"International Schools Education Networks for Light Pollution

Control" 

Margarita Metaxa mmetaxa@compulink.gr

IAU wg on LP/ Com.50&

IDA in public and educational outreach

The stars above us are a priceless heritage - The stars above us are a priceless heritage -

not only for scientific knowledge,not only for scientific knowledge,

but also for our identity as human beings» but also for our identity as human beings»

Dr.D.Crawford Dr.D.Crawford IDA Executive DirectorIDA Executive Director

Why it is important to establish educational networks.

• It affects the recruitment and training of future decision makers.

• It affects the awareness, understanding and appreciation of what we are doing by taxpayers and politicians.

• We have an obligation to share the excitement and the significance of our work with students and the public.

“LIGHT POLLUTION” AS A PROJECT

greek educational project funded by the Greek Ministry of Education

http://www.uoi.gr/english/EPL/LP/lp.htm

1997 - 1999

The programme

was supported by

IDA &IDA &

CIECIE

In total:In total:

• 700 students &

• 56 teachers

participated in the project in a most active

way.

                                                                                        

   ViewView of Thrakomakedones suburb, 25 Km from Athensof Thrakomakedones suburb, 25 Km from Athens

LIGHT POLLUTION CENTERS 

 

COLLABORATIVE SCHOOLS - GROUPS 

                                                                           

Greece Spain Slovenia Ireland

                                     

U.K. U.S.A

"Light Pollution" Symposium

7-9   May 1999, Athens, Greece

The excess light in the sky has an adverse impact on the environment and seriously threatens to remove forever this wonder of nature.

This is the Light Pollution problem.

Sky glow is the result of light that is projected upwards and then scattered back by particles, gases, humidity in the atmosphere to the surface of the Earth. There is interferes with the optical waveband of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Other causes of LightPollution are:

The light that is aimedupwards on purpose.

The light that is reflectedby road surfaces, grassand buildings.

The advertising signs andfloodlighting of buildings.

The floodlighiting of sportsstadiums.

It has been estimated by some researchers that up to 50% of all Light Pollution may be the result of poorly designed or maladjusted roadway lighting.

Correct fixture

Problems as well fromthe use of polluting typeof lamps.

Activities proposed by the program

1. Count the stars!Elementary, gymnasium

Objectives: students observe and familiarize

themselves with the night sky.

2. Estimate and take photos of your local «Light Pollution».gymnasium, lyceum Pleiades/Little Dipper

Objectives: students observe and familiarize themselves with the night sky and startastronomical observations.

3. Light Pollution and limiting mag.Objectives: students observe and familiarize themselves with the night sky and start astronomical observations.

Little Dippersky mag.: +7.0, ~ 7. 000 stars gymnasium, lyceum

Little Dipper/ Orion/ Cygnus sky limmiting mag: +2.0< 25 stars!!

4. Light Pollution + spectraLyceoum

Objectives:

Observe and describe the spectrum of the outdoor lighting and how that is related:

• to the effectivness of the lighting and

• to the degree of LP.

Lights, spectra, photography...

The project’s title:

«Protect your local "park" and adopt it!» «Location of local observatories in the past in the

present--contact them/protect them»and many other…

« Star parties where students use telescopes with filters and ccd…»

«Save energy for your municipality with a lighting "Life Cycle" cost project»

Europe at 2000

Europe at 2027

Internet Forum on Light Pollution

http://www.uoi.gr/EPL/LP/lp.htm

The products

• The Symposium proceedings

• An educational cd-rom

• …the network

common esteem

we need to: enchance educational outreach to the public and

schools.

The first step was an International meeting of the IDA WG

in public and educational outreach in

June 30, 2000Tucson, Arizona

Developing Education Networks

IAU wg on LP/ Com.50

&

IDA in public and educational outreach.«Promoting dark skies,

a beautiful night, quality outdoor lighting, everywhere!»

The project

A project that:

• Covers all levels of education, formal and informal.

• is Multi-disciplinary (Physics + Astronomy +Technology + Environment +…))

• Stress both scientific and social components

• is World-Wide.

