Fuchs Foundation Schools Event: 'Antarctica - Mars on Earth' - Events

Fuchs Foundation Schools Event: 'Antarctica - Mars on Earth'

Nationwide

26. 11. 10

9.30am - 4.00pm

Why is Antarctica often considered as the closest one can get to “Mars on Earth”? What are the challenges of human survival in the coldest place on the planet, how do these compare to future exploration and survival on Mars and how can these ideas be used in curriculum science lessons? This hands-on INSET session includes a wealth of activities and resources that can be immediately implemented in the classroom and will also include extensive digital resources from the European Space Agency (ESA).

Course tutors:
- Steve Bull is Director of Bull Precision Expeditions. He has over a decade’s experience of
expedition leadership in some of the most challenging environments on Earth including the Arctic and Antarctic.
- Anu Ojha is Space Academy Director at the National Space Centre. He is also an
Advanced Skills Teacher (Physics/Science) at Cardinal Newman School (Coventry), a
Triple Science Lead Practitioner for the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust and has been selected by ESA as the UK Space Education Office’s “Space Ambassador” for the Midlands and South of England.

Running simultaneously with the Teacher INSET sessions, there will also be a range of student workshops.

Student workshops
Students will be split into three groups, with all three groups taking part in each of these three workshops:

EADS Astrium - Satellite Engineering
This workshop will cover the basics of satellite engineering including the mission of the satellite, the control of the satellite, the payload, communication of the satellite with the ground and the best materials to use when constructing a satellite.

National Space Centre - NXT Rover workshop
Working in small groups, the students will find out more about Mars Rover missions, how to programme one of our Lego NXT robots and then complete some Mars challenges.

National Space Centre - Space Science
This workshop will show students why we explore space and what impact it has on everyday lives. They will also learn about impacts with Earth and whether comets brought life to our planet.

Other information

- Students are required to bring a packed lunch.
- But lunch will be provided for the teachers.
- The National Space Centre shop, Cargo Bay, will be open until 4pm.
- Each group of students will have 3 STEMNET Ambassadors with them to assist during the day. For more information on STEMNET Ambassadors please visit the website.

To book a place on the INSET session or to book student places please email sarahh@spacecentre.co.uk to request a booking form.

http://www.spacecentre.co.uk/Page.aspx/205/TEACHER_PROGRAMMES/