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Nasa shows students the way to space
ONCE the sky was the only limit for an ambitious teenager. Not any more. For a group of Scottish students, space has become the ultimate frontier and they are getting help from Nasa to achieve it.
Careers Scotland and the Scottish Executive have joined forces with the United States Nasa group — the National Aeronautics & Space Administration - to create a world-leading programme called the Scottish Space School Foundation (SSSF).
Apart from being exciting and great fun, it is designed to increase participation and motivation of students in science and technology, while supplementing studies in higher grade physics, chemistry and maths. It also aims to help young people understand how the subjects apply to real career choices.
The SSSF invites secondary school pupils, selected by local authorities and schools, to participate in a space science programme.
The programme consists of three stages. Stage-one students undertake six study modules and participate in an interactive workshop. Successful completion leads to stage two where they are considered for the opportunity to visit the Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas. Stage three involves the students telling others about their experience.
From a practical viewpoint, in term time the students participate in a programme of distance learning that was developed by Nasa. Come the holidays some 100 of them are off to space school in Scotland to work with visiting Nasa astronauts to develop their skills in science, technology and enterprise.
Further support comes from leading electronics companies in Scotland that provide site visits and guest speakers at the leading edge of their chosen fields. Very importantly for all concerned the stay include a full social programme in which the astronauts are very much in evidence.
On top of this, further space schools are regularly held in the US at the Nasa camp at the Johnson Space Center. There, the students spend a week involved in a full timetable of space-related learning activities including lectures and group work with Nasa space cadets, astronauts and scientists. The obvious highlight for all concerned is a visit to a space shuttle, Nasa laboratories and generally getting a behind-the-scenes look at the world of space exploration.
Typical of what goes on in practical terms was a recent visit by Nasa astronaut Dr Michael Gernhardt who went to talk to children at schools in Glenrothes, Cupar and Falkland. He is a veteran of four space-shuttle missions and specializes in space walks. He told a number of captivated audiences about what it takes to be an astronaut and the space flight experience that included discussing weightlessness and how astronauts train for this — under water.
“The kids I met were great and asked some fantastic questions,” said Dr Gernhardt afterwards. “It’s really uplifting to see the next generation is so enthusiastic.
“One asked about the thermal extremes in space, and they were all fascinated to learn we have to cope with temperature changes, which can have a range of 500 degrees Celsius in a few seconds. It’s really great to be back in Scotland because I worked in Aberdeen for the oil industry between 1985 and ‘87 before joining the Nasa programme,” he added.
Accompanying Dr Gernhardt was flight surgeon Jon Clark. His role at Nasa involves monitoring the condition of astronauts during and after space flight. He told the pupils about the history of human space travel and its effects on the human body.
Clark said: “I wanted to come here today because a colleague of mine described teaching as ‘touching the future’ which is something I wholeheartedly support. I feel it’s important to inspire the next generation, so they carry the torch of discovery and what better time is there to encourage this than when their minds are charged with inquisitiveness? I was amazed at the enthusiasm of the group I spoke to and the enormous range of questions they asked.”
Careers Scotland operates throughout the country and is Scotland’s all-age guidance organisation for individuals and employers. It offers the most comprehensive and independent advice on employment, enterprise and learning opportunities. It has long realised that science and technology play a large part in people’s lives in general and in Scotland’s economy in particular.
Malcolm Barron, Careers Scotland’s regional manager, said: “No other country in the world has this kind of link with the space agency (Nasa). We want to inspire our young people to study science-related subjects and build a career around science, technology and engineering, very much in line with Scottish Enterprise’s key economic development priorities. It has an incredibly positive effect on all the young people and teachers who take part. Apart from turning young people on to science and technology, these programmes help instil self-confidence, self-belief and a ‘can do’ attitude. Creativity and enthusiasm are the keys.”
Summing up, Alex Blackwood - of Careers Scotland and the director of Scottish Space School Foundation — observed: “The Scottish Space School is making, and will continue to make, significant contributions towards the Scottish Executive’s science strategy. This will help create a smart successful Scotland — with science and enterprise at its heart.”
The Scottish Space School Foundation is also supported by Glasgow Science Centre and a network of other centres across Scotland. — LPS/ Dawn feature
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