UNIVERSE AWARENESSInspiring Young Children CORNERSTONE PROJECT for IYA

2009 Sarah LevinUniverse Awarenesshttp://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

ASTRONOMY OUTREACH IN DEVELOPING 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 of astronomy.

Aims to• Broaden their world view• Awaken the scientific mind• Stimulate internationalism and tolerance

UNIVERSE AWARENESS (UNAWE)

Inspiring children with their beautiful universe

• Local context• Ethno-astronomical heritage• Regional folklore• Cultural pride

Plus• Exposure to alternative views• Affirmation of commonality

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 continuing

basic education• Includes support and education of carers• ‘Poor’ communities have ‘rich’ skies• UN Millennium

Development Goals (MDGs)Universal Primary EducationGender Equality in Primary School

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

LEARNING THROUGH PLAY

• Learning from birth• Different ways of knowing• Birthdays

Dr Spitzer and M51 (JPL)

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

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

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

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

• Motivated communityof 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

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

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

MORE INFORMATION

http://www.UNAWE.org/