Preaching Space Science to Rural Dwellers and Uneducated
- Paper number
IAC-18,E1,7,8,x42059
- Author
Mr. Anthony Nwachukwu, Nigeria
- Year
2018
- Abstract
The rural dwellers and uneducated majority in Nigeria have been greatly sidelined in this space science education. Most enlightening campaign are tailored to the formal educated few. Nigeria with a population of over 75 million illiterate citizens have been in dark regarding space science. In rural areas where most of this population is found, there is always panic when mere occurrence with scientific explanation happens like eclipse and such occurrences are blamed on some spiritual factors which normally results in sacrifices and bloodshed. This paper highlights strategies being employed to reach this vast neglected population. Presently, work is on ground to reach this population which includes: using their religious elites to give them training since they are very religious and adhere more to their religious leaders, organising market outreaches, using local tools to explain space science, and making provision of telecommunication gadgets like radio available to them with channel broadcast in local language which serves as a tool to enlighten them in space science. Areas where this campaign have started has shown great results as over reliance on religious to explain natural occurrences has greatly reduced and the populace are beginning to embrace formal education.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
(absent)