FIRST MEETING OF EUNAWE CONSORTIUM

• 10.30 – 11.00 Introductions, background and summary of EUNAWE– George Miley

• 11.00 – 12.00 Perspective of the Project Officer– Stefano D’Orilia

• 12.00 – 12.30 EUNAWE Project Management– Pedro Russo

• 12.30 – 13.30 Lunch

• 13.30 – 15.00 Presentations of partners– 13.30 South AfricaKevin Govender– 13.45 Germany Cecilia Scorza– 14.00 Italy Francesco Palla, Alessandra

Zanassi– 14.15 NetherlandsFrederiek Westra van Holthe– 14.30 Spain Rosa Ros– 14.45 UK Mark Bailey

• 15.00 – 16.15 Informal discussion• 16.15 – 16.30 Conclusions

UNIVERSE AWARENESS (UNAWE)Astronomy-based program with 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

– Enhance their understanding of the world and demonstrate power of rational thought

Exposes DISADVANTAGED young children (4 – 10) to INSPIRATIONAL aspects of astronomy

UNAWE - MOTIVATION• 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 (CASSINI)

WHY SO YOUNG?

• “The opportunity to help disadvantaged children have a more equal start in schooling is in the earliest years when the basis for their cognitive, social and emotional development is being formed.”

UNICEF, Programming experiences in Early Childhood Development (2006)

INGREDIENTS OF UNAWE

• International Network– Platform for teachers and development professionals

worldwide– Exchange of ideas, experience and materials

• Material– Games, cartoons, songs, hands-on material• Entertaining and developed by professionals • Translated into various languages and cultures

• Training– Coordinators in each participating country• Tailored to each country and community

UNAWE – SOME ACHIEVEMENTS AFTER 5 YEARS

• Bottom-up network of ~ 500 dedicated multidisciplinary experts in ~ 40 countries

• Collection of material for very young children on web

• Global cornerstone of IYA 2009 – UN-ratified International Year of Astronomy

• Official programme of International Astronomical Union

• National and international sources of funding

• Seed funding from – Royal NL Academy of Arts & Sciences– NL Ministry of Education, Culture and Science

EUROPEAN UNIVERSE AWARENESS (EUNAWE)

BUILDING ON THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF ASTRONOMY

MAKING YOUNG EUROPEAN CHILDREN AWARE OF THE UNIVERSE

Proposed action following Amendment 898 to the 2009 EU Budget

EUNAWE 2011 - 2014 • Goals

• Use inspirational aspects of astronomy and space sciences to • Inspire, excite and interest very young European and African children in science

and technology• Stimulate European and global citizenship

• Emphasis on those in disadvantaged situations

• Ingredients• Implementation of UNAWE programme in 5 EU member states and South Africa

• Germany, Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, UK (N. Ireland)– National coordinators + materials + teacher training + exchanges

• Additional rationale– Based on a unique European-initiated cornerstone of IYA

• Satisfies Amendment 898 to the 2009 EU budget

– Combination of educational, outreach and socially relevant goals. • Increase effectiveness of European expenditure on astronomical and space

research for a tiny fraction of the cost

– Mobilize best astronomers and scientific outreach professionals for European education

EUNAWE TASKS TO BE DISCUSSED• 1 Train and empower primary school teachers to include astronomy and

space topics.

• 2 Develop and translate hands-on material over partner countries.

• 3 Provide network for exchange of expertise and material – Educators in EU member states, Associated Countries and International

Cooperation Partner Countries

• 4 Help stimulate production of European engineers and scientists, particularly girls.

• 5 Contribute to integration of underprivileged communities in participating countries.

• 6 Strengthen collaboration between Europe and South Africa in scientific, technological, educational and social topics.

• 7 Lay groundwork for expansion during FP8 within EU and additional countries in Africa and Asia.

EUNAWE WORK PACKAGES• 2 Consortium Meetings (WP2)

– Public Launch and Consortium meeting • EU Parliament + other location • Month 3. (During first half year of project?)

– Second Consortium Meeting - Mid-term Review• ~ Month 19

• 2 International Conferences (WP3)– Where?

• Month 12• Month 30

• International Web site (WP4)

• National web sites (WP6)

• Teacher training workshops (WP5)– Aim for Month 10– Aim for Month 22

• Educational resources in each country (WP7) and internationally (WP8)

• Evaluation (WP9)