"Universe Awareness Presentation" C. Odman Presented at: TNSF - UNAWE Workshop Chennai, India March 2007

1. UNIVERSE AWARENESS
UNAWE
THANKS
• Professor Ramanujan
• IMSc - Institute of Mathematical Sciences
• TNSF - Tamil-Nadu Science Forum
– UNAWE philosophy very similar
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2. WHAT IS UNIVERSE AWARENESS?
Programme that will
Expose DISADVANTAGED young children (4 – 10)
to INSPIRATIONAL aspects of astronomy
“UN-AWE”
GOALS
• By exposing very young (4 - 10 years), underprivileged
children to inspirational aspects of astronomy.
– Broaden their perspective
– Enhance their understanding of the world
– Demonstrate the power of rational thought
• By broadening children’s perspective, UNAWE is intended
to help stimulate tolerance and internationalism
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3. MOTIVATION
• Beauty and size of the Universe excite young
children and stimulate their imagination
– J. B. S. Haldane (1927)
“The Universe is not only queerer than we suppose, but
queerer than we can suppose.”
e.g. Hubble images
CRADLE OF STARS
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4. EXPLODING STARS IN DEATH CONVULSIONS
“CATS-EYE” NEBULA
Dying star throws off shell of glowing gas
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5. CRAB NEBULA – REMNANT OF A DEAD STAR
LETS TRAVEL OUTSIDE OUR MILKY WAY GALAXY
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6. GALAXY OF A BILLION STARS
CENTRE OF A GALAXY
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7. COLLIDING GALAXIES
“SPIDERWEB GALAXY” THE SPIDER AND THE FLY
(UK Nursery Rhyme, Mary Howitt, 1821)
“Will you walk into my
parlour?" said the Spider to
the Fly,
'Tis the prettiest little
parlour that ever you did
spy;
Oh no, no," said the little
Fly, "to ask me is in vain,
10.6 billion light years from Earth For who goes up your
winding stair can ne'er
GALAXY BECOMES LARGE AND MASSIVE MONSTER come down again."
BY “EATING UP” MANY SMALL GALAXIES
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8. MOTIVATION
• Beauty and size of the Universe excite young children
• Basic knowledge of the Universe is a birthright
• Knowledge about the Universe broadens the mind
• Ages 4 - 10 are crucial for child development
• Most need for economically disadvantaged children
INGREDIENTS
• Material
– Games, cartoons, songs, hands-on material
• Entertaining and developed by professionals
• Translated into various languages and cultures
• Training
– Tailored to each country and community
– Involve teachers, activists, parents, family, community leaders
• International Network
– Platform for teachers and development professionals worldwide
• Exchange of ideas, experience and materials
– World-wide programme enhances effectiveness
• Whole greater than sum of parts
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9. DEVELOPMENT PHILOSOPHY - 1
• Will target children in diverse environments
– Basic, intermediate, advanced
– Europe (e.g. inner cities) and emerging countries
• Modular and phased
– Will take account of stages in child development (e.g. Piaget)
• Will be bottoms up
– Driven by the needs of educators in participating countries
and organisations
• Inspiration paramount
– Emphasis on play, entertainment and humour
• TSNF philosophy
DEVELOPMENT PHILOSOPHY - 2
• General approach to stimulate awareness of
– Earth, sky, sun, planets, solar system, galaxy,
Universe
• diverse human family, beauty, scales, adventure
• Will exploit ethnic heritage of astronomy
– Intangible cultural heritage
– Helps enhance self-esteem
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10. MEGALITHIC “ASTRONOMY”
Inner Mongolia, Baimiaozi, 4000 BC Egypt, Nabta 4300 BC
Ireland, Newgrange, 4500 BC
Japan, Kanayama ~ 3000 - 4000 BC Egypt, Karnak, 2000 BC
England, Stonehenge, 3100 BC
SOME EARLY “OBSERVATORIES”
Brazil, Calcoene, 700 AD Mexico, Chichen Itza, ~ 1100 AD China, Gaocheng, 1279 AD
Peru, Macchu Piccu, 1000 AD Easter Island, 1460 AD Cambodia, Angkor Wat, 1000 AD
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11. UNAWE - FROM IDEA TO FULL PROGRAMME -1
• February 2004: Initial Discussion with ESO
• May 2005: First UNAWE Workshop
– ESO, Garching, Germany
• September 2005: Appointment of UNAWE Coordinator at Leiden
– Dr. Carolina Ödman
• 2005 – 2006: Endorsements
– Institutions
• 12, including 4 international orgnisations
– Individuals
• Including 3 Nobel Prize winners, Prof. Federico Mayor, Sir Bob
Geldhof
UNAWE - FROM IDEA TO FULL PROGRAMME - 2
• 2006: Feasibility of Universe Awareness proven
– Successful pilot projects
– Enormous worldwide enthusiasm and interest
– Potential sources of international and national funding
• 22 August 2006: Official Launch Of Universe Awareness
– General Assembly of International Astronomical Union
Mentioned specifically in inaugural address by
Catherine Cezarsky, incoming President IAU and DG, ESO
Cornerstone of IAU/ UNESCO International Year of Astronomy 2009
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12. UNAWE - FROM IDEA TO FULL PROGRAMME - 3
• October 2006: Funding for Development
– Netherlands Minister for Education, Culture & Science
– 2 positions for 3 years
» Project Manager, Materials Coordinator
• 2007 -2009: Development
Seek funding for implementation
• 2009 - : Implementation and evaluation
TIMELINE
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
PREPARATION
DEVELOPMENT
IMPLEMENTATION
EVALUATION
• 2009 (International Year of Astronomy)
– At least 4 emerging countries and 4 EU member states
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13. SUMMARY - UNAWE
• Goals: SOCIAL, EDUCATIONAL + SCIENTIFIC
• Demonstrated need
• Considerable international support
• Funding for DEVELOPMENT
• Promising funding possibilities for IMPLEMENTATION
• Implementation of full programme in several countries
from 2009
FINALLY
• India + TNSF are important partners
• UNAWE philosophy similar to TNSF
– TNSF lessons relevant outside India
• Workshop programme is exciting
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14. QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS?
http://www.UniverseAwareness.org/
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