HAMSCI Workshop to Review Annular Eclipse Findings

With October's eclipse behind us and April's eclipse ahead of us, the citizen scientists' group that has been studying both is inviting hams and researchers to its next workshop to discuss some findings.

Professional scientists and radio amateurs are being invited to HamSCI's sixth annual workshop, which will present findings yielded by ionospheric data collected during the annular solar eclipse last October. The workshop will be held on 22-23 March 2024 at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. The citizen scientists' research group will also share how it is getting ready for the solar eclipse taking place on the 8th of April. This will be a total eclipse for the Cleveland area.

The program will also include a discussion about how a college curriculum can successfully integrate studies of amateur radio. Ham radio has been at the forefront in much of the research being done by HamSci, which is examining ionospheric disturbances, sporadic E, geomagnetic storms, solar flares and of course, eclipses.

For details about HamSCI, its work and the workshop - http://www.hamsci.org

RSGB British Science Week Activities

This year’s British Science Week runs from 8 to 17 March 2024 with the theme of Time.

This event is a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness of amateur radio in your local area.

The RSGB has some great activity ideas you could try at your local school, Scout or Guiding group, or local youth club.

Go to our British Science Week page and click on the activity titles to find everything you need to know to be able to run that activity.

Several radio clubs from across the UK have already planned outreach activities for British Science Week and the RSGB hopes its resources will inspire you to get involved too!

RSGB volunteer John Hislop, G7OHO has provided these ideas but the Society would love to add other activities to enthuse young people about wireless communication.

If you have an amateur radio activity on the theme of Time that you’d like to share, or if you’d like to get involved but aren’t sure how to start, please direct enquiries to the RSGB British Science Week Coordinator, Ian Neal, M0KEO.

RSGB British Science Week - http://www.rsgb.org/bsw.

Amateur Radio Club Donation Helps Mississippi Library

The Jackson Amateur Radio Club (JARC) has donated two complete sets of ARRL books and posters on the information in amateur radio, valued at $2,000, to the Madison County Library System (MCLS) in Canton, Mississippi.

“These book titles represent the brain trust of what we know about amateur radio today. We hope they will plant the seed and sow the future for radio-based technology in Madison County. The books, published by ARRL, include topics on basic electronics, antenna building, [and] rules and regulations, and [include] amateur radio license study guides.”

— Frank Howell, K4FMH, Assistant Director for the ARRL Delta Division

MCLS Director Tammie Terry was excited about the donation. "The Jackson Amateur Radio Club and ARRL have been highly supportive of helping us with our science and technology emphasis throughout our library system," she said. "This large donation will help us get these reading materials to the patrons who will most certainly benefit from them for a long time."

JARC President Jim Armstrong, AK5J, said they hope to continue making donations. "We have worked out a formal partnership between our club and the Madison County Library System. With assistance from ARRL, we are making our first donation of material, equipment, and STEM-oriented programming to the Madison County's libraries. Our intent is to make this support an ongoing [club project]."

JARC will also be holding periodic events at various Madison County library locations this year. With the slogan, Saturday Morning Amateur Radio Time (SMART), the club is offering a public program at the Rebecca Baine Rigby Library entitled, "Amateur Radio: Do They Still Do That?" on 2nd March 2024. A follow-up SMART event with a live on-air operation is planned for May.

“We have been very enthusiastic about the concept and program that our Assistant Director, Frank Howell, has created. This partnership concept is being promoted nationwide.. The MCLS is the national leader now in using community resources, like area ham radio clubs, to extend their technology-based outreach and leverage the public dollars invested in the local library system.”

— ARRL Delta Division Director David Norris, K5UZ