We are Astronomers

My current project to spread awareness of astronomy is focused on children. One of International Year of Astronomy 2009’s flagship projects is UNAWE (Universe Awareness). UNAWE seeks to educate children from deprived backgrounds about the beauty and scale of the universe, and imbue a sense of global citizenship by way of the numerous contributions from different civilisations and nations to the history and development of astronomy. Fittingly, the project is running across the world, but the level of existing infrastructure (schools, technology, people etc.) varies considerably. In Kenya, for example, UNAWE worked hard to reach out to children whose lives were disrupted by post-electoral violence in 2008. In Britain we are fortunate that more people enjoy the right to a basic standard of living, but deprivation still exists, and children are missing out on an education that could empower them with a sense of purpose and responsibility that could guide them for life.

Today I visited the National Space Centre in Leicester. My aim was to find the mindset of a child that I have forgotten, to fully engage with my project. Like most attractions, there are lots and lots of things to do, always more than any individual could reasonably read, watch or play within the recommended visiting time. The centre radiates enthusiasm for astronomy and broader science by the sheer number of ways in which play is integrated with learning (fuelling water-powered rockets to see how high they can be launched was a personal and damp favourite). There were a large number of school children at the centre. It was disheartening to see a significant, disruptive minority dicking around, engaging solely with the play element but not the science behind it. Nevertheless, the National Space Centre does an admirable job to support UNAWE in Britain. A new Fulldome film for the 360° cinema by NSC Creative in support of UNAWE premiered tonight called We Are Astronomers, a title chosen because “it summed up everything we were trying to say about collaboration, democratisation of information, sharing and mashing up data, all things digital and connected.” Fortunately I can go back for free if I have the opportunity, to see more than the trailer: here. It’s narrated by David Tennant. I mention it because to some that’s an endorsement (particularly to Dr. Who-loving 10 year-olds).

p.s. I wonder if the people are meant to be Canadian?