Introduction

The Star Centre is a national astronomy and space science base which

• facilitates public access to news and information

• promotes public awareness, interest, enjoyment and understanding.

The Star Centre meets these twin aims by providing an information service which can be accessed in a variety of ways and by offering a menu of public observing events.

The concept of a national astronomy base developed as part of the Centre for Science Educations growing portfolio of initiatives in both the formal education sector and the wider umbrella of the Public Understanding of Science. In December 1996 the Star Centre was launched with the aid of a Royal Society COPUS development grant and matching funding from Sheffield Hallam University.

This paper summarises the main activities of the Star Centre, gives some impression of the public response and outlines plans for future development.

The Star Centre in Context

The Star Centre reaches out directly to schools and the general public and is part of the growing network of long-term projects at the Centre for Science Education (CSE) within the School of Science and Mathematics as shown in Figure 1. The largest of these projects is the UK Research Council funded Pupil Researcher Initiative (PRI) in which school pupils in the 14–16 age range explore science topics through research briefs. The PRI provides resources, activities, strategies and support for science teachers and their pupils so that pupils will experience the excitement and relevance of science and engineering research and so develop a lasting interest and enthusiasm. All aspects of the research process are involved and there are opportunities for Science Fairs, Pupil Researcher Conferences and Roadshows.