Connecting with regional communities. Description Aspire UWA with partner schools in Western Australia to inspire and educate students about the benefits of higher education. The Aspire to Astronomy roadshow was a collaboration of education and teacher enrichment partners who are passionate about science and astronomy, and keen to share this enthusiasm with regional communities. Partners The University of Western Australia (UWA) Aspire UWA School of Indigenous Studies (SIS) SPICE, a secondary science teachers’ enrichment program The International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR), a joint venture between Curtin University and The University of Western Australia 16 Aspire UWA partner schools Scitech Discovery Centre. Objectives The objective of Aspire to Astronomy was to engage regional students, their families, and communities in discussions about the importance of higher education, by highlighting the exciting opportunities available by studying science and astronomy. Attitudes of family and community have a significant impact on students’ aspirations for university and the roadshows help influence these attitudes. Aspire to Astronomy partners shared additional aims to: engage the community with the richness of university life inform them of the opportunities and support available to regional students at university provide a unique professional development opportunity for teachers create an opportunity for scientific experts to reach a large number of students promote the Square Kilometre (SKA) project. Activities Aspire to Astronomy extended Aspire UWA’s core program delivered during visits to regional schools by bringing together complementary services to offer a rich multi-layered experience in schools and communities that seldom have access to such opportunities. Each partner brought unique skills to the mix, resulting in a range of activities that far exceeded the scope of Aspire’s usual in-class activities. Younger students built scale models of the solar system, launched water rockets and observed the sun using special solar telescopes. Older students built a radio telescope and measured the temperature of the sun’s corona. UWA’s Travelling Scientist, a PhD candidate studying astronomy, spoke to students about what it’s like to become a scientist, while presentations about the SKA highlighted opportunities that will be available in regional WA – and had a lot of students deciding on the spot to study astronomy! Science teachers received the latest curriculum-based professional development and resources through SPICE, including training in and access to a remote internet telescope at UWA that can be used by high schools. Schools with telescopes received training, while other schools were presented with new telescopes thanks to support from local industry.
Connecting with regional communities. Description Aspire UWA with partner schools in Western Australia to inspire and educate students about the benefits of higher education. The Aspire to Astronomy roadshow was a collaboration of education and teacher enrichment partners who are passionate about science and astronomy, and keen to share this enthusiasm with regional communities. Partners The University of Western Australia (UWA) Aspire UWA School of Indigenous Studies (SIS) SPICE, a secondary science teachers’ enrichment program The International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR), a joint venture between Curtin University and The University of Western Australia 16 Aspire UWA partner schools Scitech Discovery Centre. Objectives The objective of Aspire to Astronomy was to engage regional students, their families, and communities in discussions about the importance of higher education, by highlighting the exciting opportunities available by studying science and astronomy. Attitudes of family and community have a significant impact on students’ aspirations for university and the roadshows help influence these attitudes. Aspire to Astronomy partners shared additional aims to: engage the community with the richness of university life inform them of the opportunities and support available to regional students at university provide a unique professional development opportunity for teachers create an opportunity for scientific experts to reach a large number of students promote the Square Kilometre (SKA) project. Activities Aspire to Astronomy extended Aspire UWA’s core program delivered during visits to regional schools by bringing together complementary services to offer a rich multi-layered experience in schools and communities that seldom have access to such opportunities. Each partner brought unique skills to the mix, resulting in a range of activities that far exceeded the scope of Aspire’s usual in-class activities. Younger students built scale models of the solar system, launched water rockets and observed the sun using special solar telescopes. Older students built a radio telescope and measured the temperature of the sun’s corona. UWA’s Travelling Scientist, a PhD candidate studying astronomy, spoke to students about what it’s like to become a scientist, while presentations about the SKA highlighted opportunities that will be available in regional WA – and had a lot of students deciding on the spot to study astronomy! Science teachers received the latest curriculum-based professional development and resources through SPICE, including training in and access to a remote internet telescope at UWA that can be used by high schools. Schools with telescopes received training, while other schools were presented with new telescopes thanks to support from local industry.
Partnerships_Accessible.docx