Meet the stars

Dr Megan Argo Postdoctoral Fellow at Curtin Institute of Radio Astronomy, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, Australia - A well written press release can open the door! - Enjoy it! - Podcasting is the way to go

Dennis Ashton Science ambassador, planetarium presenter, broadcaster and educator, UK - Keep it simple! - Make your excitement come through!

Naoufel BenMaaouia Tunis Science City, Tunisia - Let specators become actors

Dr David Boyce Astronomy educator, Leicester, UK - Be ready with an answer - Collaboration is key! - Grab every opportunity! - It's not what you say, but how you say it!

Elsabe Brits Specialist Reporter, Die Burger, Cape Town, South Africa - Do you know how little most people know?

Dr Erik Brogt University Centre for Teaching and Learning,University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand - We are warped by our training!

Kim Burtnyk Astronomy writer, science communicator and astronomy program and exhibit developer and evaluator, South Pasadena, California, USA - Make an emotional connection - Sharing is a great way to rediscover your own passion for your work - Take the reader on a journey of discovery

Dave Buttery FRAS, Science Ambassador, Planetarian and Proprietor, Auriga Astronomy, Belper, Derbyshire, UK - Re-engage those who have forgotten

Doris Daou Director of Communications and Outreach, NASA Lunar Science Institute, USA - For journalists …Scientists don't like surprises, but flattering works! - Remember to smile!

Richard de Grijs Reader in Astrophysics, Department of Physics & Astronomy, The University of Sheffield, UK - Think Audience!

Dr Oliver Dreissigacker Former astronomer and magazine editor, freelance science writer, Mannheim, Germany - What's your punch line?

Professor Julieta Fierro Institute for Astronomy, National University, Mexico - Outreach: a dream activity

Dr Claire Flanagan University of the Witwatersrand Planetarium, Johannesburg, South Africa - It mostly happens after hours - It pays to proofread … again - Write the facts down

Andrew Fraknoi Former Executive Director, Astronomical Society of the Pacific; Chair, Astronomy Department, Foothill College, California, USA; radio talk show host [Astronomy at Foothill College] - Take a deep breath and slow down!

Gabe Gabrielle NASA engineer, USA [Educate.Motivate.] - Encourage them to imagine… and dream!

Hassaan Ghazali Amateur astronomer and President and Executive Director: Society of the Sun, Lahore, Pakistan - The heavens bind us together

Janice Harvey Gemini North Administrator - Education, Outreach and Media, Hilo, USA - Care enough to share!

Dr Mary Kay Hemenway Astronomy Educator, University of Texas and McDonald Observatory, USA - Use Models

Professor Matie Hoffman Department of Physics, University of the Free State; Manager: The Boyden Observatory Science Centre, South Africa - Let the Universe to speak for itself

Dr Benne Holwerda Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Astronomy, University of Cape Town, South Africa - It takes time and effort to make a picture look good - If your grandmother gets it, the press release is ok - News value depends on what else happens that day - Timing is crucial

Marina Joubert Science communication consultant, South Africa - About Astronomy Stars

Professor Malcolm Longair Cosmologist, Cambridge University, UK - Get the audience on your side

Professor David Malin Photographic scientist-astronomer, Adjunct Professor of Scientific Photography, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia, Owner of David Malin Images - It's a special kind of theatre - Make them want to know! - The possibilities are endless - Write like Galileo

Professor Vicent Martínez Astronomical Obervatory, Valencia University, Spain - Tell a story of your personal adventure and new discoveries

Professor Charles McGruder Astronomer, West Kentucky University, USA - Exploiting the Media

Dr Thebe Medupe Astronomer, University of Cape Town and South African Astronomical Observatory, South Africa - Share your passion with others

Dr Bruno Sánchez-Andrade Nuńo College of Science, George Mason University, VA - Taurus, beware of UFOs!

Dr Sten Odenwald NASA astronomer, writer and creator of "The Astronomy Café", a "web site for the astronomically disadvantaged", USA [The Astronomy Café | SpaceMath@NASA] - Achieve a media profile with humour, drama and uniqueness

Dr Carolina Ödman Universe Awareness Programme, Leiden University, The Netherlands - You have one of the coolest jobs in the world!

Alexei Pace Vice-President, The Astronomical Society of Malta, Republic of Malta - Speak in terms your audience will understand

Professor Jay Pasachoff Field Memorial Professor of Astronomy, Williams College, USA - Enjoy Yourself!

Rowan Philp Specialist reporter, Sunday Times, South Africa - Controversy is not required in science stories… but it helps!

Professor Premana Premadi Institut Teknologi Bandung, West Java; Chair of UNAWE-Indonesia - There are many kinds of journalists

Assistant Professor Marie Radbo Vice Dean of Science, University of Gothenburg, Sweden - Everybody loves a good story - Feel the contact with the audience - We've come a long way … Advice to young astronomers about outreach

Case Rijsdijk Astronomer, educator and science communicator, South Africa - Check the BIG printing! - Do your homework - Get to know a journalist - Passion and enthusiasm are infectious! - The WOW factor

Professor Rosa Maria Ros Technical University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain Vice-President Commission for Education & Development, International Astronomy Union - Make it a beautiful experience - Think about what they need

Debra Shepherd National Radio Astronomy Observatory, USA - Bowl them over with a clever analogy (and get help from your press officer!)

Robert Simpson Postgraduate student, Cardiff School of Physics and Astronomy, UK - Blogging works … slowly, but surely - Don't engage with fools!

Chris Starr Head of Space Science, Aiglon College, Switzerland - Sizzling star parties in the Alps

Jacob Strikis Director: Elizabeth Observatory of Athens, President: Hellenic Amateur Astronomy Association and Thrace Amateur Astronomy Association, Greece - A visit to a planetarium is just the beginning

Roland Taams Astronomer, Chair of Astronomical Society Omega Centauri and Observatory "de Ronde Venen", Netherlands - Imagination is more important than knowledge

Dr Neil deGrasse Tyson Host of NOVA scienceNOW and director of the Hayden Planetarium, New York, USA - I loaded up with soundbytes! - You can always become better

Hans van de Groenendaal Feature Editor EngineerIT - So you want to get your story published? - Mobile phone pictures generally don't make the grade!

Gloria Villalobos Director, Robert J. Novins Planetarium, Ocean County College, USA NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador; NASA/JPL Solar System Educator; Past-President - Middle Atlantic Planetarium Society NASA/JPL - Be ready for fame! - Journalists are often the first to know - Why should the audience care?

Marion West Astronomer, Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory, South Africa - Passion makes the difference

Dr Patricia Whitelock Astronomer at the South African Astronomical Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa - Get excited and jump up and down!

If you would like to get in touch with the project organiser or any of the contributors, please contact Marina Joubert at marina@southernscience.co.za.