Speaker:  Dr. Bert Pablo, Staff Astronomer, AAVSO

Host:  Charles Kerton

Title:  An Unusual Niche: The AAVSO and the Do's and Don'ts of Citizen Science

Abstract:  Astronomy, like many branches of science, has found itself at a crossroads in recent years. With the onset of multiple large-scale surveys, there is more than enough data available than all the astronomers alive could analyze in their lifetime. This has allowed the community to ask lots of questions it couldn't dream of in the past, but it also comes with some restrictions. Specific follow-up data is much more difficulty to come by, especially if one needs continuous follow up. Additionally, to process this wealth of data in any meaningful way has led to the use of computer algorithms which are still not completely reliable. While these two issues have become a thorn in the side of many astronomers, there is at least one place that is often overlooked, where they can turn for help: the citizen science community. In this talk I will discuss how this community can be best utilized, focusing mainly on the AAVSO, one of the oldest citizen science organizations in the country.

Bio:  Bert Pablo received his PhD in astrophysics from Iowa State University in 2012 and has been the staff scientist at the AAVSO since 2017. In this position he is responsible for interfacing with all the AAVSO's major scientific collaborations, including the Supernova Early Warning System and Exoplanet Watch. He also spends a large chunk of his time interfacing directly with the amateur community and developing the AAVSO's core applications and science. He is an active member of the PHOEBE development team and on the Exectuive Science team for BRITE Constellation. His research interest, in the very limited time he has to pursue them, include unique binary systems focusing mainly on massive stars.