What Is the Macarthur Astronomical Society's Relationship with Western Sydney University?

Updated

The Macarthur Astronomical Society (MAS) and Western Sydney University (WSU) are community outreach partners. Their most visible joint activity is the Macarthur Astronomy Forum, held monthly in collaboration with WSU's Campbelltown campus and open to the public. The forum brings Australian and international guest speakers — professional astronomers presenting their latest research — to a general audience in Sydney's south west.

The Macarthur Astronomy Forum

The forum is the main expression of the MAS–WSU relationship. According to the society, it is:

  • Held monthly in collaboration with Western Sydney University (Campbelltown)
  • Open to the public, with free entry for at least some sessions
  • Available to members on Zoom as well as in person
  • Speaker-led, featuring Australian and international guest speakers who reveal their latest research

A listed example is David Mieklejohn and Marnie Ogg (a Dark Sky Defender) speaking on September 21st, with free entry and the public welcome. The talk title given is "The Night Is Not Lost: Preserving the Future of Dark Skies in Australia."

The society directs readers to its Notice Board for current forum details, so dates, speakers and any changes should be checked there rather than assumed from older listings.

Community Outreach Partnership

Beyond the forum, MAS describes itself as a "proud community outreach partner" with WSU. The page notes that WSU Provost Prof Sarah Lewis welcomed Astronomer Prof Fred Watson AM at a recent Macarthur Astronomy Forum, with MAS Vice President Noel Sharpe and MAS President John Rombi also present. This illustrates the partnership operating at an institutional level, not just as a room-booking arrangement.

The society's broader outreach includes visiting schools and other local institutions to talk about astronomy, and it states that its amateur astronomers collaborate with local institutions to broaden public understanding of the Universe.

Patron: A Separate University Connection

It is worth distinguishing the WSU partnership from the society's patron. MAS Patron is Professor Geraint Lewis, a cosmologist, astrophysicist, teacher, author and public speaker, and Professor of Astrophysics at the Sydney Institute for Astronomy at the University of Sydney School of Physics. He has been an annual guest speaker at MAS since 2008.

So the society has ties to two institutions: an ongoing partnership with Western Sydney University, and a patron affiliated with the University of Sydney. If your interest is specifically the WSU collaboration, the forum and the outreach partnership are the relevant pieces.

What This Means If You Want to Attend

If you are deciding whether the WSU-linked events are worth your time, the practical points are:

  • You do not need to be a member to attend the forum — it is described as open to the public.
  • Members can also join on Zoom, which suits people who cannot travel to Campbelltown.
  • Check the Notice Board first, since the forum runs monthly and speaker details change.
  • Other MAS activities are separate: dark sky sessions and field nights are members-only, while workshops and the Astro Imaging Group have their own pages and formats.

For current dates, speakers and access arrangements, use the society's Notice Board as the authoritative source rather than any single event listing.