Investigation into the Potential of Investigative Projects Involving Powerful Robotic Telescopes to Inspire Interest in Science

Abstract

The Faulkes Telescope Project and its educational aims are briefly summarised. Research to evaluate its impact in inspiring excitement and interest among students is described. The Faulkes Telescope in Hawaii was used to provide images for assessed coursework based on two of the Faulkes “education/research” projects on galaxies. Students’ attitudes to various aspects of using the telescope and to the two galaxy projects were obtained using a questionnaire and free‐response comments. The students were found to be enthusiastic about all aspects of the telescope and the idea of carrying out serious science investigations based on the images that they had obtained.