Space Science: The Next Generation

It was my pleasure to work with Professor Anu Ojha, Director of the National Space Academy (NSA), last week during his visit to Beijing. In my previous blog on this subject I highlighted the innovative space education model the NSA was introducing to China and how this was embraced by Chinese teachers and students. Well the good news is that the story doesn’t end there, in a classroom in the northern suburbs of Beijing. Because of the partnership with Professor Junsheng Yu at the Beijing University for Posts and Telecommunications (BUPT) and with Professor Lijun Xu from Beihang University and the support of the Science & Innovation Team at the British Embassy this model of education is helping to establish closer relationships with China in space science. And it’s not difficult to see why – it is a teaching style that can inspire school children to be the best they can be at Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths and it uses space science as both a context in the teaching of these disciplines as well as an aspirational focus with their future careers. Space science and space technology drive our economy, the way we live and the information we need to manage future challenges such as climate change (which by the way folks is REAL). Getting the next generation to embrace space science gives them the tools to better develop our economies, innovate new technology and keep us in better health.

Professor Ojha and his team from the NSA designed the physics education experiments that astronaut Tim Peake conducted on the International Space Station as part of the Astro Academy Principia programme. These experiments and their innovative use of “tracker” software (applied for the first time ever to orbital teaching experiments) make them adaptable to student learning and form an important part of the NSA model. Professor Ojha had the pleasure of illustrating this to the Chinese National Space Administration last week where he was received by Secretary General Yulong Tian. It was indeed an honour to hear the Secretary General’s own vision for space science education in China and the partnerships that can be made with the UK. We were also honoured to be received by the Chinese Academy of Space Technology and its subsidiary Space Star to discuss future opportunities in the use of science experiments on board space craft.

The forthcoming Chinese space missions (lunar and Mars landings and the launch of a space station) provide so much opportunity for school children to learn more about space science and its association to STEM teaching. These marquee events also showcase the significance of space science to this next generation in our everyday lives. And it is a big deal. Without constantly innovating space technology our future doesn’t look so well informed, or so attractive. And the importance of space technology couldn’t be better illustrated by the fact that if all the satellites orbiting our planet suddenly stopped working, the global economy would shut down in less than 72 hours. Furthermore GPS satellites underpin all the apps we use that rely on telling us where we are at any time and every international bank transaction is time-stamped with the data from the atomic clocks on these satellites.  Getting our kids interested in space science and technology really will determine how fast we advance as a species. That’s why the NSA educational model is something the Science & Innovation Network supports strongly and which is now being recognised for its value by leading Chinese academics and officials.