Space exploration grants awarded

Air October 18, 2016

Following calls for proposals earlier this year, some £150,000 has been awarded in grants for exciting new space education and outreach activities projects.

Eight partners have been selected by the UK Space Agency to receive grants for outreach and education activities related to the space exploration programme.

The partners selected for funding to continue or to start projects in support of the objectives of the education programme include:

University of St Andrews: Exploration of Mars – Where can technology take us?
University of Westminster: Space Explorers
Gallomanor Communications Ltd: Space Exploration Zone
G2G Communities CIC / LEGO Innovation Studio: Full STEAM Ahead
University of Edinburgh: Astrobiology Academy: Using Astrobiology to Teach Curriculum Science
Aleksandra Mir (artist): Space Tapestry: Human Spaceflight and Earth Observation
Institute for Research in Schools: Amazing Atmospheres
Children’s Radio UK (broadcasting as Fun Kids): Robots to Mars

Supporting these projects is a key motivator of the UK Space Agency, by encouraging children to take up STEM subjects, they increase interest and awareness of space related careers and the UK’s space exploration programme.

Lewis Dartnell from University of Westminster, who will be working on the ‘Space Explorers’ project said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have been supported by the UK Space Agency for our outreach project. I think that combining computer games with green screen studio interviews of space scientists is a really fun way of exploring the real science behind our favourite games, and how the UK is leading in the field.”