Thought Leadership, Science Journalism & Public Engagement
A sustained public leadership record spanning national science journalism, scientific communication, STEM demonstration and international public speaking — led by a decade of regular authorship for Revista ESPACIO (100+ articles).
1. Science Journalism & Editorial — Revista ESPACIO de Astronomía y Universo (2005–2015)
Regular Staff Writer & Monthly Science Columnist (Over 100 Published Articles)
Sections: «Aula» & «Constelación mensual» · Monthly issues from January 1, 2005 to January 2015.
For a full uninterrupted decade (2005–2015) with monthly publication and nationwide circulation of 20,000 copies under publisher Editorial Grupo V, he directed and authored the educational and instrumental science outreach sections «Aula» and «Constelación mensual» in ESPACIO Magazine (Revista ESPACIO de Astronomía y Universo) (ISSN: M-52803-2004). With over 100 published articles, he brought observational astrophysics, adaptive optics, large telescope instrumentation, and space exploration to a broad audience of scientific professionals and astronomy enthusiasts across Spain and Latin America.
Core Thematic Pillars Covered Across 100+ Publications:
2. Association Presidency & Public Astronomical Observations
President of ASAAF-UCM (2004)
Elected President of the Asociación de Astrónomos Aficionados at Universidad Complutense de Madrid, directing student activities, telescopes management, and institutional university collaborations.
Public Annular Solar Eclipse Campaign (2005)
Coordinated the massive public astronomical observation of the Annular Solar Eclipse on October 3, 2005, in direct collaboration with the Physics Faculty of Universidad Complutense de Madrid.
Public Lunar Eclipse Campaigns (2003 & 2004)
Organized public night-time telescopic observations during the total lunar eclipses of November 8, 2003 (3rd Science Week, OTRI-UCM) and November 2004 with ASAAF-UCM.
Introductory Astronomy Course (2004)
Course Coordinator and Lecturer offering astronomy fundamentals, celestial sphere mechanics, telescope optics, and hands-on observational sessions for university students.
Telescope & Instrumentation Workshop (2004)
Hands-on practical workshop teaching mirror alignment (collimation), mount mechanics, focal adjustments, and optical sensor calibration for amateur and student astronomers.
Public Astronomy Outreach for Youth
Design and coordination of educational astronomy excursions, daytime solar observations, night star parties, and experimental physics workshops for youth groups.
3. Science Fairs, STEM Demonstrators & Science Week
«De la propulsión ecológica al planetario en 3D»
Organizers & Authors: Javier Mejuto González & Sergio Velasco Muñoz. Department: ASAAF (Amateur Astronomers Association at UCM). Didactic monograph and experimental workshops:
- «Cohetes de agua» (Eco-Propulsion): Hands-on demonstration of Newton's Laws with pressurized hydropneumatic rocket launches and ballistic trajectory modeling.
- «Espectrógrafos» (The Unseen Lights): Spectral dispersion of visible light, introduction to optical analysis and astronomical radiation.
- «Planetario digital en 3D»: Interactive 3D celestial sphere simulation and spatial astronomical navigation.
Chapters «Cohetes de agua» and «Observando el Sol»
Authors & Project Direction: Sergio Velasco Muñoz & Javier Mejuto González (ASAAF-UCM). Experimental educational monograph published in official book:
- «Cohetes de agua» (Eco-Propulsion): Demonstration of Newton's Third Law (action-reaction) via pressurized hydropneumatic rocket launches reaching up to 80m altitude and ballistic trajectory calculations.
- «Observando el Sol» (Safe Solar Astrophysics): Heliophysical observation methodology via projection and selective optical filters, sunspot analysis, photosphere and chromosphere dynamics.
- Astronomy Didactics: Public workshops and science communication experiments introducing physics to young students.
"Preparing for the Annular Eclipse", "Searching for UFOs" and "Sun in a Box" at the UCM exhibit.
Organization and public presentation at IFEMA booth representing UCM Physics Faculty.
Institutional outreach on behalf of Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC).
Interactive astrophysics and solar physics workshops for Canary Islands students.
4. Pint of Science Festival & Public Keynotes
Pint of Science Festival 2018 (Tenerife)
Official keynote presentation representing Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) at Aguere Cultural, translating complex Adaptive Optics and high-resolution imaging to the general public.
Pint of Science Festival 2017 (Las Palmas)
Keynote conference at Museo Elder de la Ciencia y la Tecnología in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, breaking down astronomical instrument development and diffraction-limited imaging.