Fully-funded ASPA Masterclasses

  • 31st May 2023
  • Author: Grace Davis

Since 2008, the National Space Academy has been running masterclasses for students aged 11 to 19 across the UK. Now, thanks to generous support by The Air & Space Power Association (ASPA) we’re able to offer a select number of masterclasses completely free to schools.

Our masterclasses are run by our Lead Educators, a team of outstanding, award-winning subject specialist teachers who are seconded to us from our schools. With their expertise, we offer students an exciting and engaging way to get stuck into science using the inspirational context of space. Every masterclass includes:

  • Opportunities for student discussion
  • Examples of careers relating to the space sector
  • Curriculum content
  • Practical, hands-on activities
  • Exploration of how space science affects our daily lives
  • Teamwork, communication and problem solving.

Our ASPA masterclasses will also include bespoke elements inspired by the work of ASPA, such as modules on clearing space debris, satellite communication and protecting spacecraft from impacts, for example. This is an exciting new opportunity for us which has been made possible thanks to The Air & Space Power Association.

ASPA Head

ASPA Chairman, Mark Roberts, said: “I am delighted to partner with the National Space Academy to enable the delivery of these fully funded masterclasses. Space is critical to our everyday life, from enabling navigation, to monitoring weather, to providing meaningful scientific discoveries.

It is also vital to the security and protection of our homeland and other nations around the world. But, as space flight and tourism grow and as constellations of satellites multiply, the space above us is becoming busier and less predictable, presenting real threats to us all. Equally, potential adversaries now threaten the peaceful use of space.

Protecting and defending our nation and space-based assets is more urgent than ever before; we must ensure space remains safe, secure, and accessible for all. That’s why the UK has set its goal to grow as a space nation: to protect our interests in space, help shape the space environment, and importantly enable our next generation to solve the challenges of the future.

These masterclasses are one way to achieve this. At The Air & Space Power Association we want to help develop our future space scientists: supporting them to drive the health and safety of our universe, protecting and defending our global environment in the decades to come. I am looking forward to seeing these classes ‘in action’ with important space topics being delivered in a hands-on, interactive, and engaging way.”

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Prof Anu Ojha OBE, our former director, said: “Through focusing on free intensive masterclasses delivered by the Academy’s award-winning teaching team in schools, the Academy intends to engage with and draw on the creativity of our next generation not just through inspiration but more importantly through highlighting new potential career pathways as well as supporting their school examination science studies.

The foundations for the development of space exploration were the worlds of aerospace and aviation and we are delighted, therefore, to be partnering with The Air & Space Power Association.

That’s why we believe that the ASPA partnership with the UK National Space Academy is so crucial to support our national skills and education ambitions that will underpin the future growth of both the civil and defence space sectors in the United Kingdom.”

To find out more or book one of our limited number of free ASPA masterclasses, please contact nsa@spacecentre.co.uk.

For more about The Air & Space Power Association, please visit: www.airpower.org.uk