Dr Nick Lomb honoured with IMAGinE Award
Post written by Toner Stevenson, Manager, Sydney Observatory
Dr Nick Lomb receives IMAGinE Award for his contribution to the Museums sector
The IMAGinE Award won by Dr Nick Lomb; photo by Irma Havlicek
The 2012 Museums and Galleries NSW individual achievement award was shared between Dr Nick Lomb, from Sydney Observatory, and Elizabeth Ann Macgregor OBE, Director Museum of Contemporary Art Australia. This was a true recognition of the contribution made by the Sciences and the Arts to our community.
The judges recognised Nick Lomb’s work as curator of astronomy, horology, meteorology and surveying for Sydney Observatory and the Powerhouse Museum over a period spanning more than 32 years stating:
‘While he is a world-wide renown expert, Nick is a most generous person who has had a major impact on the contemporary understanding of astronomy. Nick’e high profile has contributed to the scientific community’s understanding of the educational role museums play, enabling contemporary scientists to appreciate the value museums have in communicating science to the broader community. Nick has engaged the community in many aspects of his work including community contributions to Sydney Observatory’s blog site…’
This is a thoroughly deserved award as Nick’s research has contributed much to our knowledge of astronomy, meteorology and surveying in the developing colony and early 20th century. He has curated many exhibitions including ‘By the light of the Southern Stars’, a major installation for Sydney Observatory in 1997 and ‘From the Earth to the Universe’ for the Powerhouse Museum’s contribution to the International year of Astronomy in 2009. He has been consultant researcher on many other exhibitions and publications, and is credited as assisting award-winning authors such as Kate Grenville in their content and accuracy.
Dr Nick Lomb holding his IMAGinE Award and certificate; photo by Irma Havlicek
Nick has worked closely with the Sydney City Skywatchers astronomy club and SOLIS (Sydney Outdoor lighting Improvement Society). He has prepared many factsheets for the Astronomical Society of Australia website, a major source of community information. These are important sources for educators, the media, amateur astronomers and the public. Nick has engaged with education groups, teaching WEA evening astronomy classes for 25 years and visiting schools for outreach. He has organised three national seminars on the history of astronomy.
Professional astronomers have extremely high regard for Dr Lomb. He has for many years been an active participant in EPOCH, the Education Sector of the Astronomical Society of Australia, and was on the organising committee for the International Astronomical Union General Assembly held in Sydney in 2003.
Thanks Nick Lomb for your lifetime devoted to sharing your knowledge and enthusiasm for astronomy.
Nick is still consultant astronomer to Sydney Observatory and contributes to our work in many ways. He writes our Daily Cosmobites on the Obs blog, as well as providing the January, April and July monthly sky guide podcasts.
February 12, 2013 at 5:45 pm, A. James said:
This is a well deserved award.
Astronomy and science education is becoming important in the modern Australia, and we need more people explaining, describing and teaching about it. It is important too, that people know about their place in the universe. Dr Lomb sets us a good example of what can be done in this field.
To quote Dr. Lomb directly, he says in conclusion to his paper “Sydney Observatory and Astronomy Teaching in the 90s”, Pub.Astron.Soc.Aust., 13, 178 (1996)
“Modern technology has opened up many new possibilities for astronomy education. More will arise in the future. It is up to educators and teachers of astronomy to work out the best ways of utilising these, both to inform and to excite the public about astronomy.”
It is also recognised, as stated by Dr. Lomb at the “Innovation in Teaching/Learning Astronomy Methods”, at the 26th Meeting of the IAU in August 2006, that;
“Astronomy has a broad public appeal and escapes much of the negative feelings associated with most other scientific fields. Anecdotally and logically this allows astronomy to be used as a tool to stimulate students’ scientific interest. While this is most evident at college level in… Australian universities, informal education centres can play an important role. Investment in public facilities and the provision of resources for astronomy outreach can be highly beneficial by engaging the imagination of the public. ”
I would also point out his significant central contribution has been also towards our knowledge and popularisation of historical astronomy in Sydney and Australia. I.e. The Transit of Venus. This cannot be understated. Were this not the case, then Sydney Observatory when it closed after 124 years of operation by the NSW Government in 1982-83, would have not have become the successful museum and teaching facility that we had today. He has stood firmly to fight on the side of reason against the dire plans once designed by the NSW Government, and has proven the point beyond doubt the continuing need for an astronomical-based institution in Sydney. Sydney Observatory success today is certainly due to his important contribution.
I can openly affirm these comments by the thirty papers and publications by a simple search in the Astrophysical Database (ADS) [http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abstract_service.html] and typing “Lomb, N” in the author field.
Congratulation Dr. Lomb!
February 13, 2013 at 2:38 pm, Nick Lomb said:
Thanks Andrew. Your comments are much appreciated. Nick