JAXA Space Education Center Report on Its Activities in 2016 — 2017 REPORT OF JAXA SPACE EDUCATION CENTER ON ITS ACTIVITIES IN 2016 AND 2017 (Information as of March 2017)
FROM THE DIRECTOR...... 3
THE YEAR IN REVIEW...... 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS OF TABLE WHO WE ARE
The History of the Space Education Center...... 14
Our Goals & Principles...... 14
WHAT WE DO
Formal Education: Professional Development & Classroom Partnership ...... 15
Informal Education: Extracurricular and Home Activities...... 16
International Engagement: Investment in a Shared Future...... 17
Content Publishing: Information in Print and Online...... 18
Establishing Strategic Footholds ...... 19
1 FROM THE DIRECTOR
“Ten” is a milestone. The Space Education Center marked a decade of existence in 2014, and the following year, Kimiya Yui became the 10th Japanese astronaut in space. But most achievements in life do not fall on milestones. Achievement is a process of learning, and learning is a continuous multifaceted process. Learning is what happens between milestones. Learning to know. Learning to do. And eventually, learning to simply be, and to live together as neighbors, as a species.1
For JAXA, 2016 was less about celebrating milestones and more about learning. We continued building on what came before, sometimes with encouraging results, other times less so. The ISS Expedition 48–49 was certainly one of the former. As one of two flight engineers on the 4-month mission, astronaut Takuya Onishi worked with a colleague from NASA to capture the Cygnus cargo vessel. He also conducted experiments inside the “Kibo” module, among them experiments submitted from Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and more.
We also built towards what is to come. JAXA’s second Epsilon rocket was launched in December 2016. The payload was the satellite “Arase,” and its mission is to study the enormous rings of energetic particles that surround our planet, known as Van Allen belts. The level of charged particles fluctuates dramatically according to solar activity, and this “weather” poses a challenge to space flight. By working to unlock the many mysteries of the Van Allen belts, “Arase” is helping shape the future of space travel.
The Space Education Center turned 12 in 2016. In human years, this is a milestone indeed—childhood’s end. For a dozen years, the Center has worked in schools and homes, in community and international settings. We have learned a great deal, and are taking a fresh look at our activities. Like the unseen particles in the Van Allen belts, space education should be energetic. As JAXA Space Education Center continues to form new partnerships both at home and abroad, we remind ourselves anew that understanding is not a static process.
NOZOMU SAKURABA, Ph.D. Director, Space Education Center
1I refer here, of course, to the Four Pillars of Education famously laid out in the Delors Report of 1996. You can find the original remarkable document in its entirety here: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0010/001095/109590eo.pdf
2 3 CLASSROOM PARTNERSHIP AT SHIMOSUWA YASHIRO MIDDLE SCHOOL
A public school known for its progressive approach rooted in the community, Yashiro worked with the Space Education Center to study cutting-edge subjects across grade levels. Through the science of energy efficiency, space elevators, JUNE-JULY APRIL-MAY and ecologically-responsible cars, the students were challenged to think about Staff of JAXA Space Education Center what it takes to have, pursue, and operationalize good ideas.
APRSAF INTERNATIONAL SPACE CAMP
Fifty-five adventurous young souls from Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, and Japan descended on Daejeon, South Korea for 5 days. Organized by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute VIDEO REPORT OF THE (KARI) and backed by both the Ministries of Education and Science, SEC’S ACTIVITIES the 2016 space Camp was also a wonderful opportunity for the Space Can we really sum up 365 days in Education Center to learn from our neighbor and colleague. 6 minutes 27 seconds? Watch the intrepid staff of the Space Education Center give it their best shot! SELENE LEARNING MATERIALS (https://youtu.be/OrwHhaOPeEE) RELEASED [Japanese Only] Developed from data collected by the lunar orbiter SELENE (Kaguya), these classroom aids such as 3D printing data, video, and papercraft kits are freely available online. (http://edu.jaxa.jp/kaguya/) [Japanese only] THE YEARTHE REVIEW IN
