Summary of the Pre-conference workshop “Space for Life” – Develop and share resources, 9-10 June 2015 – MUSE (Trento, Italy)

The Ecsite Space Group offers a platform for science centres and museums to extend communication about European space activities by developing collaborative projects. The group is led by Marc Moutin, Director of Exhibitions at Cité de l’Espace, Toulouse, France, Ana Noronha, Executive Director of Ciência Viva, Lisbon, Portugal, and Maria Menendez, Head of ESA Corporate Exhibitions and Events.

After successful cooperation of the Ecsite Space Group and ESA in development of the Rosetta Kit about the Hook up with Rosetta campaign in 2013-2015, the collaboration will continue and new projects will be developed. Space has a tremendous role in the sustainable development of natural resources base, monitoring the state of the oceans and atmosphere, extending our knowledge about life on Earth and beyond. In this context in 2015 the Space Group will be working to develop collaborative projects around the theme “Space for life”. As agreed at the last Space Group annual meeting in Greenwich, representatives from museums and science centres decided to work together on three themes until the end of 2016:

• Climate change: Monitoring the atmosphere and oceans from Space,
• The International Space Station: Living and working in Space,
• Is there life out there?

Thus, the main goal of the Space Group pre-conference workshop held on 9-10 June 2015 in MUSE (Trento, Italy) was to brainstorm about possible ideas for new collaborative projects.

The first day started with introduction of the members of the Space group and several keynote speeches including Fernando Doblas, Head of ESA’s Communication Department, with the title “Bringing space to Earth. An inspirational mission”, Monica Talevi, Head of ESA’s Coordination and Outreach Unit, on education as an important aspect of space science communication, Rosaria D’Antonio from Communication and Public Relation Office Italian Space Agency (ASI) gave useful insights on how the Italian Space Agency works with science centres and museums, and Floriana Vizzari, Head of Exhibitions and Fairs of Telespazio, focused in her speech on Telespazio’s collaborations between industries, science centres and museums. Further participants were divided into three groups to discuss potential projects on three themes, described above.

The opening remarks of the second pre-conference workshop day were delivered by co-chairs of the Space group, as a call for action. During the first day of the workshop many ideas for potential projects were developed. Each group presented its potential projects. The group working on the theme “Is there life out there?” discussed organizing an event dedicated to Mars, as well as developing a “Game of Life” – interactive quest exploring the mission ExoMars, and presented the idea of an international competition about building living worlds on other planets. The group working on “Climate change: Monitoring the atmosphere and oceans from Space” presented their storyline for potential exhibitions and noted that there is a lot of content for educational activities. Finally, “The International Space Station: Living and working in Space ” group developed an interactive exhibition for families/general public/schools with focus on two modules including how to get ready for the space flight and maintaining life on board of the ISS.

The Space Group is planning its annual meeting, and one of the proposals is to organise the next annual meeting at National Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo da Vinci in Milan, Italy, in November 2015. All space-related institutions, as well as non-space science centres and museums are invited to join the space group to discuss collaborative projects, build partnerships, exchange ideas and best practices. For further information on how to join the Space Group, please contact Antonina Khodzhaeva (Ecsite) akhodzhaeva@ecsite.eu.