The Dynamic Eclipse Broadcast (DEB) Initiative is a collaborative scientific effort that trains and organizes volunteers to collect scientific solar data.  The DEB Initiative evolved from the 2017 Citizen CATE Experiment led by Matt Penn that successfully imaged the solar corona using 78 volunteer teams during the 2017 Great American Eclipse from Oregon to South Carolina.  Starting in 2015, the team has carried out coronal observations during 8 total solar eclipses in the Faroe Islands, Antarctica, Indonesia, North America, Australia and Spain.  To date, the team has trained over 700 volunteer observers. 

DEB uses inexpensive astrophotogrphy equipment and software combined with new imaging and data analysis techniques to enable valuable observations of solar eclipse as well as ongoing solar flare observations and a range of other follow on projects led by DEB volunteers. 

Goals

Advancing heliophysics and our understanding of the sun

DEB studies coronal dynamics and collects scientific data to share with other teams on the solar corona and solar disk. DEB creates trained solar observation teams around the world and advances solar image acquisitions and analysis techniques. 

Increasing STEM skills

About half of DEB’s volunteer observers have no previous astronomy or astrophotography experience.  Through training and volunteer to volunteer interactions, DEB volunteers become skilled observers contributing to scientific data sets and publications.  DEB teams retain their observation equipment and continue to contribute to future observations and outreach, including observation campaigns outside of the DEB Initiative.  For DEB teams led by teachers and faculty at educational institutions, DEB provides an authentic research experience to students and a pipeline for students to get into STEM education and ultimately STEM careers.  For volunteers with previous experience such as amateur astronomers, DEB creates a community for them to share their experience and be part of advancing heliophysics science.

Public Engagement

DEB teams participate in a variety of public engagement initiatives, the large of which include outreach during total solar eclipses.  All DEB teams upload quick look solar images during events which the public can view and share.  Some DEB teams participate in video livestreaming, providing telescope feeds to partner projects including NASA eclipse coverage.  DEB teams often form the core outreach group of eclipse events, providing skilled and trained solar observers who can act as ambassadors to the public. 

Producing scientific results

The DEB team has a history of open access publication of scientific results software tools, data sets and training in order to share our progress with the broader scientific community.