Firstly, we have successfully petitioned Blackburn and Darwen CVS for funding to take Beauty In The Universe in to that area. This is a significant breakthrough for us. We are expanding our reach and influence in to a wider area of Lancashire, thus enabling many students to to discover the fascinating science of astronomy. The funding award is significant also because it represents our largest single award to date, and it is a real thrill to see local government putting their faith in education, and in a discipline that has proven to be effective, exciting and stimulating consistently throughout history. It is also a vindication of our method and aims as, during these difficult economic times the oasis of knowledge, Enlightenment thinking and reason is flourishing.
Secondly, we have now agreed a grant award from our local council which will allow us to buy at least one portable telescope. This means that we will shortly be able to offer observing events and star parties. This is another string to our educational bow and one which I am personally very pleased about. Observing the night sky is something that cannot be replicated in the classroom and the experience itself can have a profound effect on people. It is a numinous and almost transcendent thing, particularly when one sees objects for the first time, and one which we are now able to offer to students.
Thirdly, we are making our first foray in to adult education. This will be staged at a brand new Darwen venue, 3 In A Bar. The format is yet to be agreed upon fully but it is looking like a monthly adult education evening. This is a long held ambition of both myself and Erica, to make an impact and both adult and family learning.
A while ago I calculated that as a result of our initial round of delivery to schools we have been able to reach in excess of 700 students (not including teachers). These additions and awards now mean that 700 will soon be 7000. It is our ambition to keep adding zeroes to that number.
Innovating with
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