The UK Space Agency has awarded £210,000 of funding for seven new education and out-reach projects designed to inspire interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and their application to a range of
subjects.

The Agency hopes this will, in turn, help the growth of the space sector, which is currently hampered by the lack of graduates and technicians with relevant qualifications.

Seven new projects were selected to support the aims of the Education and Skills Strategy and build upon the Agency’s investment in a number of areas.

Susan Buckle, Astronaut Flight Education Programme Manager, said: “We are delighted to be funding all these projects and to work with a variety of different organisations — from the D&T Association, with expertise in design and technology, to the Triathlon Trust, with expertise in getting children active — as well as the more-traditional STEM organisations.

“Each project will fulfil the objective of inspiring the next generation to study STEM and consider a career in the space industry, while having a lot of fun along the way.”

The seven projects to be funded are: Glasgow Science Festival — Get me into orbit!; Triathlon Trust — Space to Earth view; Mangorolla CIC — Space zones ‘I’m a Scientist’ and ‘I’m an Engineer’; Institute for Research in Schools — MELT (Monitoring the Environment, Learning for Tomorrow); The Design and Technology Association — Inspiring the next generation . . . design and technology in space; European Space Education Resource Office (UK) — James Webb Space Telescope . . . Design challenge (the mirror for this is pictured); and Children’s Radio UK (Fun Kids) — Deep Space High . . . UK Spaceports.

The MELT project, which will allow students to understand and analyse key earth observation data relating to the North and South Pole, is being undertaken in collaboration with Robert Swan on his Antarctic expedition.

Meanwhile, Emma Watson from The Design and Technology Association said: “The Association is delighted to be working with the UK Space Agency to develop a series of resources that will use the design and technology curriculum as a platform to motivate more young people to consider careers in the space industry.

“Structured around Earth Observation, Satellite Launch Systems and the James Webb Space Telescope, these resources will inspire young people to imagine new possibilities, drawing on their existing STEM knowledge and applying it to real-life space contexts.”