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a o “Technology forNext-GenAircrafts” (Chofu). forSocialBetterment”(Tsukuba), Observation “Earth and Science Mission” (Taiki), “Rocket Engine101”(Kakuda), learning experience. The focus?“TheFront LinesofSpace host 78highschoolstudentsformulti-day summer Tsukuba SpaceCenter, andChofuAerospace Center Taiki Aerospace Research Field,KakudaSpaceCenter, AEROSPACE SCHOOLS 7 8 SEPTEMBER be hostedby Adelaide,Australia. formally took over astheChairofISEB2017,to sessions, presentations, andactivities,JAXA space scholars.Afteraweekfullofconference connect, andhelpmentor anewgeneration of gathered inGuadalajara, Mexicoto present, Sponsored studentsfrom 7memberagencies ISEB @ IAC2016 @IAC2016 ISEB material forhighschoolstudents. The video footage of Onishi’s experiments into the effects of microgravity is slated to be released as learning withJAXA astronautThe Centerpartnered Takuya Onishiduringhisstay ontheInternationalSpaceStation. SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS IN SPACE these partnerships. in thenextgeneration shouldbewellwithinreach of spirit, bothcommunityrevitalization andinvestment Considering thecities'high-flyingheritageandcivic are bothhistorically familiarwithaviation andspace. people inthecitiesofKakamigahara andKomaki As amajoraerospace industrial hub,respectively, PARTNERSHIPS CITY IN AND KOMAKI KAKAMIGAHARA CITY
9 OCTOBER 10 NOVEMBER University ofthePhilippines,LosBaños. the weather, itwasaperfect day atthe Water Rocket Event. Despiteworriesabout turned outto behard-fought. special cansatcompetition Can SatelliteCompetition. The Teacher Program. Pacific Region. the colleaguesfrom across the Asia towards spaceeducationwith efforts toprovided share the theopportunity The teacherprogram chosen foradditionalhonors. calendar. were The followingyoung artists countries were selectedforthe2017APRSAF of “MyDream Planet”by children from 12 Poster Contest. Ultimately, 34interpretations regarding spaceeducation. updatesand10topicsincluding ninecountry annual meeting,25presentations were given, SEWG Annual Meeting. APRSAF-23 DuringtheSEWG 11 “SPACE SCIENCE LOCALIZATION REPORTER FOR A DAY” OF LEARNING PROGRAM MATERIAL
Three high school students went Communication is critical to where few students have gone astronauts at work, so we before—to Tanegashima, an island launched a new learning material with a storied past and home to around this idea. Users loved largest of JAXA’s launch facilities. its flexibility around participant The culmination of their 3-day trip number and venue, and the ease of was the blast-off of a H-IIA rocket, incorporating instructors’ ideas into which they covered live for their the activity. As a result, an English schools in Kamimizo-Minami, prototype was created-and wowed Unomori, and Hokuso, via video middle schoolers, who suddenly linkup. saw the point in studying for their
English class! FEBURARY-MARCH 2017 DECEMBER-JANUARY 2017
“POSTER CONTEST CALENDAR FOR 2017” ISSUE 24TH ANNUAL SPACE The drawings and paintings presented EXPLORATION EDUCATORS in this calendar were selected from CONFERENCE (SEEC)
entries from children ages 8 to 11 for The selected two Japanese teachers spend 3 days the APRSAF-23 Poster Contest, held at Space Center Houston, USA, learning and teaching under the theme, “My Dream Planet”. alongside educators from around the world.
SPACE EDUCATION SYMPOSIUM
What has space education given us? What is it doing for us right now? And what benefits will it bring in the future? Those were the big questions addressed at a two-day seminar held by the Space Education Center over a weekend. Comprising “SORA NO TOBIRA,“ groupwork, lectures, and on-the-ground reports from people active in space education, the program brought together WINTER 2016/2017 education professionals, stakeholders, and members of the public, turning interest into opportunity. ISSUE
The 38th issue introduces children to two engines designed and developed in Japan: the LE- 7A used in H-IIA and IIB, and the LE-9, the engine that powers the new H-III rocket.
12 13 WHO WE ARE WHAT WE DO
Space is a unique source of interest and inspiration, and related topics and materials into schools and homes The Space Education Center consists of teams that Formal Education gives flight to the imagination. The Space Education across the nation and around the Asia-Pacific region, support educators, serve community learners, structure Center of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and connecting Japanese STEM students to future international actions, and share information with the International works with children and young people to nurture their collaborators and colleagues in Asia-Pacific, Europe, the public in a meaningful way. Engagement Informal Education inherent curiosity about the natural world, the universe, Americas, and Africa. Our mission is to stimulate interest and all living things. Over the last 12 years, we have in not only science and technology, but in human behavior. increased and expanded our program, bringing space- Content Publishing
THE HISTORY OF THE SPACE EDUCATION CENTER Strategic Footholds (partnership) Space education has long been a part of the Japanese science would positively influence their intellectual space program’s mission. The early years were marked growth. With the creation of JAXA in October 2003, it was by the Public Affairs Department’s increasingly recognized that education efforts to increase general A is fundamentally distinct FORMAL EDUCATION: PROFESSIONAL S awareness of space and from public relations. DEVELOPMENT & CLASSROOM PARTNERSHIP gain the public’s Combined with the understanding of foundation already Space is a great fit for classrooms, and not just in STEM programs. We work with education boards and other