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UNIVERSE AWARENESSInspiring Young Children

CORNERSTONE PROJECT for IYA 2009Sarah Levin

Universe Awareness

http://www.unawe.org/Athens, October 9, 2007

Is ‘Hubble’ really a household word?Astronomy outreach programmes successfully convey

the excitement of science to the public

• Popular

• Numerous

• Diverse

• Limited

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ASTRONOMY OUTREACH INDEVELOPING COUNTRIES

• SAAO/SALT space camps

• IUCCA-

Children’s Science Centre

• Global Hands on Universe

Initiative for a worldwide scientific culture.

Exposes very young (ages 4 - 10)

disadvantaged children to the inspirational aspects ofastronomy.

Aims to• Broaden their world view

• Awaken the scientific mind

• Stimulate internationalism

and tolerance

UNIVERSE AWARENESS (UNAWE)

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Inspiring children with their beautifuluniverse

• Local context

• Ethno-astronomical heritage

• Regional folklore

• Cultural pride

Plus

• Exposure to alternative views

• Affirmation of commonality

Why very young disadvantagedchildren

• Basic knowledge of the universe is a birthright

• Ages 4 - 10 are crucial for critical thinking and apersonal/social value system

• Benefit most from ECCE

• Early intervention increases chances of continuingbasic education

• Includes support and education of carers

• ‘Poor’ communities have ‘rich’ skies

• UN MillenniumDevelopment Goals (MDGs)Universal Primary Education

Gender Equality in Primary School

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MEGA CONCEPTS

“The universe is everything you see,

you know, or you can imagine exists around us, as far

as you can possibly think”

Vasiliki Spiliotopoulos

INITIAL KNOWLEDGE• Not blank slates

• Innate, naïve and observed understanding

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LEARNING THROUGH PLAY

• Learning from birth

• Different ways of knowing

• Birthdays

Dr Spitzer and M51 (JPL)

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UNAWE Approach to developingmaterials

• Inspiration is paramount

-Emphasis on play and fun

• Bottom-up approach

- Driven by the needs of the local communities and educators

– Delivered using local means of transmission

– Local means of production/distribution

• The advantage of diversity

Ingredients of UNAWE• Materials

– Games, Cartoons, Activities

– Developed by educators

– Produced/translated into

various languages

• Teacher Training– Coordinators in each target country

– Tailored to each country and community

• International Network– Platform for Outreach professionals and volunteers worldwide

– Exchange ideas, experience and materials

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Pilot Projects• Venezuela:

– UNESCO Schools network, Astronomy community, Ministry of Scienceand Education

• Tunisia– Science City, Teacher training and travelling “Astro-Bus”, Ministries of

Family Affairs and of Education• India

– TNSF, Pratham• South Africa

– SALT Collateral Benefits programme, DST& SAASTA

• Colombia– Private Initiative, MALOKA

• Indonesia– BOBO Magazine, Student volunteers, Open days

INDIA

TNSF/Pratham

• Who- street kids, child labourers, informal education, the

‘nowhere’ children.

• How Holistic literacy, health, hygiene campaigns

• What-street theatre,traditional song cycles, backs of buses,

comics

• Respect/ sensitivity to local cultural ruleEclipse Awareness campaigns

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• Motivated community

of self-taught astronomers

• Experience with street kids

• Local entrepreneur

COLOMBIA

VENEZUELA

• ( Refer to Dr. Cecilia de Scorza)

• -Teacher training workshops

• - Gov’t policy conducive to

• science outreach to the poor

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SOUTH AFRICA

• Strong movement promoting

indigenous role models

• DST committed to

communicating astronomy

TUNISIA

• City of Sciences

• Science Caravan

•Gov’t organized youth

clubs

•Teacher training workshops

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International Pilot Activities

• Lunar Eclipse March 2007– Skypecast: ~ 15 countries 4 continents, ~ 60 people aged 7 - ...

– Easy to organise at short notice

• Sutherland, South Africa - Preston, UK April 2007– Skype Video Chat between learners

• Cape Town, South Africa - Chennai,India April 2007

– International National day

• Live Astronomy– 3-way exchange: latitude & longitude

UNAWE and IYA 2009

• Full implementation by 2009

• ‘The Universe in a Box’ (incl ‘Galileoscope’)

• Books, songs, posters, games

• Cartoons, adventure animation films

• UNAWE-produced

-adopted

-recommended

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MORE INFORMATION

http://www.UNAWE.org/