A Visit to Jodrell Bank's Brand New Discovery Centre

As part of my ongoing adventures with Moorlands Radio, I was lucky enough to attend a press day at Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire to have a sneak peak of their new state of the art, three million pound discovery centre before it was formally opened to the public. Bringing along my trusty pocket camcorder, I prepared to boldly go where only a couple of journalists had been invited before...

Jodrell Bank has been putting British astronomy on the map since the 1940s, but this new centre marks a series of changes to the visitor dimension of the landmark observatory. There are two new buildings, the Planet Pavilion visitor centre and the Space Pavilion live science building which houses a multitude of hands on displays and exhibits.

Whether it be printing out a 30 second feed of data collected by the telescope or initiating the sound of the big bang at the press of the button, everything has been designed to educate children young and old about the day to day operations of a working observatory as well as the cosmic phenomena it observes. I speak to the centre's director Dr Teresa Anderson and Manchester University's Dr Tim O'Brien

This is only phase one of Jodrell Bank's regeneration, there is to be a live music event in July headlined by the Flaming Lips and supported by British Sea Power and OK Go. A space themed garden will also be opening up later on in the summer.

I would like to express my thanks to all the staff at Jodrell Bank for letting me run lose through their brand new buildings repeatedly hitting the big bang button and generally getting my grubby mits on the touch screen table.


Related Links
Jodrell Bank Visitor Centre website: http://www.jodrellbank.net/
Latest news from Jodrell Bank Observatory: http://www.jb.man.ac.uk/news/
Follow the observatory on twitter: @jodrellbank
Subscribe to the JodCast: http://www.jodcast.net/

Charlie Goes Adventuring in Thailand Part 6: Ko Phangan

Its been a while, since the 2nd December in fact, but I finally got round to completing the next part of my Thailand videos. I was busy doing various forms of voluntary work experience all in the name of pursuing a career in media...  This one took longer than necessary as to make as I had to come up with a way of tackling how utterly trolleyed I got at the party. Was I drugged? Was I robbed? Just what the hell did happen? I still don't know and I sort of don't want to...

Anyway the video deals with Ko Phangan, another of the Gulf of Thailand's popular islands. Topics include discussion of Alex Garland's The Beach, the beauty of life on Thong Nai Pan and of course the full moon party/full moon parody of humanity that takes place once every month or so on Haad Rim.

Please enjoy...  I like the Nintendo references...

Charlie goes Adventuring Part 5: Ko Samui

Greetings,

Part 5 of my Thailand vlogs has recently been uploaded to YouTube.  This one deals with Ko Samui, the largest island belonging to the Surat Thani Province, and tourist haven situated within the blue waters of the Gulf of Thailand.  Its a good one, generally, though within minutes of uploading I was informed that my video could not be viewed in Germany thanks to copyright with Warner Brothers.  Think it may be because of liberal use of Emilia's Big World...  A song that you can buy from itunes via an actual link underneath my video.  Internet eh? 

As always here is the link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbsOdUa1dac

And here is the link to the entire playlist, in case you are a bit behind:

http://www.youtube.com/user/ToBePhair?feature=mhum#g/c/00C9212987A4775E

PS: Tremendous apologies to all my loyal followers in Germany.  Next time it'll be flawless...

Charlie goes Adventuring in Thailand: Part 4 - Chiang Mai

Click here to watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXLKuwpvI1c

The fourth installment of my travel logs is live on YouTube.  I'm quite happy with this one.  Its the longest video yet at 15 minutes 20 seconds, almost breaching my YouTube limit.  I'm particularly happy with my reference to 'Predator'.

As always follow the link to my video archives.   http://www.youtube.com/user/ToBePhair?feature=mhum#g/c/00C9212987A4775E
 

Part 3: Ayutthaya

So!  I have been working this last week on my Thailand vlogs. I also rewatched watched the second series of Spaced and was by deja vu during the first episode, where Daisy returns to London after a month travelling around South East Asia with a camera.  Christ, I'm not that bad am I?  One of those people who goes off to Thailand with a camera?  Thinking that I'm interesting and have got something to say just because I've got a degree in English and am in Thailand with a camcorder...  This is not what I want to convey at all...
Anyway, Part 3 is up for your viewing pleasure.  It is focused upon two days spent in Ayutthaya, the old capital of Thailand when it was known as Siam.  There are ruins, there are beheaded buddhas, you may dislike the Burmese a whole lot more after watching it.  But you shouldn't. 

As always all videos can be accessed at my YouTube channel which is down the following electronic rabbit-hole:   http://www.youtube.com/user/ToBePhair?feature=mhum

Charlie goes Adventuring in Thailand: Part 2

Work continues on my video logs.  I may have a 90 minute feature by the end of it all!  This video centres on first impressions of Bangkok, covering everything from the Khao San Road to the Grand Palace, the automated rickshaw and the cheap suit!  Please enjoy, and feel free to rate, comment and subscribe!  Only if you feel that way inclined...  What exactly are you doing here anyway?  

Check out part 1 on my youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/ToBePhair?feature=mhum

Charlie goes to Thailand Part 1

So last week I posted a link to a taster of my upcoming videos about my travels in Thailand.  Now, I come with the link to part one.  Please enjoy (and if you would kindly thumbs it up...).  Part two is on its way.