Catching the Wave: Gravitational Wave Exhibition at the Thinktank Science Museum

经过几十年的发展，引力波探测器高级LIGO于2015年9月开始采集数据，预计在运行的头几年里首次直接探测到引力波。因此，我们寻求调整我们的引力波外展活动，以期望公众对首次探测的兴趣增加。随着爱因斯坦广义相对论的百年诞辰，这是一个非常合适的时机，让公众参与到蓬勃发展的引力波天文学领域。伯明翰大学的天体物理学和空间研究小组有一个强有力的外展计划。我们的展览“用激光寻找黑洞”始于2010年，旨在向学生、教师和公众介绍引力波科学。该展览已在大型科学节上展出，如重力场（格兰瑟姆科学节2012）和切尔滕纳姆科学节（2013），我们继续被邀请参加著名的国家科学活动，包括英国科学节（2014）和BBC观星直播（2013）。我们与伯明翰科学博物馆智库合作，计划在2016年初举办一个关于引力波天文学和引力波探测器的专门展览。我们将提供两个展览（与Lauren Deere，博物馆经理，智库，伯明翰科学博物馆一起组织），在博物馆的主要画廊之一的显著位置。一个展品将是一个基于计算机的展台，另一个将围绕一个工作的科学仪器。在这个引力波天文学激动人心的时刻，智库的高客流量（去年有26万人次参观）将使我们能够吸引广泛的观众，包括儿童、青少年和家庭，他们通常不会接触到这个领域。在主要活动结束后，这个便携展品将成为我们现有材料的绝佳补充，并将在天体物理和空间研究小组的公众参与计划中使用多年，包括在校园，学校和科学节举行的活动。

After decades of development, the gravitational-wave detector Advanced LIGO began taking data in September 2015, expecting the first ever direct detection of gravitational waves during the first years of operation. We therefore seek to adapt our gravitational-wave outreach activities in anticipation of the increased public interest around the first detection. Along with the centenary of Einstein's theory of General Relativity, this makes this a very opportune time to engage the public in the blossoming field of gravitational-wave astronomy.The Astrophysics & Space Research Group at the University of Birmingham has a strong outreach programme. Our exhibition "Looking for Black Holes with Lasers", developed in 2010, is dedicated to introducing students, teachers and members of the public to gravitational-wave science. The exhibition has been shown at large science festivals such as Gravity Fields (Grantham Science Festival 2012) and the Cheltenham Science Festival (2013), and we continue to be invited to prestigious national science events including the British Science Festival (2014) and BBC Star Gazing Live (2013).In partnership with the Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum, we are planning a new dedicated exhibition on gravitational-wave astronomy and gravitational-wave detectors, to open early 2016. We will provide two exhibits (organised in conjunction with Lauren Deere, Museum Manager, Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum) to be featured prominently in one of the museum's main galleries. One exhibit will be a computer-based stand and the other will be centred around a working scientific instrument. At this exciting time for gravitational-wave astronomy, the high footfall in the Thinktank (260,000 visitors last year) will enable us to engage a wide audience including children, teenagers and families who would not normally come in contact with this field. After the main event, this portable exhibit will form an excellent addition to our existing materials, and will be used for many years in the public engagement programme of the Astrophysics and Space Research Group, including events held on campus, in schools and at science festivals.