Space for All grant summaries 2009
The Blue Marble: monitoring planet Earth from space
This project delivered a series of 12 workshops for 350 school children aged 6 - 11 to improve their understanding of satellite technology by meeting real scientists, to inspire pupils and improve their understanding of STEM.
UK Space Settlement Design Competition
The UK Space Settlement competition is aimed at 14 - 18 year old children. 12 groups of 12 pupils were selected for the semi final in London where they spent a weekend designing a habitat for thousands of people capable of transporting them between Earth and Mars. The aim is to bring space science, engineering and communication skills to students in an exciting way. The winners travelled to Houston, USA and the UK delegation was part of the overall winning team.
'Antarctica: Mars on Earth' science competition
A national competition 'Antarctica: Mars on Earth' involves four teachers undertaking a variety of experiments in the Antarctic. School children will be invited to design and submit experiments that they would like the teachers to perform. Antarctica has been chosen as the location for these experiments as the climate most closely resembles that on Mars. (Co-funded with STFC.)
Exploring space through fashion design
Two workshops will be run in London for disadvantaged children. Each workshop will consist of 20 - 25 children, aged 13 - 14 years old. They will be tasked with designing 'space accessories'. These will then be shown and judged by other young people to select the winner during National Space Week. Industry will then be approached for help with the reproduction and sale of the winning product.
Space for All: widening horizons and understanding for everyone
This project will enable the drafting of new space education modules for use in remote areas throughout Devon and Cornwall, mainly by the funding of supply cover for the teaching staff involved. The funding will also be used to purchase a high quality colour printer and related consumables to produce supporting documentation.
Mapping litter from space
This project will enable school children from the East Midlands to participate in the Junior Space Science Fair, where they will have the opportunity to meet with scientists, engineers etc. The aim is to demonstrate to interested pupils that science is a viable career choice.
Gagarin 2011 - infrastructure and start-up
The Yuri Gagarin 50 group aims to promote UK and Russian achievements and benefits derived through space science, technology and engineering. This will be done through the web and a series of events. The aims include engaging the public and encouraging school children to study STEM subjects. The web site is at http://yurigagarin50.org/.
Rocket technology day: A Space4schools project delivered by Starchaser Industries Ltd
This project is aimed at 11 - 14 year old local school children, through a Rocket Technology Day. Up to four groups of 20 pupils will be involved in the design and construction of rockets. This will give them a greater understanding in the way STEM subjects may be used to open up different career paths.
United Kingdom Space Conference 2010
This project is to promote the success of the UK Space Community, encouraging students of all ages to consider STEM related subjects. The Conference was held over 5 days with an overall cost of circa £40k, concluding with a fund raising awards dinner. This grant enabled wider participation by students in the Conference.
Our Space - Creating digital space adventures
The first phase of the 'Our Space' project will include a series of workshops with young people to help design digital learning resources based on the video clips of experiments performed in space by Richard Garriott. In the second phase, these ideas will be used as examples to launch a competition to reach larger numbers of school pupils and generate new learning resources. The project is aimed across the educational spectrum and will help in supporting the delivery of the new 14-19 diploma. The web site is at www.our-space.org.
Out of this world classroom
This project will help to raise interest in science in school and increase skill levels relating to science investigations. This will be done through moon watch evenings, opportunities for students to meet with science enthusiasts and visits to the Royal Observatory and National Space Centre. It will also develop activities for 7 - 11 year old children, including lesson templates that may be used by other schools.
SPACE - (School, Parents And Community Engaged) - Bringing space closer to home
Stewards School will raise the profile of space through a variety of means including a Science Club, science lessons, assemblies and a Space Spectacular family day. It will produce a cross-curricular space programme for use during Space/Science week for 11 - 16 year olds, establish a Space Camp for 11 year olds and hold space related lectures and workshops for 7 - 11 year olds.
