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UNAWE – Inspiring Underprivileged Children with Astronomy

UNAWE aims to expose underprivileged children to the wonders of astronomy, broadening their perspectives and stimulating tolerance. Through engaging activities and a bottom-up approach, UNAWE fosters curiosity, dialogue, and internationalism.

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UNAWE – Inspiring Underprivileged Children with Astronomy

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  1. UNIVERSE AWARENESSUNAWECarolina Ödman odman@strw.leidenuniv.nl http://www.unawe.org/IYA 2009, Garching, March 2 - 4, 2007

  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

  3. Anniversaries: 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 Astronomy for Peace • Multidisciplinary • The big questions • FUN! • Beautiful images • Extreme conditions • Unreachable yet available to all • Science • Investigation, curiosity • Ambassador for all sciences • Development of technology • Culture • History (past and in the making*) • Cultural heritage

  4. MOTIVATION • Beauty and size of the Universe excite young children • Not only education programme! • Basic knowledge of the Universe is a birthright

  5. 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

  6. 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 fosterethnic heritage of astronomy • Intangible cultural heritage • Ownership

  7. 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

  8. 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 PREPARATION DEVELOPMENT IMPLEMENTATION EVALUATION TIMELINE IYA2009 Same timeline as IYA2009 Vision: Long-term sustainability

  9. 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.

  10. 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

  11. 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!

  12. 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

  13. http://www.unawe.org/ Contact me: Carolina Ödman Odman@strw.leidenuniv.nl

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