Space to Learn: making a splash at our Cambridge Camp!
- 11th Jul 2024
- Author: Grace Davis and Liberty Woodward
We’re reporting on another successful Space to Learn Camp, with our second one having taken place at the University of Cambridge in the first week of July. The Space Camp was a great time of space science exploration, with our students getting truly stuck in and learning a tonne about the universe around us.
On the Monday, we visited the Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory, receiving a tour of the site and getting to explore the old control room. Our students then received a talk from Prof Stephen Hobbs from Cranfield University on Space Sustainability and Satellites, which they really enjoyed.
Our second day got going with a look at the university’s telescopes, the history of the oldest telescope on site and a chance to see the solar scope in action. Then our very own Sophie Allan made cloud chambers to look at radiation before Prof Helen Mason (from DAMTP at the University of Cambridge) gave a talk on Solar Weather. Next up, Catherine Fitzsimons of the NCEO led a workshop all about using satellites for earth observation, using EO browser to look at a variety of satellite views and track different natural occurrences.
The week continued with some more exciting experimenting with dry ice, featured in the topic of exoplanets with Dr Matthew Bothwell (from the Institute of Astronomy at Cambridge Uni). We then looked at the James Webb telescope, how it works and what it’s looking at.
Day four was the day that was perhaps the most anticipated by our students! Dr Maria Gallagher, from the University of Kent, gave a talk on VR and Astronaut Training, before the students took part in SCUBA ‘astronaut training’ or drone flying. BSAC (British Sub-Aqua Club) led the workshop which gave the students a chance to try out the kit and figure out how to be buoyant, experiencing a ‘weightlessness’ sensation similar to that experienced in space. Then they were challenged to build structures underwater and work as a team to set up a "satellite".
To finish off a jam-packed day, Sophie ran a heat shields challenge where students were tasked with the job of getting their shield to last the longest under a Bunsen flame.
Our final day featured a workshop lead by Dr Sarah Crick of Mission Astro, focusing on rockets and telescopes, including whoosh bottles and origami to symbolise the folding out of the telescopes in space. Throughout the week, students had spent time each day working on a project to produce an information broadcast or leaflet regarding a specific threat to the earth They then had to pick an alternative exoplanet to colonise, detailing what we would need to take, and how we would get there. Each group give their presentations on Friday afternoon, which was a wonderful way to finish off, seeing how much they had learnt and how wonderfully they’d performed in teams to achieve their goals!
We had a fantastic week with a great set of curious and enthusiastic students, and we can’t thank our speakers and collaborators enough for the excitement and passion their brought to every aspect of the camp!
We'll be running more Space to Learn events in the Autumn Term. If you're a secondary school teacher and would like to know more about what's in your area, get in touch at: spacetolearn@spacecentre.co.uk
