By Ian Penney, Secretary @ Skywide Amateur Radio Club
October 14th, 2023, marked not just a celestial phenomenon but also an event of collaboration, education, and outreach for the Skywide Amateur Radio Club. While the sun, earth, and moon lined up to showcase a mesmerizing eclipse, our club members actively participated in the RAC’s Simulated Emergency Training (SET) – an event designed to practice and showcase emergency communication capabilities. But, this wasn’t just any SET; it was one with a twist, thanks to our public outreach efforts during the event.
At the heart of Toronto, as members of our club worked hard to simulate emergency responses, we had a unique opportunity to engage with an enthusiastic crowd at the TMU SciXChange’s Partial Eclipse Watch Party. This provided us a platform to not just participate in the SET but also to educate and inspire the public about the world of amateur radio.
One might wonder, why mix a technical exercise with public outreach? It’s simple. We believe in community engagement, sharing our knowledge, and sparking interest in the STEM community.
The event was a resounding success. We had between 50-60 curious minds at peak attendance. The crowd comprised mainly of STEM enthusiasts who were not just there to observe the eclipse but also displayed keen interest in understanding the intricacies of our operations. From questions like, “How do you communicate with the space station?” to “What are those code words you use?”, we were inundated with curiosity, and it was rewarding to share our knowledge.
Not just the technical aspects, the attendees were also introduced to APRS maps, our club’s dedication to emergency services (highlighted recently during the Rogers outage), and even witnessed live interactions over the radio.
This event wasn’t just about showcasing our technical skills; it was about building bridges with the community. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. We had potential club recruits, an invitation for future collaborations with TMU SciXChange, and a significant interest spike in our social media channels.
In conclusion, as we look back at this eventful day, we see it as a stepping stone for future collaborations and community engagements. I personally want to extend my gratitude to the entire team and our collaborators at TMU SciXChange, especially Sofia, for making this possible. Here’s to many more such fruitful endeavors!
Visit SciXchange at https://www.torontomu.ca/scixchange/