Education, recruitment/training & public outreach
ASTRONET Panel E
Robert Hill
Northern Ireland Space Office
Rosa Maria Ros, (Technical University of Catania), Robert Fosbury, (ESA/ST-ECF),
Lars Lindberg Christensen (ESA/Hubble), Leonarda Fucili (SSIS, Universities of
Lazio), Dirk Lorenzen (German Public Radio), Jose Carlos del Toro Iniesta (ESA),
Claus Madsen (ESO), Andy Newsam (Liverpool Telescope/John Moore University),
Alan Pickwick (Manchester Grammar School/EAAE Secretary), Veselka Radeva
(Astronomical Observatory and Planetarium)
What is Astronet?
ASTRONET was created by a group of European
funding agencies in order to establish a comprehensive
long-term planning for the development of European
astronomy.
The objective of this effort is to consolidate and reinforce
the world-leading position that European astronomy has
attained at the beginning of the 21st century.
Objectives

produce a Science vision for European astronomy

propose an Infrastructure Roadmap of European
astronomy, identifying key technologies that are on the
critical path to success

propose targeted co-ordinated actions between
ASTRONET participants, in particular evaluation
procedures and specific research programs
Infrastructure Panel groups
Panel A: High energy, astro-particle astrophysics and
gravitational waves
Panel B: UVOIR and radio/mm, including survey
instruments
Panel C: Solar telescopes, "in situ" (solar system)
missions, laboratory studies
Panel D: Theory, computing facilities and networks,
Virtual Observatory
Panel E: Education, recruitment and training, public
outreach
Panel E: Education, recruitment
and training, public outreach
Rosa Maria Ros
Technical University of Catania
Robert Fosbury
ESA/ST-ECF
Lars Lindberg Christensen
ESA/Hubble
Leonarda Fucili
SSIS, Universities of Lazio
Dirk Lorenzen
German Public Radio
Jose Carlos del Toro Iniesta
ESA
Claus Madsen
ESO
Andy Newsam
Liverpool Telescope/John Moore University
Alan Pickwick
Manchester Grammar School/EAAE Secretary
Veselka Radeva
Astronomical Observatory and Planetarium
Robert Hill
Northern Ireland Space Office
Target audience

Astronet Infrastructure Roadmap Working Group

Funding agencies throughout Europe

Politicians with responsibility for science and
education (and possibly technology as well)

University directorates and science faculties

Professional astronomers and organisations and
individuals responsible for training school
teachers.
Terms of reference

Assemble information to enhance school age education and
assess their impact

Assemble information on postgraduate recruitment and training
in Europe, including numbers of students in different areas

Assemble information on primary sources of publicity for our
subject area and assess their impact

Assess where greater co-operation, additional resources
(including human resources) and/or better practise would
significantly enhance the above areas in Europe

Highlight any areas of Industrial Relevance, particularly in
training aspects

Compile a report and any other relevant background
information, to be passed to the Working Group.
Panel E: Task groups
1.
school education
2.
university education and research
3.
science museums and planetaria
4.
relationships with industry
5.
public communication and outreach.
Evidence gathering

TG membership knowledge, experience and expertise

Investigation of existing relevant material and resources

Dissemination of ‘facilities questionnaire’ using existing
European networks and structures

Panel E brainstorming sessions

Personal contacts
Task Group preliminary findings
TG1
Primary and secondary schools

lack of specific training given to teachers
 Under utilisation of astronomy in the
school curricula
 little use of modern or fresh astronomy
topics and new resources by educators,
relying more on textbooks and current
teacher knowledge
TG2
Training and recruitment

'Fascination in astronomy/space' is
a major motivating factor for
students, even many who were not
taking a directly astronomy or
astrophysics related degree (IoP
2001)
 no obvious shortage of qualified
people for the jobs in astronomy
currently available
 Bologna Process may make it
easier for students to study part of
their degree at a separate institution
that offers astronomy
Task Group preliminary findings
TG3
Science museums & planetaria

Science centres providing astronomy
content inspire all ages
 Many facilities offer a diverse range of
formal/ non-formal education programs
 Lack of synergy with space-related
agencies
 Very little evidence that exposure to
science centres influence student
subject choice
TG4
Relationships with industry

Difficult to overview 'best practice'
methodologies
 Varies widely across regions
 Lack of mechanism within many
astronomical communities to
identify industrial relevance/transfer
as integral part of R&D activities
 No central bank or repository easily
found or accessible to promote
culture
Task Group preliminary findings
TG5
Public communication & outreach

Despite having a huge potential for playing a
key role for the public awareness of science,
astronomy communication suffers from a clear
lack of communication culture and -identity.
 There is a strong need for syndication
in/collaboration among/reinforcement of the
astronomy communication community
 There is a strong need for a central mechanism
to access astronomy communication resources
 European community hesitant to invest
resources
Timeline

Consideration of individual
panel reports by the
Working Group (WG)
October/November 2007

Meeting of the WG and
(ASTRONET) agencies
January/February 2008

Release of draft Roadmap
to the community
Spring 2008

Roadmap Symposium
June 16 – 19 Liverpool, UK

Publication of final version
of the Roadmap
End September 2008
Call to all
Eastern European attendees!
Panel E requires further input from Eastern
European planetaria and science centres
for TG3
Please see Robert Hill before end of
conference
Presented by
Robert Hill
Northern Ireland Space Office
On behalf of Astronet
Panel E