"Presentation of UNAWE" Claus Madsen Introduction to the Universe Awareness programme. Presented at 2nd UNAWE International Workshop. (Date: October 2006)

1. UNIVERSE AWARENESS
UNAWE
UNIVERSE AWARENESS (UNAWE)
• Initiative for a worldwide scientific culture
• Expose very young (ages 4 - 10 years), underprivileged
children to the inspirational aspects of astronomy
– Broaden the minds of the children
– Enhance their understanding of the world
– Demonstrate the power of rational thought
1

2. MOTIVATION
• Beauty and size of the Universe excite young children
• Basic knowledge of the Universe is a birthright
• Ages 4-10 are crucial for child development
• Knowledge about the Universe can broaden the mind
• Why young and underprivileged children?
– Need is greatest
– Cognitive disparities increase with age
– Cultural differences less pronounced
WHY ASTRONOMY?
• Astronomy is Science
• Astronomy is Culture and Human Development
• Astronomy is Multidisciplinary
• Astronomy is Exciting
• Harnessing Science (Education) for Peace
2

3. GOALS OF UNAWE
• Communicate the beauty and scale of the Universe to
young children
– Excite and broaden their minds
– Help develop a “world view”
• Use inspirational astronomy to develop cognitive skills
• Reach large numbers of children
• United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
– Universal Primary Education
– Gender Equality in Primary School
PRINCIPLES OF UNAWE
• Inspiration is paramount
– Emphasis on play and entertainment
• Bottom-up approach
– Driven by the needs of the local cultures and educators
• General approach
– Earth awareness and citizenship, membership of a diverse
human family
– Awareness of the Sun, planets, solar system, galaxy, the
Universe
3

4. CHARACTERISTICS OF UNAWE
• Underprivileged children in diverse environments
– Basic, intermediate, advanced
– Europe (e.g. inner cities) and Emerging countries
• Modular and phased
– Will take account of stages in child development
• Exploits ethnic heritage of astronomy
– Intangible cultural heritage
INGREDIENTS OF UNAWE
• Material
– Games, Cartoons, Songs, Hands-on material
– Developed by professionals
– 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 of ideas, experience and materials
4

5. EDUCATIONAL ASPECTS
MODULAR STRUCTURE
• Age groups
– Levels of cognitive development
• Programme lengths and delivery methods
– Remote areas vs. Inner cities
– Educator training, standalone programmes
• Topics
• Methods
– Culturally relevant: Involve indigenous cultures and
their astronomy
5

6. MATERIAL
• Playing and active stimulation
– Songs, games, toys etc.
– Model building that children can keep
• Excitement
– Short adventure films
– Cartoon characters, gripping adventure stories
– Set in beautiful and exotic environments
• Internet (Advanced Environment)
– Class twinning to reinforce Earth awareness
– Developing countries often have darker skies
CORE TOPICS
• Sky Awareness
– Observation and awareness
• Earth Awareness, Earth Citizenship
– Seasons or no seasons
– Diverse Human Family
– Cultural diversity by comparison
• Solar System, Constellations and Planets
– Scales, Comparative approach
– Environmental awareness
• The Galaxy and the Exotic Universe
– Adventure!
6

7. METHODS
• Direct observations
– Familiarisation
• Hands-on activities
– Appropriation
• Playing and singing stories and myths
– Experience
• Twinning activities, interactive software
– Exchange and real-life experience
• Large input from local cultures
TEACHER TRAINING
• Training of Local Coordinators
– Central contact point
– Bottom-up approach: Making the programme theirs
• Role
– Supervise programme in specific region
– Maintain contact with schools and teachers
– Take part in the development and the evaluation of UNAWE
• Practical Aspects
– Training course by UNAWE
– Approach will differ for each region
7

8. BACKGROUND AND TIMELINE
BIRTH OF AN IDEA
• 2003 George Miley awarded a KNAW professorship
• 2004 Informal discussions
• May 2005 1st UNAWE multidisciplinary workshop, ESO, Germany
– International Steering Committee and 2 sub-committees set up.
• September 2005 Project Manager appointed
• October 2005: Meeting at UNESCO in Paris
• April 2006: Meeting in Heidelberg
• August 2006: Formal launch of UNAWE at the IAU XXVI General
Assembly
• October 2006: 2nd UNAWE multidisciplinary workshop
8

9. TIMELINE
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
PREPARATION
DEVELOPMENT
IMPLEMENTATION
EVALUATION
• 2009
– At least 4 Emerging countries and 4 EU member states
– International Year of Astronomy…
UNAWE, A GLOBAL INITIATIVE
9

10. WHO WE ARE
Team of 26 people of 15 nationalities with many teachers
International Steering Committee Education Sub-Committee
- George Miley (Leiden, Netherlands) - Cecilia Scorza
- Claus Madsen (ESO) Organisation Sub-Committee - Carmen Aleman
- Cecilia Scorza (Heidelberg, Germany) - Gonzalo Argandona
- Isa Baud (Amsterdam, Netherlands) - Alec Boksenberg - Chandra Fernando
- Alec Boksenberg (Cambridge, UK) - Marina Joubert - Birthe Kirknæs
- Karl Sarnow,(Brussels, Belgium) - Claus Madsen - Jesper Kirknæs
- George Miley - Naoufel Ben Maaouia
Project Manager - Bernat Martinez
- Carolina Ödman, Leiden, Netherlands - Premana W. Premadi
- Rosa M. Ros
Venezuela National Action Committee Tunisia National Action Committee
- Karl Sarnow
- Eloy Sira - Cecilia Scorza - Naoufel Ben Maaouia - Henri Boffin
- Andres Cedeno - Marlene Morales Sueke - Abdelkader Oueslati - Richard West
- Franco della Prugna - Marie Rådbo
- Douglas Pierce-Price
CONTACTS AND COLLABORATORS
• EU:
– Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy,
Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom
• Non-EU:
– Chile, Colombia, India, Indonesia, South Africa,
Tunisia, Ukraine, USA, Venezuela
10

11. ENDORSEMENTS
• Prof. Ron Ekers, Fmr. President of the International Astronomical Union
• Prof. Riccardo Giacconi, 2002 Nobel Prize winner
• Sir Martin Rees (Baron Rees of Ludlow), President of the UK’s Royal Society
• Prof. Joseph Taylor, 1993 Nobel Prize winner
• Prof. Charles Townes, 1964 Nobel Prize winner
• Sir Bob Geldof, Entertainer and Development Aid Fundraiser
• Prof. Federico Mayor, President, Foundation for the Culture of Peace,
[former Director General of UNESCO (1987-99)]
• Prof. Michel Mayor, First discoverer of extra-solar planets
ENDORSING ORGANISATIONS
• International Astronomical Union (IAU)
• European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern
Hemisphere (ESO)
• European Schoolnet (EUN)
• European Association for Astronomy Education (EAAE)
• Royal Netherlands Academy for Arts and Sciences (KNAW)
• Leiden University (UL)
• LOFAR Foundation
• Universität Heidelberg (ZAH)
• Netherlands Foundation for Research in Astronomy (ASTRON)
• Netherlands Organisation for Space Research (SRON)
• Netherlands Research School in Astronomy (NOVA)
11

12. UNAWE INTERNATIONAL NETWORK
• Numerous initiatives around the world
– Often isolated
– Growing interest and feedback for UNAWE
• Platform for communication and community
– Exchange of ideas, experiences, material
– Announcements
– Think-tank for bottom-up approach
– Outlet for UNAWE ideas
– Inclusion of other partner countries
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!
http://www.UniverseAwareness.org/
12