Meeting of Astronomy Education and Public Outreach Stakeholders
1. UNIVERSE AWARENESS
Inspiring Young Children
Carolina Ödman Johannesburg, May 7, 2007
carolina.odman@unawe.org
UNIVERSE AWARENESS (UNAWE)
• Initiative for a worldwide scientific culture.
• Expose very young (ages 4 - 10 years), underprivileged
children to the inspirational aspects of astronomy.
– Broaden the minds of the children
– Enhance their understanding of the world
– Demonstrate the power of rational thought
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2. MOTIVATION
• Beauty and size of the Universe excite Young Children
• Basic knowledge of the Universe is a Birthright
• Ages 4 - 10 are crucial for Child Development
• Knowledge about the Universe can broaden the mind
• Why young and underprivileged children?
– Need is greatest
– Cognitive disparities increase with age
– Cultural differences less pronounced
Astronomy for Peace Education
• Science • Multidisciplinary
– Investigation, curiosity – The big questions
– Ambassador for all
sciences
• FUN!
– Development of – Beautiful images
technology – Extreme conditions
• Culture – Unreachable yet
– History available to all
past & in the making!
– Cultural heritage
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3. GOALS OF UNAWE
• Communicate the beauty and scale of the Universe to
young children
– Excite and broaden their minds
– Help develop a “world view”
• Use inspirational astronomy to develop cognitive skills
• Reach large numbers of children
• United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
– Universal Primary Education
– Gender Equality in Primary School
PRINCIPLES OF UNAWE
• Inspiration is paramount
– Emphasis on play and entertainment
• Bottom-up approach
– Driven by the needs of the local cultures and educators
• General approach
– Earth awareness and citizenship, membership of a diverse
human family
– Awareness of the Sun, planets, solar system, galaxy, Universe
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4. CHARACTERISTICS OF UNAWE
• Underprivileged children in diverse environments
– Basic, intermediate, advanced
– Europe (e.g. inner cities) and Emerging countries
• Modular and phased
– Will take account of stages in child development
• Exploits ethnic heritage of astronomy
– Intangible cultural heritage
INGREDIENTS OF UNAWE
• Material
– Games, Cartoons, Songs, Hands-on material
– Developed by professionals
– Translated into various languages and cultures
• Teacher Training
– Coordinators in each target country
– Tailored to each country and community
• International Network
– Platform for Outreach professionals and volunteers worldwide
– Exchange of ideas, experience and materials
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5. TIMELINE
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
PREPARATION
DEVELOPMENT
IMPLEMENTATION
EVALUATION
• 2009
– Several developing countries and EU member states
– Activity for the International Year of Astronomy…
Washington Charter on EPO
• Washington Charter adopted in 2003
revised in 2005
applied in 2009?...
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6. Washington Charter
For Funding Agencies
[...]
Encourage international collaboration on public outreach
and communication activities
For Professional Astronomical Societies
[...]
Endorse standards for public outreach and communication
Make public outreach and communication a visible and
integral part of the activities and operations of the
respective societies
UNAWE as of October 2006
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7. UNAWE, A GLOBAL INITIATIVE
Team of >20 nationalities
Chile, Colombia, India, Indonesia,
Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, South
Africa (and neighbours?), Spain,
Tunisia, United Kingdom, Venezuela
PILOT PROJECTS 2006:
VENEZUELA& TUNISIA
• Venezuela
– UNESCO Schools network
– Astronomy community
– Ministry of Science and Education
• Tunisia
– Science City
– Teacher training and travelling “Astro-Bus”
– Ministries of Family Affairs and of Education
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8. PILOT PROJECTS 2007:
COLOMBIA& INDIA
• Colombia
– Street Children
– Amazonian forest orphans
– Government programmes
• India
– Tamil Nadu Science Forum
– Science popularisation Activists
– Children, women, communities involved
UNAWE INTERNATIONAL NETWORK
• Numerous initiatives around the world
– Often isolated
– Growing interest and feedback for UNAWE
• Platform for communication and community
– Exchange of ideas, experiences, material
– Announcements
– Think-tank for bottom-up approach
– Outlet for UNAWE ideas & materials
– Inclusion of other partner countries
– Independent spin-offs
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9. UNAWE in SA
• Diverse Communities
– Rich cultures
– Numerous languages
• Similarities in needs
– Across the country
– With other UNAWE countries (India)
• Existing Infrastructures and programmes
• Ongoing Development (KAT, SKA, etc.)
• Community development philosophy associated with
large scientific projects
It’s easy
• Lunar Eclipse March 2007
– Skypecast
• Sutherland - Preston April 2007
– Skype Video Chat
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10. Concrete Project Plan
• A group coordinating UNAWE - SA
– Identify communities to involve
– Identify means of delivery
– Identify synergies with existing programmes
• ==> Strategic plan
• Dialogue with implementers
– Also exploit the international dimension of UNAWE
• Funding opportunities
• Coordination with the International Office (Leiden, NL)
Essentially any activity that specifically
•Targets 4-10 year olds
•Is inspirational rather than strictly educational
•Reaches out to the underprivileged
•Includes cultural & folkloric astronomy
Is a UNAWE activity
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11. Possible Benefits from UNAWE
• International dimension
– For Children
– For Educators
• Social agenda
• Scientific culture
• Democratisation of science
• IYA 2009 Opportunity
UNAWE SA
• Human
Development
Index in Africa
Source: Globalis
SA plays a
leadership role
in sub-saharan
Africa
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12. MORE INFORMATION
http://www.UNAWE.org/
email odman@strw.leidenuniv.nl
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