ASDC Project Manager Cait Campbell shares her experience visiting Oxford University Museum of Natural History as part of her work on the national space programme Our World From Space, part of the UK Space Agency funded Space to Inspire projects.
“I went to visit Oxford University Museum of Natural History at the weekend to attend their Super Science Saturday which they run three times a year, bringing in local researchers and industry representatives to engage with their visitors. I was able to see the Our World From Space delivery in person and meet some great experts in earth observation and space science whilst being surrounded by dinosaur bones and butterflies!"
The aim of this project is to engage and inspire school aged children and their families with a sense of curiosity and discovery about the UK’s role in space, and to promote an understanding of the value of space for the future sustainability of planet Earth, which was being showcased at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.
Amongst the many fascinating stalls, topics ranged from tracking reindeers from space, mapping the moon over the years, ocean coral bleaching, WWF’s Walrus from Space, NCEO earth observation, and experts sharing activities on the new Biomass mission due to be launched this year.
Natural history librarian and archivist Danielle and Oxford Earth Sciences undergraduate Lucy also shared some archive materials related to the museum's first Keeper, John Phillips, a geologist who used his telescope next to the museum in the 1860s to map craters on the Moon.
"The real highlight for me was seeing families playing with the Our World From Space activities, such as the penguin poo floor mat and the custom-made squashy satellite model (pictured), and their reactions to chatting with the researchers and volunteers. It was great to meet the museum team and their volunteers and catch up about the project and see what other exhibitions they have going on, including our first national STEM programme Hands-on DNA from 2013. We hope Our World From Space will have a similar legacy!”
All photos credit Ian Wallman