The Post: Senior Education Officer, Armagh Observatory and Planetarium
The Post Holder: Heather Alexander
A passion for astronomy is at the heart of Heather Alexander’s role with the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium.
Give a brief outline of your career to date.
Following a number of retail roles, I began an internship with the Northern Ireland Museums Council and Derry City & Strabane District Council in 2012. This allowed me to explore my passion for education in a museum setting. From 2013 to 2014, I worked for a comic book company, helping to develop educational material. In 2015, I worked on an education programme in Derry/Londonderry and this helped me to develop my skills further. I was subsequently appointed by Armagh Planetarium the same year.
What was your favourite subject at school?
It’s so hard to pick just one. History and Science were my favourites!
Did you go on to further/higher education, if so what did you study and where?
I did an undergraduate degree in History at Ulster University and then pursued a Masters degree in Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies at the same university.
How did you get into your area of work?
Undergoing a Collection Skills Initiative internship, and then undertaking other education roles helped pave the way for my role at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium. It’s an incredibly rewarding job. We’re passionate about inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers from all backgrounds through our education and outreach programmes.
Is this what you always wanted to do?
As a child, I wanted to be an astronomer but quickly learned that maths was not my forte, so I turned my attention towards becoming a teacher. I think that my job at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium is a beautiful mixture of both childhood dreams.
Were there any particular essential qualifications or experience needed?
Experience of working with members of the public is key. If you’ve never worked in this capacity before, it can be a bit of a learning curve.
Are there alternative routes into the job?
There are many ways to get into a job in science communication, whether it be through a background in teaching, museums, or science.
What are the main personal skills your job requires?
The most essential soft skills for this role are confident public speaking and excellent communication. A passion for astronomy is also critical, as is the ability to simplify complex information for different audiences.
What does a typical day entail?
No two days are the same. Typically, I’ll be organising conferences and corporate bookings. I also help to give school and private group tours, create social media content and much more.
What are the best and most challenging aspects of the job?
The best is working for an organisation that delivers internationally recognised research in astronomy and related sciences, along with vibrant educational and outreach programmes for all ages. There are challenging aspects to every job. I think that for me, it’s simply finding the time to do everything I want to.
Why is what you do important?
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium is sited in a heritage environment with a rich scientific history at the forefront of astronomy and our research and efforts to communicate science to the public are incredibly important. We’re hosting four significant conferences, which will allow us to showcase the world-class research that we carry out here in Northern Ireland.
How did COVID-19 impact your business/role?
It helped me to develop my creative skills. I learned how to edit videos and create quality content quickly. It also gave me time to set up our podcast, Intergalactic Craic.
What advice would you give anyone looking to follow a similar career path?
Talk to people and develop your communication skills. Whether you have a background in science or not, you need to be able to communicate effectively with a variety of people.
If you weren’t doing this what would you like to do?
My dream is to be an author. I love to write and currently have one draft novel under my belt.
What is the one piece of advice you would give to yourself on your first day?
Don’t freak out. You’ll get the hang of everything and someday, you’ll be organising conferences.
Describe your ideal day off.
My ideal day off would start with a great breakfast, followed by watching TV and playing video games. Then I’d ensure that all household chores were done and head out exploring. If it was raining, I would stay home and either read or switch on the laptop and start writing. I would finish the day with dinner out, followed by a movie.
And finally, what’s the key to any successful job search?
Cast a wide net! Also, don’t be afraid to apply for a role even if you don’t meet every single requirement in the job description – you never know what will happen.
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