Emmet Mordaunt has been an amateur astronomer since childhood, and has been sharing his fascination with adults and children for over a decade.
He developed Astronomy Ireland's highly successful evening classes in 1999, which he ran first in Dublin City University, and later in Trinity College Dublin. Emmet has also written news and feature articles for Astronomy Ireland's magazine, Astronomy & Space, of which he is a former editor.
In 2001 he moved to Tasmania and ran the planetarium in Hobart's Southern Ocean and Antarctic Science Centre. While getting to know the southern stars he taught astronomy for TAFE Tasmania.
On returning to his native Dublin, Emmet designed and taught a course on astronomy and planetary sciences to children at DCU's Centre for Talented Youth; something he describes as his best teaching experience so far.
He has lectured to audiences throughout Ireland on topics as diverse as the search for alien life, and the 1633 trial of Galileo. His astronomy articles have appeared in The Irish Times, Village Magazine and countless regional newspapers over the years. He set up Nova Education to produce a comprehensive guide to astronomy degree courses in Ireland, which was published with the assistance of Forfás in 2006.
Since 2007 Emmet has lived and worked in Waterford. When he isn't stargazing he spends his time playing chess, cycling and reading history. |