LIGHT POLLUTION Physics + Astronomy + Technology +

EnvironmentEnvironment

Table of Physics and Astronomy in Natural Science Complex

Educational Level Physics/technology level Astronomy level Environmental level

Elementary school Introduction to experiments, Time, seasons Surrounding World observations

Middle school Introduction to Interactions, Solar System, ... Natural science motion, waves

High school Interactions, e/m radiation, Introduction in astrophysics projects light sources

University

E NV = I R = O N = ME = N

T

H I S T O R I C A L

S O C I A L

T E C H N O L O G I C A L

NATURAL

The project

1st year plan

• Connect with other projects

2000. «Physics on Stage», an ESA/ESO/CERN

project, 2000 (around 500 european teachers/scientists)

«Summer School for Teachers» organised in Germany by EAAE, 2001. (around 100 european teachers)

1st year plan

• Promote selected activities and translate them.

• Set up liaisons everywhere; (web-sites in local languages ).

UNESCO program “YOUTH AND LIGHT POLLUTION”

Through the program we will:

1. Encourage young people/students to create their own advertisements on the topic of Light Pollution.

2. We will put the “advertisments” on an e-display and select the winners.

3. We will organize an international conference on “Light Pollution”.

Objectives (UNESCO )The program's objectives are:

• To familiarize students with the problems of Light Pollution through Astronomy, Physics and Computer Science.

• Make students to consider the Cultural and Social dimensions of the impact of Light Pollution.

• Make students to appreciate the effects on our heritage and environment throughout their country.

Who can take part (UNESCO )

• The project is open to all schools (9 year-old pupils and more), and other educational organizations of all countries.

• Individuals may participate as well.

Phases (UNESCO )

 

The program proceeds in 3 phases within two years:

1st year (UNESCO )

• 1st phaseA.  The internet site of the proposed

programme is created.

B. Educational work directed by the teachers of participating classes for search and documentation about advertisements starts.

C. Students/teachers learn about the problem of Light Pollution and elaborate night-time or day-time activities, which will be posed by the proposed program.

2nd year (UNESCO )

• 2nd phaseBy using the proposed subjects, the pupils create as many as possible new advertisements with computer and send them by e-mail to the program.

• 3rd phase On the Internet site of the programme we will place the work of all the participants. A jury will award a price to the best work of each class.

The project

5 years plan

• Establish "awards».

• Include the LP activities in science center programs.

• Enrich and expand the program.

• Select resources and create material

The project

• Organizations to be linked:ASP, AAPT, NSTA, AAS, IAU, UNESCO, BAA/RAS,

EAAE, EISS, ASTC, IPS, EXCITE.

• The umbrella of all these actions will be the definition of

THE ASTRONOMY DAY

&

SAVE DARK SKIES DAY

An introduction to

Astronomy, Environmental, Science

Education.

Where does Astronomy Education take place?

In the classroom.

In planetaria and museums.

In the media, when someone reads a newspaper, or in front

of television and radio sets.

In a popular book of astronomy.

It happens on the Internet, in youth groups taking an

overnight hike.

… students are more influenced from “informal education”.

If Astronomy is so interesting and important, and available in so many

places…

• Why is not taught in more schools?

• Why are there so many misconceptions about astronomical topics?

The reason of the above can be found on:the traditional way of teaching Astronomy

· Teachers have misconceptions about the teaching of Astronomy.

· Teachers are not always aware of the the materials available.

·  But the basic problem is that the state doesn’t support enough education.

While the stars are “on” at night, students are not!--they follow “light pollution” laws!

What will help students to function in the 21st century?

(a) integration of Astronomy in science with mathematics and other disciplines.

(b) more time devoted to inquiry and long-term projects.

(c) more group work and cooperative learning.

(d) effective application of existing technical tools.

(e) realistic assessment tied to non-academic outcomes.

Also research has shown that

"publishing " and high tech demonstrations

improves the quality of student work.

Our project !Our project !

Developing Education Networks and co-operating with the IDA/IAU

We really count on your help, for a fruitful collaboration, in an

"Astronomical / Environmental"

outreach effort, that will benefit Astronomy, our children,

ALL OF USALL OF US.

Information

IAU wg on LP/ Com.50http://www.ctio.noao.edu/light_pollution/iauwg50.htm

IDAIDAhttp://www.darksky.orghttp://www.darksky.org

CIEhttp://www.cie.co.at/cie/