SPACE SCIENCE IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES BY 2050
Space science remains underdeveloped and ignored in developing countries. We should find ways of changing the scenario so that all parts of the world should be part of the revolution.
At the congress something to improve the situation must be done.
If you read the congress schedule on the congress website, UNESCO is coming to speak about promoting space exploration in developing countries. We also have a group focusing on World Space Week and Yuri's Night which are two events that promote space exploration around the world.
First of all let me ask sorry for not involving actively in this forum.
Being a student of the developing country India, I have suffered the lack of availability in
the education opportunities in the space science. Actually I had undergone a parallel degree course in space science in Birla Institute of Fundamental Research, which is one of the very few institutions providing informal Space Science Education.
What I am suggesting here is to make these kind of small organizations with a good number of knowledgeable people to start classes during the summer vacations or other holidays for the students.
We actually keeping an eye on space science in future doing the weekend programmes for children in our Engineering School.
I like the concept proposed here but I'm a little confused as to what you are suggesting for implementation. Do you mean that small organizations such as SGC should provide basic space outreach classes or that it should be setup as an extension program by more standard educational institutions?
Well it is true that space science remains poor in most of developing countries, but there are some efforts which have been put in place by UNESCO, and other space agencies and organization to promote space education in developing countries, and luckly enough is that this year Tanzania had in the UNESCO Space Education Programme (SEP), whereby UNESCO organized two strong workshops in Tanzania, whereby the targeted group were the students and the emphasis were put on the establishment of space clubs in schools and also to incorporate space education in our curriculum, and to support all of these effort the African Region came up with the proposal which also focus on space education.
I am sure that in the future to come things will be much better pcsimpemba, and we would kindly like your ideas always on how to improve this, and also try to see if your country has a NPoC if it doesnt have then you can apply and help us out.
It is true that during SGC we have some presentation from variour space experts others from UNESCO (SEP), for example last year we had Yolanda the UNESCO Space Education Programme Coordinator, if you write UNESCO (SEP)in google you can get some useful information on how this happen.
Cheerz!
SGAC RC FOR AFRICA
Waiting to hear from you
Dear Castory and Kevin.
I disagree on the point that UNESCO or any organiztion for that matter have done something to help spread space science in developing countries.Speaking at a certain cerimony doesn't count as contributing or helping space issues in developing countries.I speak this based on my experience.Eversince space issues have been starting to be raised in Ethiopia since 2004,we were looking almost everywhere for just a bit of support to disseminate or preach space education in schools.UNESCO was one of those we reached out for help,and help was NOT offered.
Even if certain testimonies were heared here and there about how certain NGO helped to organize a certain event,doesn't change the obvious fact that space education is ignored and their people are in no shape to even be considered as aware of existence of space education.
My point is let's start change by being honest and truthful about the things that really are happening.like how space is ignored in third world and despite the fact that it can help
bring change in perception in turn in wel-being,almost no help was offered from privileged countries.
I hope this will change in the future.For a speedy dissemination of space education can be realized only if the privileged one step up to help the underprivileged.
Biniyam.
Well!though you disagree with the fact that some Space and International agencies have tried to promote space education, but that is the fact that no one can disagree, and we need not to be too mean into this, though they might have sometime not do just like our wishes.
Waht happens is that within this space agencies and international organzaitions they have their ouw way of doing thing, for example UNESCO under SEP tends to organize space education workshop every year but the mode of selection as to where they are going to conduct that programme is within their own decision, so if I want to do my own space education project and aks for their support they might remain quite or even say that they dont have the money for the project, and we need to take that as a challenge and think on how we can do that with our ouw resources.
I think that can help rather that blaming them for not just confining to our wishes.
Biniyam,
I have not dealt much personally with UNESCO, but I know they have done a lot. I do not know where their money or budget comes from, but I know they do as much as they can. I also do not know specifically how they choose where they are going to hold programmes, but they do hold programmes in several developing countries ever year. I also know that former SGAC Co-Chair Jim Volp actually traveled with UNESCO somewhere in Africa a few years ago to do teaching about space.
The sad part with all of this is that it takes money at some point to spread the word. Getting that money to the organisation or person who is going to spread the word is difficult no matter if it is for UNESCO, SGAC, or anything else.
Binyami, try to look up "Cosmos Education" That is a good group based in Africa promoting space.
there isnt much UNESCO or any other NGO can do if the country has not come to the realisation of the importance of space sciences itself. as we know the level of exposure of the people in government is very important for any kind of interest to be shown in new ventures, america went to the moon primarily because there was a political will which served as the lubricant for the scientists and researchers to achieve such a laudable goal that otherwise would have been laughed out of congress.
many developing countries are facing problems with funding and space being an expensive area is always put in second place inspite of its advantages and usefulness.
indeed groups like SGAC can be the ones to revolutionise space awareness in the developing countries, the more the members , the more visiblity they get and more attention will be given to them.
but the bottom line is of course finances,for posters , materials, meetings and the much needed lectures and parties that bring youth together to discuss.
zahrah
Dear Zahran!
I think you have a point, that it is the right time now whereby we need not to depend much on these Space agencies and international organization, we have to take the move on our own hands, let us all try to convice our Government to take some initiatives toward space by trying to put on the table all that space can provide so that they can get to know the importance of promoting space education and space technology.
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Joined: 2007-05-09