- News

Students are invited to take control of the Cassini spacecraft by choosing what targets are most scientifically important. Their argument should be made in a 500 word essay and the competition is open to 11-18 year olds. Last year’s 16-18 age group winner worked on a research project with Professor Carl Murray and will be the co-author on a forthcoming paper. A research project is again up for grabs along with many other prizes.

All submissions will again be judged by Professor Carl Murray, the only UK member of the Cassini Imaging Team. He will choose three winners in different age groups:

Young scientists are invited to take control of the Cassini spacecraft. Three potential targets have been identified by mission staff and students get to choose the one that Cassini takes an image of. The scientific argument should be made in a maximum of 500 words.

The Challenge

Select one of three targets identified by scientists and engineers working on the Cassini Mission. Your mission is to research the targets and decide which is the most scientifically valuable. You are then invited to submit your 500-word case to us. All submissions will then be judged by Professor Carl Murray, the only UK member of the Cassini Imaging Team. He will choose three winners in different age groups:
1. 11-13 years old
2. 14-16 years old
3. 17-18 years old

All winners will be given a copy of their chosen image which will be taken by the Cassini spacecraft and will receive a goody-bag from the European Space Agency. The winner of the senior category will be invited to spend a week working with Professor Murray at Queen Mary.

How to Enter

Watch/read the information about each of the different targets below and carry out your own research into the targets. The deadline for entries is the 3 December and you need to be at aged 11-18 years old and attending school in the UK and Ireland.

You can view the target information here or here.

• 11-13 years old - prize for the winner is an iPod Shuffle plus a selection of science books
• 14-16 years old - prize for the winner is a Nintendo 3DS plus a 3D game
• 17-18 years old - prize for the winner is a Kindle plus a voucher for buying books

Full details of the targets and how to enter can be found here: http://ph.qmul.ac.uk/outreach/space-activities.

Deadline for entries: 18 November.

Queries should be addressed to:

Laura Thomas
Outreach Manager for Mathematics and Physics
Education Liaison Office
Queen Mary, University of London
Mile End Road
London
E1 4NS
Tel. 020 7882 3020
Fax. 020 7882 3158
E-mail: l.f.thomas@qmul.ac.uk