What draws people into wanting to learn astronomy? And, more importantly, what can we do to keep them learning? Amy will discuss her personal experience teaching astronomy informally to children and adults and her recently published children's book about the night sky.

Amy is the founder and director of Starry Sky Austin. Amy attended the University of Houston where she earned her Bachelor of Physics. There she learned about astronomy and helped to re-open the University of Houston observatory. After graduating from UH she attended Rice University and graduated with a Master of Science Teaching degree and her Texas Teaching Certificate in Science grades 4-8. She taught at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, in private and public schools. A mother of 3, Amy has years of experience teaching and working with the public. She has spent the past decade following her passion by inspiring Austin and the surrounding communities with hands-on astronomy classes and has recently published a children's book about the night sky. She is also currently employed as an astronomy educator at Travis County Milton Reimers Ranch Observatory.

At the Novice Session

This is a talk everyone will enjoy including experienced amateur astronomers. There are many online resources that can be used to create images and for study.  Jimmy Newland has recently been using IRSA, the NASA/IPAC Infrared Science Archive based on the Spitzer Space Telescope to create images and he will also introduce the Las Cumbres Online Global Telescope System.  Jimmy teaches astronomy at Bellaire High School and runs a useful web site for not only his students but others interested in astronomy.