Target-group oriented space education: Polishing the images of science and engineering disciplines

Paper number

IAC-05-E1.P.04

Author

Ms. Daniela Zajoncz, European Space Agency (ESA), The Netherlands

Year

2005

Abstract

Europe faces a severe disinterest of young people in science subjects as well as a decline in the uptake of related careers. The European space workforce is already confronted with a sharp gender imbalance and a decrease of the under-25 population. Space related subjects of study or vocational training must not only become more attractive for young people, but much more inclusive, particularly for young women. And despite the fact that young females hold huge potential for the future space workforce they are the least attended target-group in space related education.  

This paper introduces an advanced target-group oriented pilot project, called Space Girls’ Day. The ESA Education Department organized the Space Girls’ Day in 2004 and 2005, in Germany and in the Netherlands, to better generate knowledge about the issues why the majority of schoolgirls avoid studying space-related disciplines and to analyse what schoolgirls think of space research in general. By targeting schoolgirls, aged 14 and 17, the Space Girls' Day combined educational outreach with qualitative research and the drafting of communication. 

The paper describes the project mechanisms of the Space Girls’ Day, including role models or social science approaches that ESA used to understand the career orientations, preconceptions and attitudes of young females towards the space sector. Based on arguments with respect to future demands in science and technology employment markets, which are particularly relevant for the European space sector, the paper further showcases how Space Girls’ Day can be used to open up extensive future prospects to a generation of qualified young women by drawing public attention to girls' strengths.  These aspects are exemplified with a comparison between the 2004 and 2005 results of the Space Girls’ Day. As a result two major success factors of educational projects are identified: the need to work on an attractive image of space careers and the need to implement this with scientifically proven target-group concepts in the design of space education activities. 

The paper ends with a discussion of the underlying core question: how to attract more youngsters to space careers, who have no awareness for and no access to space careers. This core question will be illustrated with the feedback from the participating schoolgirls. 

Abstract document

IAC-05-E1.P.04.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-05-E1.P.04.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.