SPACE GAME INSIDE Contents

EDUnews4 26-03-2003 15.58 Page 1 European Space Agency’s Newsletter on Education No 4 March 2003 page 4 page 7 page 9-12 page 8 SPACE GAME INSIDE Contents Editorial 2 ‘Mission to Mars’ symposium, Brussels, November 2002 14 New working group to monitor space education 3 Students for Space Medicine 15 ESA participates at the ECIS Annual Conference 4 ESA and the World Space Week 2002 – the results 16 page 18 Space Summer School Alpbach 2002 6 ... and in 2003 7 First Eduspace Teachers’ workshop 17 Student Parabolic Flight Campaign 7 Young Faces of Space 18 Physics on Stage 3 8 5th Student Participation Programme IAF 18 Space Board Game to download 9 The ESA Education Office 19 What is ESA? 19 Space Environments and Effects Lectures at http://www.esa.int/education the Kiruna Space and Environment Campus 13 What’s coming up 20 EDUnews4 26-03-2003 15.58 Page 2 Editorial The year 2003 will be a turning point for the Agency’s Space Education Programme. Based on four years of experience and activities undertaken by the Education Office and by the different Programme Directorates, a proposal for a consis- tent 10-year Space Education Programme will be submitted for decision to the DG. The need for an Education Programme has been emphasised by the second report of the Long-Term Space Policy Committee (LSPC), action 18 endorsed by ESA Council in 2000 with the long-term goal “to contribute to the creation of the talented work force needed for the 21st century by providing a European focus for education on space matters, and stimulating interest in science and technology.” After four years of pioneering in outreach and education it was time to ensure a corporate, coherent and synergetic Space Education Programme. Such a Programme will also provide the necessary continuity and reliability of funding that is required in education. The proposal describes an efficient mechanism to coordinate these activities inside ESA as well as with the external institutions and national space agencies. The Space Education Programme relies on a marketing approach that bridges the target groups, i.e. youngsters and teachers, with ESA knowledge, expertise and opportunities. In parallel, recognising the declining interest among young people in science and technology, several recommendations have been formulated in different contexts by international organisations such as the UN (COPUOUS), IAF, IAA, European Science Foundation, all of which want • “to promote literacy and enhance rural education by improving and coordinating educational programmes and satellite-related infrastructure; • to enhance capacity-building through the development of human and budgetary resources, the training and professional development of teachers, the exchange of teaching methods, materials and experience and the development of infrastructure and policy regulations.” Recommendation Unispace III (Third United Nations Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space) This issue contains a more detailed article that highlights the general approach of the space community and, in particular, a study that is being carried out by the International Academy of Astronautics and the International Astronautical Federation. Head Education Office 2 EDUnews No 4 March 2003 EDUnews4 26-03-2003 15.58 Page 3 New working group to monitor space education Nothing is more important for the future of space and education organised in recent society than the education of its young years. The group met at UNESCO, Paris, people. This is valid both for industrialised with international experts in the field of and developing countries. We in the space space and education in March 2003 with a community are well aware that the study special focus on space in education in the of space and the use of space technology last years of secondary education. have already had a profound impact on everyday life. The role of space and its Further this year, on the occasion of the technologies will become even more International Astronautical Congress important to relate to the sustainability which will be held in Bremen in October of Earth. Future generations must be led 2003, the group proposes to organise a to understand and appreciate these plenary session with the following objec- aspects of the world they will inhabit and tives: guard. • To present the synthesis of what has It is a fact that young people are fasci- already been done and today’s situa- nated, inspired, and motivated by space tion in terms of pilot projects and activ- and there are many existing examples of ities to introduce space in education, space topics being used in schools with elaborated from the findings and the great success in the curriculum. However, methodology developed by a prepara- there is a general concern of a declining tory workshop. number of youngsters with interest in science and technology. Space-related • To present international projects, themes have to be more present in identified during the preparatory work- national education programs. shop, designed to demonstrate the value of space in education, which will Many