ASTRONOMY AND SOCIETY FURTHERING GLOBAL CAPACITY BUILDING AND INSPIRING YOUNG CHILDREN • Why astronomy for education and capacity building? • International Astronomical Union Strategic Plan – “Astronomy for the Developing World” • EU Universe Awareness (EUNAWE) GEORGE MILEY Leiden University Vice President International Astronomical Union Portfolio: Development and Education Research field: Probing the early Universe with distant radio galaxies
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ASTRONOMY AND SOCIETY
FURTHERING GLOBAL CAPACITY BUILDING AND INSPIRING YOUNG CHILDREN
• Why astronomy for education and capacity building?
• International Astronomical Union Strategic Plan– “Astronomy for the Developing World”
• EU Universe Awareness (EUNAWE)
GEORGE MILEY Leiden University
Vice President International Astronomical UnionPortfolio: Development and EducationResearch field: Probing the early Universe with distant radio galaxies
ASTRONOMY
OPTICS High-precision
adaptive optics
COMPUTERS Fastest
hardware Complex
software
ELECTRONICS Most sensitive
detectors Fastest clocks
SPACE Satellites
Miniaturization Precision
TECHNOLOGY AND SKILLS
ASTRONOMY
OPTICS High-precision adaptive optics COMPUTERS
Fastest hardware Complex
software
ELECTRONICS Most sensitive
detectors Fastest clocks
SPACE Satellites
Miniaturization Precision
PHYSICS
Laboratory of extremes
Making heavy elements
CHEMISTRY
Producing organic
moleculesBIOLOGY
Building blocks of life
MATHEM-ATICS Abstract thought
TECHNOLOGY AND SKILLS
SCIENCE AND RESEARCH
ASTRONOMY AS SCIENCE
• Inexpensive laboratories for studying laws of physics under extreme conditions:
– Largest energies (~ 1061 erg). – Largest densities 1018 kg/m3. – Most tenuous vacuum – Largest sizes > 10 million light years
(bottom-up)– Special attention Sub-Saharan Africa– Increase number of active volunteers– Initiate new activities– Advance UN Millennium Goals– Exploit new tools and opportunities – Create “Office of Astronomy for
Development”
• Implementation roadmap
IAU STRATEGIC PLAN 2010 - 2020 “ASTRONOMY FOR THE DEVELOPING WORLD”
• Global call for proposals – 20 excellent proposals
• SAAO Cape Town selected – Partners IAU-SAAO/NRF
• Strong support from SA Department of Science & Technology and Minister– Superb Director recruited
• Kevin Govender
• Started 1 March 2011– Inauguration by South African Minister of Science & Technology 16 April 2011– Planned Stakeholders workshop 12 – 14 December 2011
PILLARS OF IAU ASTRONOMY FOR DEVELOPMENT“from the cradle to the grave”
ASTRONOMY
Primary Education
Secondary Education
Tertiary EducationResearch
Science Public
Outreach
Excites Stimulates imagination
Introduces scienceGives perspective
EU- UNIVERSE AWARENESS (EUNAWE) Astronomy-based program with educational and social goals
• Use PERSPECTIVE, INSPIRATION and FUN of astronomy to– Introduce young children to excitement of science– Broaden children’s minds
• Stimulate internationalism, tolerance • Stimulate European and world citizenship
• Implementation in 5 EU member states and South Africa• Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, UK (N. Ireland)• South Africa
• National coordinators + materials + teacher training + exchanges
Exposes DISADVANTAGED young children (4 – 10) to INSPIRATIONAL aspects of astronomy
EU- UNIVERSE AWARENESS (EUNAWE)
• Ingredients– International Network
• Platform for teachers and development professionals worldwide• Exchange of ideas, experience and materials
– Development of fun materials• Games, cartoons, songs, hands-on material• Entertaining and developed by professionals • Translated into various languages and cultures
