Photo: Ioanna Kazakou/JIVE
Hundreds of people of all ages gathered three days ago in a festive atmosphere to explore science and technology at the shared headquarters of ASTRON, JIVE, and NOVA in Dwingeloo.
This event offered a great opportunity for everyone to come together in their curiosity and eagerness to learn about the omportant work being done at Dwingeloo's three institutes and telescope. Their seamless collaboration in organising the event was reflected in the variety of themes, richness of activities, and thoughtful design aimed at informing and engaging people with diverse interests and backgrounds.
JIVE’s contribution to the event was key in showcasing how radio astronomy and technology intersect to enable scientific discovery. The correlation room buzzed with visitors keen to learn how JIVE combines data from the multiple radio telescopes of the European VLBI Network to create the sharpest images of the universe. Bob Campbell, Head of the Science Operations Group, along with Martin Leeuwinga, Hardware Support Engineer, and Bert Harms, Senior Operator, were there to explain the process.
An interactive demonstration of interferometry by Des Small, JIVE Software Engineer, illustrated why it takes a telescope the size of the Earth to capture the sharpest images of the sky.
Every hour, JIVE’s Chief Scientist, Huib Jan van Langevelde, offered a captivating overview to the large audience gathered in ASTRON’s auditorium. He was joined by researchers from ASTRON and NOVA, who shared insights into their institutes' work.
A highlight of the day was placing the telescopes of the European VLBI Network on a LEGO world map, an activity that was enjoyed by both children and adults. Led by JIVE researcher Paul Boven, this interactive experience offered a fun way to understand the teamwork that goes into creating such a vast instrument and JIVE’s role in it.
The perseverance of both the kids and their parents as they constructed a model of Sardinia's radio telescope—a prominent part of the EVN—out of paper was impressive to watch.
On the wall, a collection of pictures showcased the diverse projects that JIVE scientists contribute to. This "gallery" of science remains with us after the Open Day and will be continuously updated to highlight JIVE team's scientific endeavours.