EUSPACE-AWE uses the excitement of space to attract young people into science and technology and stimulate European and global citizenship. EUSPACE-AWE targets diverse groups that are influential in the complex processes that lead to career decisions. The project was designed to show teenagers the opportunities offered by space science and engineering and inspire primary-school children when their curiosity is high, their value systems are being formed and seeds of future aspirations are being sown.
EUSPACE-AWE engages children and teenagers directly and indirectly through educators and families. A coherent suite of EUSPACE-AWE activities: (1) Acquainted young people with topical cutting-edge research and “role-model” engineers, (2) Demonstrated to teachers the power of space as a motivational tool and the opportunities offered by space careers, (3) Provided a repository of innovative peer-reviewed educational resources, including toolkits highlighting aspects of Galileo and Copernicus and (4) Set up a “space career hub”.
High-quality educational resources have been compiled, developed, and distributed through an extensive dissemination and partner network in 23 countries. Among these resources are Space Scoops, career stories, citizen science projects, and an extensive repository of educational activities aimed at both Primary School and Secondary School education. Activities also include educator support and professional training through workshops and Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs), as well as high-impact events for teachers and policy-makers at the European Parliament. Professional evaluation and sustainability are high priority aspects of the project. Results aim for a better understanding of the career aspirations of space-related workers, the vision that children have of space and space science, and the identification of best practices towards stimulating the next generations of space scientists.
EUSPACE-AWE features partners across Europe and Africa. It exploits extensive international networks of schools and science museums to reach teachers, educators, and the general public and works closely with the European Space Agency. The three-year project started in March 2015 and is coordinated by Leiden University.
Since its launch in March 2015, EUSPACE-AWE has reached more than 200,000 people directly, including 4,014 students and 5,799 education professionals. More than 150 activities were organised during the project, amongst them, 34 local teacher training, 4 Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs), 1 international Space Education Conference, and 2 summer schools. More than 300 resources were developed, or reviewed, by the project team.
There is strong evidence that all of the intended outcomes, as identified by the Evaluation Framework, were achieved within the EUSPACE-AWE programme. In brief: the EUSPACE-AWE activities were considered interesting and useful and participants also expressed a range of other positive emotions associated with their teaching and learning of space science. They reported greater appreciation of the relevance and diversity of space science contributions and gained substantial factual knowledge relating to the specific topics covered. The interdisciplinary relevance of space science was highlighted by many participants as one of the aspects they liked most about the activities and resources.