– Teacher Training• Tailored to each country and community
• Involvement of EU Parliament– Amendment 898 of 2009 EU Budget – action connected with IYA
• FP7 action supporting IYA– Thanks to Ms Riera Madurell for her support
MOTIVATION FOR EU-UNIVERSE AWARENESS• Ages 4 - 10 are crucial for child development
• Beauty and size of the Universe excite young children
e.g. Birthplace of stars
OUR Universe is beautiful
Exploding stars
OUR Universe is exciting
MOTIVATION FOR EU-UNIVERSE AWARENESS• Ages 4 - 10 are crucial for child development
• Beauty and size of the Universe excite young children– Gives perspective – stimulates tolerance and sense of world citizenship– Gateway to science and rational thought
• Most need for economically disadvantaged children
• Combat fanaticism
"Fanatic ethnic, religious or national identifications are difficult to support when we see our planet as a fragile, blue crescent fading to become an inconspicuous point of light against the bastion and citadel of the stars. “ CARL SAGAN
EARTH FROM SATURN (CASSINI)EARTH FROM SATURN (ESA - CASSINI)
EUNAWE BUILDS FROM UNIVERSE AWARENESS
• Initiated in 2005
• Bottom-up network of ~ 500 dedicated multidisciplinary experts in ~ 40 countries
• Global cornerstone of UN-ratified International Year of Astronomy IYA2009
• Now official programme of International Astronomical Union
• Seed funding from – Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts & Sciences– NL Ministry of Education, Culture and Science
CONCLUSIONS
• Astronomy - Unique tool for global and EU capacity building at all levels• IAU decadal plan 2010 – 2020• Inspiring very young people > EUNAWE
• EUNAWE will exploit astronomy and space for educational and social goals• Educational - excite young people with science• Social - broaden minds and encourage tolerant adults• Increases effectiveness of European expenditure on astronomical and
space research for a tiny fraction of the cost
• Funding• FP7. Implementation in 6 countries thanks to EC and Parliament• FP8? Ambition - extend to additional EU and associated countries• Cross-disciplinary – relevant to at least 7 EU DGs
• Research & Innovation, Enterprise & Industry, Education & Culture, Development & Cooperation, Information Society, Digital Agenda, External Action
Funding Consortium
Armagh Observatory
Partners
Would not have been possible without:
Carolina Ödman, UNAWE International Project Manager 2005 – 2010Pedro Russo EUNAWE International Project Manager 2011 –
Claus Madsen, Head of ESO Public AffairsStefano D’Odoria, EUNAWE REA Project Officer
Armagh Observatory
Cecilia Scorza, Andreas Quirrenbach, Natalie Fischer
Rosa Ros
Franco Pacini, Lara Albanese, Alessandra Zanazzi
Kevin Govender
Frederiek Westra van Holthe
Mark Bailey
MANY THANKS TO ALL
UNAWE Venezuela – Centro de Investigaciones de Astronomía
THE UNIVERSE IS SCIENCE
UNAWE Venezuela – Centro de Investigaciones de Astronomía
THE UNIVERSE IS TECHNOLOGY
UNAWE Tunisia– Children’s Club Sfax
THE UNIVERSE IS CULTURE
UNAWE Germany – Astronomieschule Heidelberg
THE UNIVERSE GIVES PERSPECTIVE
UNAWE Kenya – Ray of Hope Community Centre
THE UNIVERSE IS INTRIGUING
UNAWE Indonesia – Institute for Teknology Bandung
THE UNIVERSE IS “HANDS-ON FUN”
UNAWE Indonesia – Large UNAWE “Snakes & Ladders” Game
THE UNIVERSE IS ENTERTAINING
UNAWE India – Tamil Nadu Science Forum
THE UNIVERSE IS INSPIRING
UNAWE Kenya – Ray of Hope Community Centre
THE UNIVERSE IS INTERESTING
UNAWE Venezuela – Centro de Investigaciones de Astronomía
THE UNIVERSE ATTRACTS A CROWD
UNAWE Venezuela – Centro de Investigaciones de AstronomíaPerformance by autistic children
