How cool! -- Space Science Education Centre in Melbourne
Tuesday, 5 July 2005 12:34 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
miriam_e"As Shuttle returns to space, and Deep Impact completes its mission, it's time to inspire the next generation of explorers," says astronaut Pamela Melroy.
"The first person to walk on Mars is in school now."
Media conference: 10.30 for 10.45 am Tuesday 5 July, Victorian Space Science Education Centre site - Strathmore Secondary College, Pascoe Vale Road, Strathmore
As the space shuttle prepares to return to space on 13 July after a two year absence, shuttle pilot Colonel Pamela Melroy has called for Australians to embrace science (education) and help create the next generation of explorers.
She issued her challenge while touring the site of the Victorian Space Science Education Centre and talking about Deep Impact, Shuttle, the International Space Station and our future in space.
"There's a child out there in school right now who will be the first person on Mars," says Melroy.
"And that child could be Australian," she says. "The next Shuttle mission will see Australian Dr Andy Thomas make his fourth return to space." Melroy is a close friend of Thomas. She hopes to return to space herself in 2006 and hopes to be the first woman on the moon. Melroy is in Melbourne as a guest of the Australia Science Teachers Association and is addressing their annual conference - CONASTA.
"Humans are explorers," she says. It's time to re-enthuse young people with the excitement of discovery - be it space, the human genome, ecology, chemistry - every field of science and engineering.
"It's a challenge for parents, teachers and governments," she says. "We need to inspire a new generation of scientists and engineers - just as the moon missions inspired many of the current generation of science and engineering leaders."
"And we need to give every child the scientific literacy they will need to be effective citizens in the 21st Century - to help them make informed decisions about genetics, health, nano-technology, energy, and the many other issues they will face." Melroy issued her call during a visit to the future Victorian Space Science Education Centre (VSSEC) at Strathmore Secondary College in Melbourne.
"The $6 million centre, to open in September, will allow students to pop on a space suit, go through an airlock and walk on the surface of Mars, leaving their footprints there. Students will be able to dig, collect soil samples, take them back to base and analyse them," says Professor Lachlan Thompson, from RMIT, and one of the founders of the State government funded centre.
"Our Mars rocks are actually collected from a location near Bendigo, because they're geologically very similar to real Mars rocks," he says. Melroy's visit is supported by the Australian Science Teachers Association and the Sir Ross and Sir Keith Smith Fund. Over the next two weeks she is giving talks in Melbourne and Adelaide.
For more details about Melroy and the Science Teachers conference please visit www.scienceteachers2005.org or contact Niall Byrne at niall@scienceinpublic.com or on 03 5253 1391, or Sarah Brooker on 0413 332 489.
"The first person to walk on Mars is in school now."
Media conference: 10.30 for 10.45 am Tuesday 5 July, Victorian Space Science Education Centre site - Strathmore Secondary College, Pascoe Vale Road, Strathmore
As the space shuttle prepares to return to space on 13 July after a two year absence, shuttle pilot Colonel Pamela Melroy has called for Australians to embrace science (education) and help create the next generation of explorers.
She issued her challenge while touring the site of the Victorian Space Science Education Centre and talking about Deep Impact, Shuttle, the International Space Station and our future in space.
"There's a child out there in school right now who will be the first person on Mars," says Melroy.
"And that child could be Australian," she says. "The next Shuttle mission will see Australian Dr Andy Thomas make his fourth return to space." Melroy is a close friend of Thomas. She hopes to return to space herself in 2006 and hopes to be the first woman on the moon. Melroy is in Melbourne as a guest of the Australia Science Teachers Association and is addressing their annual conference - CONASTA.
"Humans are explorers," she says. It's time to re-enthuse young people with the excitement of discovery - be it space, the human genome, ecology, chemistry - every field of science and engineering.
"It's a challenge for parents, teachers and governments," she says. "We need to inspire a new generation of scientists and engineers - just as the moon missions inspired many of the current generation of science and engineering leaders."
"And we need to give every child the scientific literacy they will need to be effective citizens in the 21st Century - to help them make informed decisions about genetics, health, nano-technology, energy, and the many other issues they will face." Melroy issued her call during a visit to the future Victorian Space Science Education Centre (VSSEC) at Strathmore Secondary College in Melbourne.
"The $6 million centre, to open in September, will allow students to pop on a space suit, go through an airlock and walk on the surface of Mars, leaving their footprints there. Students will be able to dig, collect soil samples, take them back to base and analyse them," says Professor Lachlan Thompson, from RMIT, and one of the founders of the State government funded centre.
"Our Mars rocks are actually collected from a location near Bendigo, because they're geologically very similar to real Mars rocks," he says. Melroy's visit is supported by the Australian Science Teachers Association and the Sir Ross and Sir Keith Smith Fund. Over the next two weeks she is giving talks in Melbourne and Adelaide.
For more details about Melroy and the Science Teachers conference please visit www.scienceteachers2005.org or contact Niall Byrne at niall@scienceinpublic.com or on 03 5253 1391, or Sarah Brooker on 0413 332 489.
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no subject
Date: 2005-07-05 02:43 am (UTC)...call back after 8:00 when he's finished with dinner and his homework.