An integrated approach to educational activities on earth observation at the European Space Agency

M. Miguel

Description

Resumen
Esta propuesta se basa en la iniciativa de integrar tres distintos proyectos educativos, que la Agencia Espacial Europea (ESA) está en la actualidad desarrollando individualmente, para promover la Observación de la Tierra desde el espacio como herramienta muy útil para los profesores (enseñanza) y estudiantes (aprendizaje). Esta idea de integración parte de la voluntad de optimizar los esfuerzos educativos que la ESA esta llevando a cabo en el marco de la utilización de los datos de sus satélites y del desarrollo tecnológico. Este proyecto quiere proporcionar a profesores y estudiantes la oportunidad de “manejar”, a través de demostraciones prácticas, los distintos elementos de la cadena espacial, es decir la generación y transmisión de datos y su utilización en teledetección y Sistemas de Información Geográfico (S.I.G.). Se propone utilizar también el portal web para la escuela secundaria europea que la ESA esta desarrollando en el marco de un proyecto internacional de EURISY dedicado a la educación sobre las actividades espaciales. La novedad de la propuesta se fundamenta en que estudiantes europeos, finalizando sus estudios o bien realizando doctorados, impartirán esta clase de seminarios en países en vías de desarrollo, utilizando herramientas cedidas por la ESA y ayudados por el consejo de expertos de la ESA, así como de profesores locales.
Abstract
This proposal is based on the initiative of integrating three different educational projects that the European Space Agency (ESA) is developing to promote Earth Observation from space as a tool, very useful for professors (to teach) and students (to learn). This idea of integration comes from the wish of optimising educational efforts that ESA is carrying out in the framework of its satellite data exploitation and technology development. This project is aimed at providing professors and students with the opportunity of actually “touching”, through practical demonstrations, the various elements of the space chain, namely data generation and transmission and its use in remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). It is also planned to use the web portal for European secondary schools that ESA is implementing in the framework of an EURISY international project dedicated to education on space activities. The exciting part of the project is that European students doing their final studies or MSc courses will give seminars in developing countries, using tools provided by ESA and being supported by the advice of ESA experts, and also of local teachers respectively.

Sujets

• Educación
• Países en desarrollo
• Teledetección
• Éducation
• Earth observation
• Developing country
• Remote sensing

Informations

• Publié par: erevistas
• Publié le: 01 janvier 2001
• Nombre de lectures: 9
• Langue: Español

