spaceEU

About the project

The spaceEU project ran from 1 December 2018 to 30 November 2020.

spaceEU implemented an inspirational portfolio of space outreach and educational activities that uses the excitement of space to encourage young people to choose careers in science and technology and use space to stimulate a sense of European and global citizenship.

Scope

With an innovative programme of activities in 10 countries (Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and Spain) and online, support for individuals and groups who influence youngsters throughout the complex process of making career decisions, and an inclusive approach to gender, learning types, minorities and underprivileged communities, spaceEU aspired to have a lasting impact on youth, their families and the general public.

spaceEU did:

• Establish 10 engagement nodes based in science engagement institutions;
• Acquaint young people and their families with topical cutting-edge research, “role-model” engineers and creative innovators;
• Support teachers and science engagement professionals in using the power of space as a motivational tool, the relevance of space to other disciplines, and the opportunities offered by space careers;
• Create an inspiring exhibition that demonstrates the excitement of space to young people
• Distribute and maintain a repository of innovative peer-reviewed educational resources, and
• Consolidate and build on existing networks to lay the groundwork for the future establishment of a Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) focused on space.

The project’s objectives were:

• Design and implement sustainable education and outreach activities to inspire young people with space topics and encourage them to consider careers in the space sector.
• Communicate and celebrate the accomplishments of European space science, technology and innovation and demonstrate how European society benefits from the space sector.
• Highlight past and present contributions by women and minorities to the advancement of space field and promote a diverse and inclusive space sector.
• Lay the groundwork for establishing a robust space knowledge triangle (education, research and industry) network and a Knowledge and Innovation Community for Space 

Ecsite coordinated the 10 spaceEU engagement nodes which developed over the two years of the project an exciting range of activities including professional development workshops and webinars, classroom initiatives, events with space stakeholders and programming around the spaceEU touring exhibition. 

spaceEU  received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement no. 821832