This document provides an overview of Space Scoop, an astronomy news service for kids. Space Scoop shares the latest scientific discoveries with children by translating press releases into short, simple summaries. It aims to enhance kids' understanding of the world and encourage critical thinking. Space Scoop summaries follow standards for adult press releases by using short sentences, avoiding jargon, relating science to real life, and sticking to one or two new concepts. Since 2011, Space Scoop has published 188 summaries in 22 languages and received over 100,000 page views. It disseminates its content through various print, audio, and video mediums to reach broad audiences.

1. Space Scoop
Sarah Eve Roberts
Pedro Russo, Sarah Reed, Edward Gomez, Erik Arends, Natalie Fischer, Wouter Schrier,
UNAWE translators
www.unawe.org/kids
roberts@strw.leidenuniv.nl

2. Dishing Out the Latest Astronomy News!
Astronomy news service for kids
Released at the same time as adult
press releases
Share excitement of new scientific
discoveries with children
Show that there’s potential for
contribution – still much to discover
Enhance understanding of the world
and encourage critical thinking
Broaden children’s minds and
cultivate world citizens

3. Writing for Kids
Standards of adult press releases:
Side Info
Short sentences
Avoid technical jargon where possible
Relate the science to real life
Stick to one or two new concepts
Pop-culture references
Don’t shy away from complex topics
It’s OK not to know everything! That
just means there are still mysteries to
solve!
Writing a Space Scoop in Seven
Steps
by Sarah Reed
CAPjournal Issue 13 (April 2013)

4. Statistics
Since March 2011:
Space Scoops: 188
Languages: 22
Space Scoops translated: 1924
Partners: 10
Over 100,000 page views
(80% unique page views
www.unawe.org)

6. Partners

7. Scientific Discovery
Scientific
Content
Review
Scientific Institute Press
Release
Educational
Content
Review
Space Scoop
Sent to
translators
Simultaneous public release

9. Quality of Content
Space Scoop text and
image featured in an
official primary school text
book in South Africa
(Spring 2013)
Reflects quality of content
as fit for formal education.

10. What now?

11. Space Scoop Translations
Map showing the distribution of 37 UNAWE translators across the globe, who make
Space Scoop available in 22 languages.

13. Children’s Media
Medium depends on audience and goal.
Video is passive; reaches large audience and feelings
are remembered. Suitable for inspiration.
Print is engaging; reaches a smaller audience with
more intensity. Suitable for imparting facts.
Digital is accessible; reaches a mainstream audience
of tech-savvy young generation, can even attract
‘reluctant’ readers.

14. Dissemination
Space Scoop is versatile, can be converted to a wide
range of mediums, to reach a broad audience: different
ages, visually-impaired, illiterate, no internet access, etc.
PRINT (magazines, web articles, etc.) - Scientific
facts
ORAL (podcast, etc. ) - Informal, friendly style
VISUAL (video podcast, etc. ) - Stunning, high-quality
visuals

15. Open Source
Creative Commons
Attribution
Free to share, remix, copy
Just attribute to UNAWE
Available for commercial use:
publications
Side Info

16. Print

18. Th N indTimes, I ndia
e avh

19. Web

25. Digital

28. Audio-Visual

29. Podcasts
12 Space Scoop Podcasts
Created as part of the 365 days of astronomy project
Allows access to a wider audience: visually impaired,
illiterate, etc.

30. Podcast Stats
Average 1,750 downloads per
Space Scoop podcast

31. Video Podcasts
NASA Chandra X-ray Observatory
10 Space Scoop video podcasts
Latest Space Scoop video podcast
over 1000 downloads in less than 2 weeks!

33. What else can be
done with Space
Scoop?

34. Space Scoop Storytelling
Creative activity based
around Space Scoops
Cross-curricula activity
- English and astronomy
Introduce children to science
journalism
Expose children to the latest
astronomical discoveries

35. Space Scoop Storytellng activity at the British School of the Hague, the
Netherlands in March 2013

36. Future

37. Project might come to an end in
December 2013:
Not much support needed
thanks to 10 partner institutes
and reliable voluntary network.
Applying for funding grants
Partners contribute to resource?
Sponsors?

38. Thanks for listening!
www.unawe.org/kids
roberts@strw.leidenuniv.nl