recommendations have been put be offered to interested countries for forward by groups of experts during past immediate implementation. workshops, conferences, etc. and many activities have been undertaken, but • To present the first elements of a IAA Commission VI progress is slow. potential high-level agreement for on Space and introducing space in education which, Society: Culture The International Academy of under the guidance of UNESCO, could Astronautics (IAA), together with the be presented to governments for formal and Education Space and Education Committee of the adoption in the near future. The IAA Study Group “Bridging Space and International Astronautical Federation Education” was created (IAF), have proposed to set up a joint • To stimulate and enhance dialogue and in 2001 by the IAA working group to review the experience as interaction among space professionals, Commission VI to pre- well as the status of the actions developed academic representatives and congress pare a report of the IAA from the recommendations formulated participants, in particular the young with recommendations on the mutual enrichment during workshops, conferences etc. on people. of space and education from kindergarten to university: Education in space and roles of space IAF Space Education and Outreach Committee and space related activi- The committee members organise the symposium on Space and Education during the annual International ties in education. Astronautical Congress. The four sessions cover subjects such as ways to involve young students in hands-on education activities, comparison of existing regional structure of space education and methods used to enhance Francois Becker development of space education programs. A new session was recently created to explore educational outreach Chairman of the IAA programmes as a means to promote education and novel uses of space for the education of the general public Study group, in the arts, communication and other non-traditional areas. Dean and Vice President for Programs Philippe Willekens, Chairman of the Committee, International Space Administrator for Education Projects, ESA Paris. University 3 EDUnews No 4 March 2003 EDUnews4 26-03-2003 15.59 Page 4 ESA participates at the ECIS Annual Conference With a 12m-long The ECIS Annual conference is a four-day stand and a full-day event attracting approximately 4000 workshop, the teachers from schools around the world that offers a European-national or inter- European Space national curricula. Membership is open to Agency presented any school, individual professional educa- an exciting spec- tor and professional support agency. It is trum of its educa- a special opportunity for educators to gather together, to share and explore new tional programme to possibilities and new developments in the European education. Council of International Space workshops and materials are always enthusiastically received and this Schools (ECIS) year was no exception. The recent formal annual conference inclusion of space science and cosmology in Berlin from in several national and international cur- 20 to 24 November ricula brought invitations to both ESA and NASA for guest lectures. 2002. ESA was happy to contribute with a glit- tering space stand, a full day specialist workshop for teachers of 16- to 18-year- olds, and a cross-curricula session for teachers in primary and middle schools. The pre-conference workshop During the popular pre-conference workshop ‘Science for the new Millennium: Astronomy and Space Technology in the science curriculum’, a team of ESA education specialists and scientist colleagues presented some of ESA’s many education products. The workshop was designed for the serious subject specialist in physics, At the stand chemistry, mathematics and astronomy at degree and postgraduate levels, represent- The continuously busy stand offered an ing seven different national/international excellent focal point for teachers to try ‘hands-on’ exercises, to brain-storm with ESA scientists and education experts, whilst providing an opportunity for teachers, school administrators, professional organisations, publishers and other education suppliers, and advisors at all levels to make contact with the team. Visitors to For further the stand came from the full subject, cur- information on ricula, linguistic, ability and age spectrum ECIS see: and were highly motivated, appreciative www.ecis.org and enthusiastic. 4 EDUnews No 4 March 2003 EDUnews4 26-03-2003 15.59 Page 5 through satellite imaging. Eduspace experts Juerg Lichtenegger and Laurence Ghaye introduced the participants to the principles of remote sensing. The two- hour course covered the processing and interpretation of satellite data, as well as some exciting in-depth and hands-on classroom exercises. The session closed with a short illustration of how this under- lying technology may be applied across the curriculum – and especially to the fields of chemistry, physics, geography and geology. The final session of the day offered a medley of experiences from MSM.

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