“Space knowledge” to the public

Paper number

IAC-10.E1.4.12

Author

Dr. Marion Mueller, GEONAT, Germany

Year

2010

Abstract

A number of public outreach activities have already taken place in the last couple of years. Events with advertising material, colorful illustrations, booklets and being present on internet via homepages giving information upon information about science and space. These days it is easy to get information on all different kind of themes through the internet or other media. But regarding knowledge it is becoming harder and harder for the common public to select and receive high quality information. Is it true that people are able to understand what they’ve read, listened to or watched on TV about science? Only a proper understanding would give them a right idea of science and especially science and space. 
Knowledge is the seeking for sense with the aim of satisfaction and happiness as an ideal of human development. The space society has already been reaching out for universities and schools with younger people more and more successful. After all there is a new generation trying to fill their lives with satisfaction and happiness by “sneaking” into new fields next to their professions or after they have been retired. Senior Universities have already been established. Most of those students are very interested in planet earth and space. Those people are becoming a not yet seen but growing target group. They have got the time and get more and more influence.  Mostly they have to rely on popular press articles since the articles with high qualified information are not easy to achieve, expensive and/or very complicate to read and understand.
I teach in an Adult Education Centre. We started with geology and through that moved to other planets. The method of teaching is a challenge. Aristoteles once said, “the beginning of all science is the surprise that the things are as they are” and those students come with this surprise having all different kind and different levels of knowledge. I use three basics to teach:  1. Media, 2. Field trips and 3.Experiments to see, experience and understand. Regarding the content it is more difficult because all students have different backgrounds. As a teacher I have to respond directly to somebody who e.g. doesn’t know the atomic model but still with the task not to disturb the red line of content in the course.

Abstract document

IAC-10.E1.4.12.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-10.E1.4.12.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.