Author: coastro

In September, CoAstro went back to school: we physically returned to schools.

The CoAstrian teachers took the summer break to structure what is now coming: a plan to recover… the pleasure of being together again!

So teachers, students, astronomers and science communicators will cross paths again in the space… of the school!

In May 2022 the PhD Program in Science Teaching and Dissemination was evaluated by A3ES. In this process CoAstro was invited to integrate two evaluation panels. One of them was attended by the “Condo Administrator”  and the other by the teacher Maria Julieta Ferreira.

In these panels CoAstro was asked for its testimony based on the interaction it had with the study cycle under evaluation.

Obviously, such an invitation is a great pride for the entire CoAstro and the recognition of the work already done.

The CoAstro structuring and implementation model was presented in Santiago de Compostela – 
MW-Gaia WG5 workshop Breaking Barriers: Inspiring the Next Generation. This workshop aims to bring together the astronomical community and get inspiration on how data from the Gaia mission is used in different areas of astronomy.

This presentation had the particularity of CoAstro being defended by one of the science communicators involved in the project: Elsa Moreira. She represented, in an extraordinary way, the entire Condo.

The abstract of her presentation can be seen in the  “Programme” section of the workshop website.

Is citizen science merely an investigative technique? Or is it a mechanism for Open Science? Or a method for teaching and disseminating science? And what if the answer is: all of it… through school!

In a special dossier on “science and technology communication” a new CoAstro publication reveals how citizen science can be enhanced, without self funding or self human resources, reaching, with lasting effects, audiences that would otherwise not spontaneously engage with science – “Citizen Science through school: the importance of interpersonal relationships“.

The National Citizen Science Meeting 2021 took place on the 25th and 26th of November. It, focused on sharing and discussing challenges and good practices of citizen science, intended,  at the same time to strengthen the Portuguese Citizen Science Network – CC.pt.

CoAstro, in the program as a “Long oral presentation“, in the panel “Education, Society and Citizenship”, was present in a papper entitled “Citizen Science in school context: from an investigative technique to a method for science teaching and communicating – a national example”.

May the Net(work) be with us!

“Science & You” is an international event of scientific and technical culture organized by the University of Lorraine. After three editions in 2015 (Nancy), 2017 (Montreal) and 2018 (Beijing), a new edition took place from November 16th to 19th 2021, in Robert Schuman Conference Center, Metz (France).

CoAstro had a special place in the programme of the last day. Thus, in the Thematic Workshop on Citizen Science & Participatory Science was presented the work “Citizen science: from a scientific technique to a science education and communication method – the CoAstro practical example”.

We look forward to the next “Science & You”!

CoAstro was selected for Science on Stage Portugal (6 and 7th of November in Cascais) in the category “Collaboration in STEM Education”.

O Science on Stage distinguishes “outstanding ideas for science education” which, after a national selection, leads to the Europe’s largest educational event for STEM (Science, Technology and Mathematics): 450 teachers, from pre-school to primary and secondary education, from more than 30 countries, come together to share ideas and good teaching practices at a fair with stands, workshops and stage presentations.

In addition to the physical presence, the event also has a virtual fair: HERE.

CoAstro is back on the road, or rather, physically back to school. So, when the pandemic was still raging, the CoAstrians took the opportunity to structure what is now coming: a plan to recover… the pleasure of being together again.

So, starting already in September and until the end of this school year, teachers, students, astronomers and science communicators will cross paths again in space: the school space!

Data from CoAstro helped support the communication made at the XXXI National Meeting of Astronomy and Astrophysics, with the title “Astronomy fade out in Portuguese compulsory schooling: a crossroads for astronomy national stakeholders”. – abstract with ID 59.

Thus, CoAstro will also adopt this aim of bringing astronomy back into classrooms, via the curriculum.