa.

The council’s engagement and marketing officer, Samantha Howley, came up with the clever and catchy name for the event – Schooners & Space – which she said was sparked by discussions she’d had with Rachel Rayner from the CSIRO about how to better showcase the world-class science happening in the Narrabri Shire.

“We were brainstorming ways to shine a greater spotlight on the telescopes and the incredible research happening in our region,” Howley said.

The inspiration also came from the popular Science in the Pub events, including one hosted by the CSIRO near its Murchison telescopes in Western Australia.

The Australia Telescope Compact Array – an iconic set of giant white dishes about 25km west of Narrabri on the road towards Wee Waa. Photo: Andrew Pearson.

“We thought the concept would work just as well here in Narrabri,” Howley said.

The CSIRO’s radio school is held every two years, bringing astronomers, students and researchers from around the world to town, and the timing couldn’t have been better.

“With radio school taking place in early June, and so many experts in town, it felt like a missed opportunity not to create an event that allowed the community to meet them and hear first-hand about the work being done,” Howley said.

“While the telescopes are operated remotely and scientists don’t usually work on-site, radio school brings together astronomers, students and researchers to learn more about the telescopes and their operation.”

The Schooner & Space event’s mission was simple: provide a welcoming environment where people could enjoy a drink, ask questions and learn more about the universe – all without needing a science degree.

While many attendees were CSIRO staff or radio school participants, Howley said it was fantastic to see local space enthusiasts in the beer garden as well.

“It was great to spot a number of community members in the crowd,” she said.

“It was nice to put on something a little different and create an opportunity for people to engage with science in a relaxed setting.

“Hopefully, it sparks a bit of curiosity and encourages more people to attend similar events in the future.

“For those of us who don’t fully understand the complex maths and science behind astronomy, space is such a mind-boggling topic; hearing about what these telescopes can detect and the discoveries they’re helping to make is incredible.

“It really puts into perspective just how small we are in the grand scheme of things. We’re only a tiny blip compared to the rest of the universe – albeit a unique one.”

Howley urged locals to explore the wonders, right here in our own backyard.

“We’re incredibly fortunate in this region to have so many unique attractions right on our doorstep,” she said, pointing to Mount Kaputar, the Pilliga Forest and, of course, ATCA where tourists can explore the visitor’s centre at the Paul Wild Observatory.

“Sometimes we look elsewhere for experiences without realising that people travel from across Australia, and even around the world, to see the things we have right here.”

Rachel Rayner works as a communications adviser for CSIRO, normally based in Sydney.

She said it was fantastic to travel to the Narrabri region to attend the Schooners & Space gathering, while she was in town hosting radio school sessions.

“It was a wonderful opportunity to connect with the locals and talk about the work that is happening right here in their backyard and to make science visible,” she said.

“A big passion of mine is breaking down the silos – science is tricky, but science is happening everywhere and it’s happening all the time, so we can talk about galaxies in the pub.

“Science is not out of reach for everybody.

“I even loved talking to the staff at the Tourist Hotel about space.

“And the sky in Narrabri is just so gorgeous, it was nice to get out of Sydney and see the full Milky Way.

Council and CSIRO recently joined forces, hosting a Schooners & Space night to put a greater spotlight on the telescopes and the incredible research happening in the Narrabri region. photo credit: Andrew Pearson.

“Astronomers around the world want to come to Australia because we have the best skies; the Milky Way is best viewed from the southern hemisphere, which is why we build telescopes down here.

“CSIRO does a lot of research around Australia, and in Narrabri, the research is all about cotton and space – it was a special trip.”

One of the best telescopes in the southern hemisphere, ATCA consists of six huge antennas, weighing a massive 270 tonnes each, five of which can be moved along a 3km railway track, Rayner explained.

The sixth antenna is situated a further 3km west of the main track.

Using this configuration the combined power of the antennas can simulate a single dish 6km in diameter.

ATCA is the world’s fastest gigahertz-band telescope for responding to explosions in the galaxy and beyond, like supernovae and gamma ray bursts.

It’s been used for gravitational wave research, such as following up on cataclysmic events like the collision of black holes, which produces detectable gravitational waves on Earth.

As well as recognising the incredible research underway, the Schooners & Space evening also had a touch of humour, with Howley asking the big question on the night: “Are aliens real?”.

“While I didn’t get a definitive answer,” she said, “I was told that if life exists elsewhere in the universe, there are certain galaxies that scientists consider more promising than others.

“It’s probably a good excuse to host another Science in the Pub event and ask again.”