Outreach

As a scientist, I strongly believe that outreach is an essential and inseparable part of our work. I have been actively involved in science communication and public outreach for more than 15 years, through public lectures, stargazing events, school visits, media appearances, and contributions to popular science magazines and online platforms. I see outreach as a unique opportunity to share the excitement of astronomy, promote scientific thinking, and connect research with the wider public. Through these activities, I aim to make astronomy accessible and inspire curiosity among people of all ages. On this page, you will find information about my outreach activities, projects, and initiatives that I have organized or contributed to.


My outreach activities have been recognized by the Slovak Astronomical Society, which awarded me the Csere Prize in 2016. This annual award acknowledges outstanding contributions to the popularization and communication of astronomy.


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Outreach Activities

Events for public

Over the years, I have organized and co-organized numerous public lectures, planetarium programs, and stargazing events, including observations of the night sky, lunar and solar eclipses, planetary transits, and other astronomical phenomena. These activities have allowed me to engage with audiences of all ages, from school children to adult astronomy enthusiasts. I am particularly proud of my long-term involvement as a lecturer in the 'S ďalekohľadom na cestách (On the roads with a telescope)' project, which brought astronomy and direct telescope observations to communities across Slovakia. In addition, during my university studies, I worked for several years at a planetarium and science centre, gaining valuable experience in communicating astronomy to the general public.

I have been actively involved in the outreach activities of the International Astronomical Union (IAU). From 2017 to 2023, I served as the vice-National Outreach Coordinator (NOC) for Slovakia, appointed by the IAU. The NOC network supports the implementation of IAU outreach initiatives at the national level and promotes the development of astronomy communication around the world. In this role, I contributed to several international projects, including the IAU centenary celebration IAU100: Under One Sky, outreach activities organized in Slovakia, and two editions of the NameExoWorlds campaign, where I served as the chair of the Slovak national panel. Since 2024, I have been a member of the Organizing Committee of the IAU Executive Committee Working Group Early-Career Members.

From 2019 to 2023, I served as a member of the executive committee of the Slovak Astronomical Society. During this period, I contributed to the Society's mission of promoting astronomy, supporting the astronomical community, and bringing astronomy closer to the public in Slovakia. I was responsible for the Society's website presentation and participated in the organization of several conferences and events focused on astronomical research, education, and outreach (see also the Research part of this website).

Media

Between 2022 and 2024, I created and hosted the weekly Slovak-language astronomy podcast Vesmír v praktickom balení (The Universe in a Practical Package). The podcast introduced listeners to a broad range of astronomical topics, including recent discoveries, open questions in astronomy, space exploration, and interesting phenomena in the sky. Its aim was to make modern astronomy accessible to a general audience and to demonstrate how scientific discoveries connect with our everyday understanding of the Universe.

I created and hosted the short weekly astronomy program Pondelková hvezdáreň (Monday Observatory), broadcast every Monday morning on Rádio Regina Východ. The program was designed for a general audience and introduced listeners to a broad range of astronomical topics, from current discoveries and space missions to interesting phenomena visible in the night sky. Through this format, I aimed to bring modern astronomy closer to everyday listeners in an accessible and engaging way.

Radio and TV appearances

Since 2009, I have regularly contributed to radio and television programs, participating in more than 40 TV and 110 radio segments covering astronomical discoveries, current celestial events, and topics related to space exploration. These appearances have included news programs, interviews, and dedicated science shows, with the aim of increasing public awareness and appreciation of astronomy. I also frequently discuss the importance of protecting the night sky, raising awareness about light pollution, and its impacts on astronomical observations, ecosystems, and human well-being.

Light pollution

Activities

For more than a decade, I have been actively involved in activities aimed at raising awareness about light pollution and the importance of preserving dark skies. These activities have included public lectures, educational events, and the coordination of international initiatives such as Globe at Night and Earth Hour in Slovakia. My long-term engagement in this field led to my election in 2021 as the leader of the Section of Protection Against Light Pollution within the Slovak Astronomical Society and Slovak Union of Astronomers, where I contributed to promoting dark-sky preservation and raising awareness of the consequences of excessive artificial lighting.

Globe at Night is an international citizen science project aimed at raising awareness about the impact of light pollution on the night sky. For more than 10 years, I served as the national coordinator for Slovakia, promoting the project and encouraging people of all ages to participate in observations of the night sky. Through these activities, participants contributed valuable data for scientific studies of global light pollution trends while learning about the importance of preserving dark skies. The results based on 12 years of observations collected through the Globe at Night project were published in Science.

Earth Hour is a global environmental movement organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) that raises awareness about environmental challenges, including the issue of light pollution. For more than 10 years, I served as the coordinator of Earth Hour activities in Slovakia, becoming the youngest national coordinator worldwide when I started in this role. I was responsible for promoting the initiative among the public and communicating with municipalities, organizations, and businesses involved in the campaign. The coordination of Earth Hour activities in Slovakia is now continued by WWF Slovakia.