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UNIVERSE AWARENESS Inspiring Young Children CORNERSTONE PROJECT for IYA 2009

Universe Awareness (UNAWE) is an initiative that aims to expose disadvantaged children between the ages of 4 and 10 to the inspirational aspects of astronomy. It broadens their world view, stimulates their scientific mind, and promotes internationalism and tolerance. UNAWE develops materials and activities, delivers teacher training, and establishes an international network for outreach professionals and volunteers. Pilot projects have been launched in Venezuela, Tunisia, India, South Africa, Colombia, and Indonesia.

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UNIVERSE AWARENESS Inspiring Young Children CORNERSTONE PROJECT for IYA 2009

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  1. UNIVERSE AWARENESSInspiring Young Children CORNERSTONE PROJECT for IYA 2009 Sarah Levin Universe Awareness http://www.unawe.org/ Athens, October 9, 2007

  2. Is ‘Hubble’ really a household word? Astronomy outreach programmes successfully convey the excitement of science to the public • Popular • Numerous • Diverse • Limited

  3. ASTRONOMY OUTREACH IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES • SAAO/SALT space camps • IUCCA- Children’s Science Centre • Global Hands on Universe

  4. UNIVERSE AWARENESS (UNAWE) Initiative for a worldwide scientific culture. Exposes very young (ages 4 - 10) disadvantaged children to the inspirational aspects of astronomy. Aims to • Broaden their world view • Awaken the scientific mind • Stimulate internationalism and tolerance

  5. Inspiring children with their beautiful universe • Local context • Ethno-astronomical heritage • Regional folklore • Cultural pride Plus • Exposure to alternative views • Affirmation of commonality

  6. Why very young disadvantaged children • Basic knowledge of the universe is a birthright • Ages 4 - 10 are crucial for critical thinking and a personal/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

  7. 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

  8. INITIAL KNOWLEDGE • Not blank slates • Innate, naïve and observed understanding

  9. LEARNING THROUGH PLAY • Learning from birth • Different ways of knowing • Birthdays

  10. Dr Spitzer and M51 (JPL)

  11. UNAWE Approach to developing materials • 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

  12. 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

  13. Pilot Projects • 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 • India • TNSF, Pratham • South Africa • SALT Collateral Benefits programme, DST & SAASTA • Colombia • Private Initiative, MALOKA • Indonesia • BOBO Magazine, Student volunteers, Open days

  14. 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 rule Eclipse Awareness campaigns

  15. COLOMBIA • Motivated community of self-taught astronomers • Experience with street kids • Local entrepreneur

  16. VENEZUELA • ( Refer to Dr. Cecilia de Scorza) • -Teacher training workshops • - Gov’t policy conducive to • science outreach to the poor

  17. SOUTH AFRICA • Strong movement promoting • indigenous role models • DST committed to communicating astronomy

  18. TUNISIA • City of Sciences • Science Caravan • Gov’t organized youth clubs • Teacher training workshops

  19. 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

  20. 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

  21. MORE INFORMATION http://www.UNAWE.org/

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