The Information We Distribute Connects to How We View the Universe
Public Relations Center, Public Outreach Staff
Seiichiro Naito
Launch of Citizen Astronomy “GALAXY CRUISE”
As the core of the science communication activities of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ), the Public Relations Center disseminates a variety of information related to research results, astronomical phenomena, and calendars. Within that scope, I am charged with duties in the Public Relations Office, such as the planning and production of videos and blogs, and duties in the Outreach and Education Office, such as assisting the regular star-gazing parties and writing the “Starry Sky Information” column.
My most important duties are related to the Citizen Science project “GALAXY CRUISE,（note 1）” in which members of the public are invited to classify galaxies in data taken by the Subaru Telescope’s ultra-wide field of view prime focus camera Hyper Suprime-Cam. We started with discussions on scientific themes and how to create the flow and tutorial for the classification process in the preparatory stage, and then conducted various tests, such as putting up huge photos of galaxies on the walls of Miraikan (The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation) and distributing question sheets to the visitors. We used these as a reference to create the web content. Then GALAXY CRUISE launched in 2019 as a Citizen Science project that everyone from children to adults can participate in. Turns out, normal members of the public are actually pretty good at classifying galaxies. Thanks to their valuable classifications, the first academic paper was published in October 2023（note 2）.
My background in astronomy allows me to translate
My work at the Public Relations Center is varied; sometimes I even draw original illustrations for press releases. I have always been interested in expressing myself creatively, and I certainly wanted to try my hand at illustration as well. I studied astronomy until graduate school, so when a researcher says, “I have done this kind of research,” I can tell to some extent what the research is about by reading the papers. I can interpret the meaning of the mechanisms and processes that the researcher is focusing on, so it is easy for me to talk with the researchers when they say, “Here, I want the illustration to show this ... like this.” Even when an outside illustrator is hired to create something, I sometimes sit in on meetings as an informal translator.
I also do a lot of work writing scenarios for articles and videos. I have been involved with the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan since I was a student, and I have a strong desire to give to others what I have been given, and what I wish I had been given from NAOJ. I think that aspect comes out in my writing.
My shift from research to promotion, “What I can do to revitalize astronomy.”
Until I entered graduate school, my only desire was to be a researcher. But at that time, I was still in the phase where I was enjoying the many things that came my way and connecting them to my studies. I came to think that rather than a researcher, I would be better suited to communicate to society what is happening in astronomy as a whole, and the interesting connections between all the different pieces of the grand puzzle. As an undergraduate student, I was involved in education and outreach activities at NAOJ and sciences museums; and I started to think that is where I should apply my talents.
At that time, NAOJ decided to establish the “Science Culture Promotion Unit,” a center for training producers of scientific events and scientific content, and creators of scientific data visualizations. They were looking for people to fill these positions, and I applied and was hired. I think astronomy is important, and I hope that many people in society will not only support astronomy, but genuinely enjoy astronomy. I wanted to be in a place that would help revitalize astronomy, so in that sense, a very gratifying place was created for me, and it was best for me to jump right in.
The profound implications of looking up at the night sky.
The best part of working at NAOJ is, above all, the encounters with people. I think my job in the Public Relations Center has made working across different genres easier. For example, the 2015 “Artist in Residence,” was a collaboration with a museum in Nagano Prefecture, where artists stayed at NAOJ Nobeyama Campus, listening to seminars, touring the observatory, and interacting with researchers. They then created new works based on that inspiration. We are still in contact with some of the artists we met through that event.
In addition to research result press releases, NAOJ also has content directly related to people’s lives such as the “Starry Sky Information” column that is enjoyed daily by many people, or calendrical calculations. NAOJ’s content caters to a wide variety of tastes, from a simple love of the stars to an interest in cutting-edge science. Rather than just stopping at saying “it’s beautiful” when looking at the stars, I would like to show that the act of stargazing actually has a profound connection to our place in the Universe.
Interview Date: February 27, 2024 / Published: October 10, 2024
Interview & Article: Masami Usuda / Translation: Hiroko Komiyama and Ramsey Lundock / Photo: Shogo Nagayama
The contents of this article are as of the interview date.