Extrait

Revista de Teledetección. 2001. 16: 111-114.
An integrated approach to educational activities
on earth observation at the European Space
Agency
M. Miguel (*), J. C. Birch (*), M. Fea (**) and W. Ockels
Correo electrónico: Monica.Miguel. [e-mail]
(*) ADM-RE, Office for Education & Outreach, ESA/ESTEC. Postbus 299, 2200 AG, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
(**) APP-AET, Training and Promotion Section
ESA/ESRIN, via Galileo Galilei - CP 64 - 00044 Frascati, Italy
RESUMEN ABSTRACT
Esta propuesta se basa en la iniciativa de integrar This proposal is based on the initiative of integra-
tres distintos proyectos educativos, que la Agencia ting three different educational projects that the Euro-
Espacial Europea (ESA) está en la actualidad desarro- pean Space Agency (ESA) is developing to promote
llando individualmente, para promover la Observa- Earth Observation from space as a tool, very useful
ción de la Tierra desde el espacio como herramienta for professors (to teach) and students (to learn). This
muy útil para los profesores (enseñanza) y estudiantes idea of integration comes from the wish of optimising
(aprendizaje). Esta idea de integración parte de la educational efforts that ESA is carrying out in the fra-
voluntad de optimizar los esfuerzos educativos que la mework of its satellite data exploitation and techno-
ESA esta llevando a cabo en el marco de la utilización logy development. This project is aimed at providing
de los datos de sus satélites y del desarrollo tecnológi- professors and students with the opportunity of
co. Este proyecto quiere proporcionar a profesores y actually “touching”, through practical demonstra-
estudiantes la oportunidad de “manejar”, a través de tions, the various elements of the space chain, namely
demostraciones prácticas, los distintos elementos de la data generation and transmission and its use in remo-
cadena espacial, es decir la generación y transmisión te sensing and Geographic Information Systems
de datos y su utilización en teledetección y Sistemas (GIS). It is also planned to use the web portal for
de Información Geográfico (S.I.G.). Se propone utili- European secondary schools that ESA is implemen-
zar también el portal web para la escuela secundaria ting in the framework of an EURISY international
europea que la ESA esta desarrollando en el marco de project dedicated to education on space activities. The
un proyecto internacional de EURISY dedicado a la exciting part of the project is that European students
educación sobre las actividades espaciales. La nove- doing their final studies or MSc courses will give
dad de la propuesta se fundamenta en que estudiantes seminars in developing countries, using tools provi-
europeos, finalizando sus estudios o bien realizando ded by ESA and being supported by the advice of
doctorados, impartirán esta clase de seminarios en paí- ESA experts, and also of local teachers respectively.
ses en vías de desarrollo, utilizando herramientas cedi-
das por la ESA y ayudados por el consejo de expertos
de la ESA, así como de profesores locales.
PALABRAS CLAVE: educación, observación de la KEY WORDS: education, earth observation, develo-
tierra, países en desarrollo, teledetección, S.I.G. ping countries, remote sensing, G.I.S
understanding about the benefit for the human kindINTRODUCTION
that investments in space can bring to daily life. For
instance, awareness about the usefulness of EarthSince the first man in space (Yuri Gagarin in
Observation from space to monitor and better1961) a global awareness about Space has evolved
understand our environment is still very low.and today most young people are familiar with
space activities and particularly with astronauts At the same time, last decades have seen an incre-
enterprises. However, there is still not enough ased public concern about the Earth, its environ-
N.º 16 - Diciembre 2001 111M. Miguel, J. C. Birch, M. Fea and W. Ockels
ment and mankind’s impact upon it. It is clear that Obviously, the very different environmental and
Earth Observation from space is an instrumental life conditions and the well known dramatic diffi-
tool in this context, as it can provide global and culties in communication in developing regions
coherent information to monitor and better unders- will be taken into due account when the selection of
tand what is going on in the Earth’s environment the target communities will be carried out.
(C. Readings, 1998). Hence, updated information In fact, the project will start visiting schools pri-
about the environment is an essential basis for marily where this activity makes sense and has a
management and decision-making. sound perspective, also in terms of possible follow-
And when decisions on the environment are up through the contacts established, and indeed
taken on the basis of this information, why not edu- where technical problems, such as powering and
cate first about it current and even more future internet connections are not an issue anymore.
managers? Therefore, a proper education on this
matter is of prime importance specifically for
young generations. EURISY WEB PORTALIn the above-mentioned context, aim of this paper
is to present the idea of integrating various initiati-
The European Earth Observation web portal forves on the educational use of Earth Observation,
Secondary Schools is an EURISY project and iswhich are being developed by European Space
being developed by a European team led by ESA. ItAgency (ESA) offices working in the field of edu-
implements the recommendations of a number ofcation and outreach. Objective of this integration is
EURISY workshop on education about space. Theto provide each of them with a wider scope and a
project started at the end of 1998 and in 2001 willcommon framework, with the additional benefit of
become operational and available to professors andenhancing the interest of individual results.
students. Its basic mission statement is to raise awa-The three different educational projects carried
reness on Earth Observation (EO) as a tool forout by ESA and considered in this proposal are pre-
understanding Earth Processes and managingsented in the following paragraphs.
resources to enhance the welfare and quality of
human life.
In practical terms, this web portal will put at dis-
TEACH & TRACK posal of registered secondary schools EO satellite
data, EO glossary and documentation, and dedica-
Teach & Track is an idea created in response to ted algorithms for image processing. Registered
the challenge of educating people around the world schools will be able to define and carry out their EO
about the potential benefits of space. This challen- projects in support to curricula activities. Trough
ge was establish at the UNISPACE III conference this portal, they will also have the possibility to
held in Vienna, 1999, entitled “Space Benefits for contact other registered schools and establish joint
stHumanity in the 21 Century”. The United Nations projects. The results of those projects will be ente-
General Assembly resolution for UNISPACE III red into the dedicated project database, visible to
confirmed “Member States determination that and at disposal of any other registered school.
space be used for the benefit of all countries…. The implementation work of the EURISY EO
Educational programmes have to be set in place to web portal for schools is well advanced at ESRIN,
facilitate local knowledge and expertise”. the ESA centre in Frascati, Italy, and involves the
Teach & Track will involve European students co-operation of many institutions and value adding
travelling to developing countries with a small self- companies. In order to ensure that the portal will
powering laptop and satellite Internet connection in serve at best the needs of professors and students,
their backpack. The mission of each travelling stu- one of the key members of the Implementation
dent is to teach the benefits of space technology to Team is a professor. In addition, school professors
young people in developing countries, using the have prepared an important part of the material
laptop and Internet connection as an educational required to populate the portal, such as study cases.
tool. The Teach & Track initiative is seeking endor- Finally, a limited number of selected schools are
sement from UNESCO and sponsorship from testing and validating the portal.
industry. Several months of research into techno- KITEeye is a project that aims to demonstrate
logy education in developing countries have been satellite technology to schoolchildren. The initiati-
completed, the ideas and justification of the project ve is multifaceted. An exciting and futuristic high
developed and a student network supporting the altitude kite will be designed by Delft Technology
project has been established. University to break the world altitude record. Sma-
112 N.º 16 - Diciembre 2001An integrated approach to educational activities on earth observation at the european space agency
ller versions of this kite will be fitted with remote • initiate the establishment of contacts and net-
sensing and/or meteorology equipment and used in works between participants and ESA network;
demonstrations to the students. One of the Kite’s<