Science and Technology Facilities Council
 Printable version
|
 E-mail this to a friend
|
Teachers go ‘Back to school’ to inspire children with the James Webb Space Telescope
Teachers across the country are going ‘back to school’ this week to find out about the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and how the science behind it can be used to inspire school pupils to take up careers in science. A three day national training programme is being held at STFC’s Royal Observatory Edinburgh, where scientists have built a camera for the JWST that is so sensitive, it could see a candle on one of Jupiter’s moons.
16 teachers in chemistry, physics and biology are taking part in the programme, which is delivered in partnership with the National Science Learning Centre, ESERO UK Space Education Office and other session leaders.
Professor Gillian Wright, Director of STFC’s UK Astronomy Technology Centre at the observatory leads the international consortium for MIRI (the Mid InfraRed Instrument), one of four instruments for the JWST and opened the course.
She explained how JWST will help tackle big questions in astronomy including the origins of First Light stars and galaxies, the chemical signature of exoplanet atmospheres, and Dark Matter and the ’shape of our Universe’. Showing recent images of MIRI at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Centre, she set out the extreme challenges of building a high precision instrument that can survive the trauma of a space launch and the huge temperature variations in space.
The course also includes hands-on sessions with space activities for the classroom, presentations and demonstrations by other scientists and engineers and a visit to the Crawford Collection of historical astronomical books.
Dan Hillier, STFC’s Visitor Centre Manager at the Royal Observatory Edinburgh, said “It is fantastic to be able to share the observatory site and our work on MIRI with enthusiastic teachers over three days in this way. It is an excellent way to harness the appeal of STFC’s major facilities and give teachers some practical and current examples to take back to the classroom.”
Chris Baker, Course Leader for National Science Learning Centre explained “This course and the teacher visit to CERN that we also run stands out as highly inspirational experiences for teachers who thrive on the chance to meet and talk to scientists and engineers involved in these major ventures.”
Speaking about the programme one of the teachers said “I just wanted to say, that is by far the best course I have ever been on - because of the mix of science and education sessions.”
Contacts
Lucy Stone
STFC Deputy Media Manager
Tel: +44 (0)1235 445627
