USING SPACE SCIENCE AS THE DRIVER FOR SCIENCE ADVANCEMENT

摘要

The Space Science Directorate of the South African National Space Agency (SANSA: Space Science) located inHermanus, South Africa is the only facility that houses a science center within an approximately 200 km radius. TheSANSA Science Center is the primary awareness center for Space Science in South Africa, and aims to reachlearners, educators, students, and the general public. Space Science is an amazing tool for promoting the fun ofscience and for conveying educational concepts that are part of the curriculum. Together with partners in theeducation department and subject advisers SANSA promotes the science curriculum and uses Space Science as thedriver. In addition, SANSA makes use of opportunities for exposure of young people to Space Science throughactivities such as the SANSA holiday program, National Science Week and World Space Week. In addition, thegeneral public is invited to tour the Space Science center on regular occasions, and a public lecture series is run atthe Hermanus facility to bring space science to the people. Recently, SANSA obtained, with the assistance of theSouth African Agency for the Advancement of Science and Technology (SAASTA), a mobile learning facilitywhich has allowed the Science Advancement group to take Space Science to the learners in schools. Anothersuccess story has been the exposure of young people to Space Weather through the newly opened Space WeatherCenter. This presentation will showcase the success of using space science as a driver for creating excitement, andenjoyment in science, as well as providing the idea that Space Science is a viable career option. In addition, thepresentation will include some overviews of the SANSA holiday program and other events, and will highlight thebenefit provided by the mobile learning facility.