"Universe Awareness Presentation" C. Odman Presented at: 1st IYA2009 Meeting ESO, Garching, Germany March 2007

1. UNIVERSE AWARENESS
UNAWE
Carolina Ödman odman@strw.leidenuniv.nl
odman@strw. leidenuniv.
http://www.unawe.org/
http://www.unawe.org/
IYA 2009, Garching, March 2 - 4, 2007
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2. GOALS of UNAWE
• Expose very young (4 - 10) underprivileged
children to inspirational aspects of astronomy.
– Broaden their perspectives
– Enhance their understanding of the world
– Demonstrate the power of rational thought
• By broadening children’s minds, UNAWE will
help stimulate tolerance and internationalism
GOALS of UNAWE
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3. Astronomy for Peace
• Science • Multidisciplinary
– Investigation, curiosity – The big questions
– Ambassador for all • FUN!
sciences
– Beautiful images
– Development of
technology – Extreme conditions
• Culture – Unreachable yet
– History (past and in the available to all
making*)
– Cultural heritage
Anniversaries (source: Wikipedia):
1609 & 1619: Kepler publishes his two laws!
1919: Eddington travels to Principe and demonstrates
Einstein’s newly published relativity by observing a solar
eclipse
1929: Hubble identifies Andormeda as a galaxy
1929: Hubble discovers the expansion of the Universe
1939: Hans Bethe proposes nuclear fusion as stellar combustion
process
1989: COBE launched
1989: Hipparcos launched (Gaia 2011)
History in the making:
2009: NigeriaSAT2 launch
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4. MOTIVATION
• Beauty and size of the Universe excite young
children
– Not only education programme!
• Basic knowledge of the Universe is a birthright
INGREDIENTS
• Material
Games, cartoons, songs, hands-on material
• Entertaining and developed by professionals
• Translated into various languages and cultures
• Training
• Dialogue, dissemination, feedback, evaluation
• Tailored to each country and community
• International Network
• Communication between teachers and development professionals
worldwide
• Exchange of ideas, experience and materials
• Coordination of independant initatives
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5. Development Philosophy
• Bottom-up approach
– Participatory
• Diverse environments
– Basic, intermediate, advanced
– Europe (e.g. inner cities) and Emerging countries
• Modular and flexible
– Child development
• Will foster ethnic heritage of astronomy
– Intangible cultural heritage
– Ownership
Pilot Activities
• 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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6. TIMELINE
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
PREPARATION
DEVELOPMENT
IMPLEMENTATION
IYA2009 EVALUATION
Same timeline as IYA2009
Vision: Long-term sustainability
Implementation
• Present active UNAWE participation
– Chile, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy,
Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, Tunisia, United
Kingdom, Venezuela
– Participation in an international programme gives a
high profile (Astronomy in non IAU countries)
• Work with existing programmes
– Foster experience and infrastructure to spread the
UNAWE philosphy
– Amateurs, etc.
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7. What can you do?
• Involve your communities
– astronomers, pro & amateurs, education, etc.
• Full participation:
– Identification of people & potential funding
• Join the Network:
– All material will be made available
• Collection of available material for very young children
• Collection of myths and legends
Global 2009 activities
• Count the stars
• Tell stories
• Sing a song about the sky
• Astronomy and art
• Online hook-ups (e.g. Eclipse tonight)
• Class twinning
• etc
• Please stay in touch to know more!
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8. CONCLUSIONS
• UNAWE combines social and educational aims
• There is need for such a programme
• Everyone can take part
• Nationally driven efforts
• AIM: Implement UNAWE in 2009
http://www.unawe.org/
Contact me:
Carolina Ödman
Odman@strw.leidenuniv.nl
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