Professor Paul Roche, Ambassador of United Kingdom-ESERO space April 10, 2013Across the United Kingdom, a network of experts in education ready to help teachers to use space as a context in the classroom are just a phone call or an email away. A successful by ESERO UK education initiative which it has the ambition to grow further.
The UK space network Ambassador has been implemented in 2010 by ESERO the United Kingdom (European Space Education Resource Office), which is dedicated to promoting the use of space to improve and support Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and learning in the United Kingdom.
"We recognized that, through the United Kingdom, much work was already underway in the schools using the space as an enrichment of stem learning context," said Allan Clements, the ESERO UK Manager and himself an Ambassador for space for the North East, Yorkshire and Humber. "
The space network Ambassador supports this interest. There are seven ambassadors of space. Each covers a different region of the country and can be freely contacted for advice and guidance on space activities and useful educational resources.
One of the first recruits to the project was Andy Newsam, Professor of astronomy education and commitment of John Moores University in Liverpool. He became Ambassador of space for the North-West of England and Shropshire. "I'm a great believer in the use of space and astronomy as tools to encourage a better understanding of science as a whole and there all along all the stem subjects," he said.
Paul Roche, president of education of astronomy, University of South Wales, Cardiff, is Ambassador of the area of Wales. He has also been with the project since the beginning: "I worked in astronomy and space science education for more than 20 years now, and the ESERO network provided vital coordination through the United Kingdom."
The network meets three times a year to review progress and discuss the objectives for the future. The work includes the delivery of continuing professional development for teachers, but also work directly with schools on projects of space and astronomy.
As well as the seven ambassadors, there are nine other space partners involved in the programme. Teachers can freely contact for advice, in the same way. Some, like Judith Green, are teachers already but with a special expertise in the use of space in an educational context. Others, such as Tom Lyons, have worked in the industry for the construction of spacecraft.
The success of the ambassadors of space over the past three years is something that Allan Clements is hoping to develop expansion of the network in the coming year.
It is not only the teachers and students of the school who benefited; the ambassadors themselves feel that they have learned from the experience, too.
"I would say that the ESERO project has been a catalyst for me to develop my educational work and commitment beyond my own immediate experience, which is great," said Newsam.
Funded by ESA and the UK Department for education, UK ESERO raises the profile of British ESA, the space agency's education work and the UK space community with schools and colleges. It aims to be the first point of contact for education communities and the area to the United Kingdom when looking for information on space education and careers.
Offices ESERO stimulates the sharing of good practices related to space education and learning resources with teachers and college professors. Established in different Member States, such as the Netherlands, Belgium, Nordic countries, the Ireland, each ESERO supports the specific educational needs of the Member State and the education community.
For more information: education @ esa.int
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