Space Academy Symposium

At the Space Academy Symposium, last week, I stirred a comet with a wooden spoon, fired a pipette with rocket fuel, held a piece of Mars (the planet - not the snack), and ate a tasty curry (not space-related). 13 teachers attended the Space Academy Symposium, at the National Space Centre, in Leicester, and they were joined by scientists and other professionals involved in education to find out what it means to be an ambassador for the programme.

So, what does it mean to be part of the Space Academy? The teachers who have been selected for the programme will deliver high quality continuing professional development (CPD) for teachers, and student masterclasses for students from 14 to 19 years of age. The focus is to use space as a context for teaching STEM subjects, using a range of inspiring and engaging activities.

The Space Academy is embarking on the National Programme, after a very successful 3 year pilot. During the pilot, around 3,000 students attended all-day masterclasses, and 262 teachers participated in CPD events. International CPD sessions were also delivered NASA’s largest educational conference, at Johnson Space Center, in Texas.

An article on the Space Academy is part of a feature in March’s edition of School Science Review, for more on this read Allan's blog.