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Activities 2005
Selected Projects:
LERU-KIDS: Leru-Kids University
LERU is the abbreviation for "League of European Research Universities". The overall objective of LERU is to develop joint strategies for the future and communicate them to specific policy-makers or the broader public. The aim of the "LERU-Kids-University" science week is to promote public understanding of research and science. The target group is made up of children aged 10 to 12 years and (indirectly) their parents. Fascination with science begins with curiosity, generating such questions as: 'What makes robots clever?", "Why do we speak of 'thin' air?" or "Why don't the stars fall out of the sky ?" At least 1000 children at each of the 10 participating universities in 8 EU countries and Switzerland will experience exciting experiments and lectures on physics (in its broadest sense) during the Science Week. These will demonstrate the impact of science/physics on everyday life. The active presence of female scientists as key members of the project is designed to show that the natural sciences are, of course, equally accessible for women. In collaboration with media partners these messages will also be communicated to a broad public audience. The European context of the LERU-Kids-University will be presented in an exhibition. Each partner will be introduced in a poster, ensuring that the background of the science week becomes comprehensible. The exhibition will be accompanied by short films about the participating universities. The registration of thousands of children for the different events will be supported by a database. A Final Event including selected experiments and lectures will take place in Brussels one week after the specific LERU-Kids-Universities have taken place. The message of the Kids-University will be: Universities are partners in lifelong learning and this can take place at a European or international level. Barriers to the understanding of the daily use of physics should be identified and overcome.
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to LERU-KIDS Events Diary
Co-ordinator: Universtität Heidelberg
Jorg Kraus
Tel: + 496221542204
Fax: + 496221543599
E-mail: joerg.kraus@zuv.uni-heidelberg.de
Website: http://www.leru-kids-university.org/
SKYWATCH: Introducing European Youth in the World of Scientific Research through Interactive Utilization of a Global Network of Robotic Telescopes
The SKY WATCH project aims to introduce the European youth in the truly wondrous world of science and technology by engaging school and university students and young science amateurs in escalating, challenging and innovative multidisciplinary 'Science Games' combining creativity, intelligence and scientific quest. SKYWATCH introduces a pan-European Science Communication and Celebration Initiative, which will reach its peak during the European Science Week 2005, comprising of two main interrelated events: (1) A two-phase European Science Contest (concluding to a central European Exhibition and a Best Projects Award Ceremony) and (2) series of popular science distance learning courses (16 'Science Days' overall). To perform project activities young people will be given access to an existing global network of 5 remotely control robotic telescopes though the innovative web-based platform, 'Eudoxos' that is currently in use across Europe. The young participants will organize teams (school classes, groups of students, etc.) and design, develop and implement their science projects, comprising astronomical observations with the use of the telescopes and under the guidance and the continuous support of experts. The SKYWATCH web-portal will be launched for this scope providing access to Eudoxos Platform, to advanced collaboration and communication tools and to educational material of high added value, acting as on-line campus for scientific quests. An Integrated Publicity Campaign covering 28 European and other Countries will be implemented. At least 10,000 secondary school students of 28 European Countries, 1,000 university students, 50,000 visitors of science centres, parks and museums and 5.000 visitors (mainly school students) of the central exhibition will participate in project's activities. The establishment of a Virtual Community of young people, wider public and the scientific community is the ultimate project objective.
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to SKYWATCH Events Diary
Co-ordinator: Q-Plan Greece
Menelaos Sotiriou
Tel: + 30 210 7719000
Fax: + 30 210 7472942
E-mail: sotiriou@qplan.gr
Website: http://www.sky-watch.org/
WYP2005 - World Year of Physics 2005 - Activities in Europe
2005 will mark the 100 anniversary of A. Einstein's annus mirabilis, with his three seminal works on the photo- electric effect, the special theory of relativity, Brownian motion, which shaped physics theory and practice in the 20th century. On the eve of the 21st century, the European Physical Society, in Berlin during the 3rd World Congress of Physical Societies introduced a motion to declare 2005 as the World year of Physics that was unanimously adopted. Using Einstein's impact on physics and on society, a series of events marking the importance of his contributions, and the importance of physics to our cultural heritage, and technological and economic development are planned around the world in 2005. The present funding request federates 25 participants, and 33 projects designed to make WYP2005 a success in Europe. With the policy statements contained in the communication Towards a European Research Area, we are confronted with a need to increase awareness of the importance of scientific research in meeting future challenges in many key areas, such as energy production, environmental protection, health and economic development. Physics will play an important role in providing the necessary tools to develop the appropriate responses to these urgent questions. Physics research will also be a key to the development of other sciences, such as biology and medicine. Europe's ability attain the goals in the ERA document requires that it maintain and develop its scientific base. Policy makers, teachers, students and the general public need to be informed and interested in scientific development and its contributions to society. A new generation of scientists needs to be trained, and the importance of physics research needs to be highlighted. A bottom up approach has been taken in the present proposal. Each of the participants is responsible for the implementation of their respective work packages.
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to WYP2005 Events Diary
Co-ordinator: European Physical Society
Martial Ducloy
Tel: + 33389329440
Fax: + 33389329449
E-mail: ducloy@galilee.univ-paris13.fr
Website: http://www.wyp2005.org/
Past Science Weeks
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