Another key construction milestone was passed earlier this month, when the M1M3 mirror was moved from the storage shed where it has resided for almost five years to the main Observatory building (as shown to the right and in the accompanying video). The mirror can now be removed from its storage box and readied for coating in the on-site coating plant.

Registration has opened for the 2024 Rubin Community Workshop, which will take place in a hybrid fashion during the week of 22-26 July, with the in-person portion taking place at SLAC, in Menlo Park, California. There is a limit of 250 in-person attendees, and registration for in-person attendees will close on June 1st (or sooner, if that limit is reached). Remote attendance will be free, but still requires registration. The deadline for submitting a talk or poster abstract is 4 April, with submissions via a webform.

Many of you are probably already talking to people outside the LSST:UK sphere about the project. Maybe you’re blogging or posting about the project on social media – or would like to. We want to give researchers interested in telling new audiences about LSST:UK: the skills to spread the word.

We're looking to develop science communication skills in team members. This is an opportunity to gain useful skills while helping others – especially non-specialist audiences – understand the value of LSST:UK. The aim is to create a network of researchers who have the know-how to communicate the complexity and significance of LSST:UK and ignite interest in science and research.

The communications training schedule will be light touch, flexible and ongoing, guided by the skills and interests within the team. We’re looking for researchers with no experience to those who already engaged in science communication at any level.

The Communications Officer, Eleanor O'Kane (email eokane@roe.ac.uk), will coordinate the training. We also have the considerable expertise of our Education and Public Engagement Officer Chris Lintottwithin the project. Skills will include working with the media, communicating complex messages and understanding how to connect with different audiences.  

Training may be online and where possible we will work with institutional marketing and communication teams to deliver sessions. Sign up below if you’d like to learn more. Note that Consortium Board members who have previously responded to my requests about communications training do not need to respond.▪️