Second Update From Hawaii
Last Wednesday, Sean and I were supposed to venture up Mauna Kea (a massive mountain soaring over 13,000 feet) up to the observatories. But sadly, as we’d feared, the road was closed due to snow. Yes, snow in Hawaii. To have come halfway around the world to an island in the middle of the Pacific ocean, and not have the opportunity to gaze upon the telescopes that capture the universe in initimate detail…yes, we were disappointed.
But we carried on. Thursday Sean helped again with Astronomy outreach at the local elementary schools, and on Friday, he gave two talks to high school kids about the One Week Job project. He was unsure as the kids filed into the library that morning, wondering if he would be able to fill the full 60 minutes with weighty lessons and colourful anecdotes. Turns out, he could – although the first talk came across as non-committal. Sean was a bit reserved, and the kids interested, but impassive.
The second talk was much better, as Sean seemed to hit his stride (and by that time the new class was more awake). Two teachers in the back nodded their heads to every point he made, and Sean was able to convey more of the excitement of the project – which in turn engaged the kids. I foresee these talks are the first of many in Sean’s career.