European Association for Astronomy Education

 Carlota FERNANDES, Diogo GONCALVES and Nelson REBELO, the winners of the 2016 edition of the Odysseus II competition in the Pioneers category, accompanied by their teacher Cristina PINHO of the Sebastião e Silva Secondary School will be in the Pavilion of Knowledge (Lisbon, Portugal) in the first initiative of the Movement Portugal Code will take place in the on December 11, 2016. This presence will serve to give visibility to this amazing project. To know more about the event click here (in Portuguese).

Winners of the 2015-2016 Odysseus space science contest have travelled to French Guiana to observe the successful launch of an Ariane 5 rocket. The trip is just part of their reward for earning top honours at the Odysseus international finals in July. Equally exciting opportunities await young Europeans in the 2016-2017 contest cycle.

Witnessing a rocket launch at the spaceport in French Guiana was an extraordinary experience for the Odysseus prizewinners. “It was amazing just to watch the transfer of the rocket to the launch pad”, says Alice Antonelli from Italy. She won first place in the Explorers category of competition for university undergraduates. For Nelson Rebelo the trip was nothing less than “a dream come true”. Nelson was part of the three-member team of high-school students from Portugal who submitted the most convincing project in the Pioneers category. Next year too, first-prize winners in both categories can look forward to visiting Europe’s spaceport in South America and to earning coveted internships in the space sector.

Alice Antonelli, who won the first place in the Explorers Category of the 2016 Odysseus Contest, in parallel with her studies on Aerospace Engineering at the University of Pisa is actively mobilizing young pupils’ and students’ interest on space science. Alice who is European Youth Space Ambassador for 2016-2017 has been already invited by schools in Tuscany and in Rome to share her experiences from the contest and to talk to students about space science challenges.

International travel, high-value prizes and career-shaping internships – three excellent reasons to take part in the Odysseus space science contest. Registration for the next cycle (covering the 2016-2017 academic year) has just opened. Aimed at space enthusiasts aged 7 to 22, the contest provides a launchpad for young people to explore new horizons.

Brussels, Belgium – 31 August 2016

Odysseus challenges European youth to push the boundaries of their knowledge by discovering answers to fundamental questions on topics ranging from satellites and space probes to astrobiology and interplanetary travel. The ultimate goal to of the contest is to inspire young Europeans to get involved in space science and technology.

Wanted: young Europeans with a spirit of discovery and an interest in space science

Organized in multiple rounds (national, regional and international) the competition is open to participants from primary schools, secondary schools and universities. Teachers and professors are encouraged to get involved by organizing teams; access to professional mentoring is available upon request. Entries can be submitted in any of the EU’s 24 official languages.

Three academic levels are targeted, with separate competitions for:

• Skywalkers - ages 7 to 13 (primary schools)
• Pioneers - ages 14 to 19 (secondary schools)
• Explorers - ages 17 to 22 (universities)

Register online now. Entries (complete projects) must be received by March 31, 2017.

Participants will compete first at national level with submissions addressing one of the contest’s broadly defined topics. Experienced judges will evaluate submissions on the basis of scientific knowledge, practical implementation, team work and creativity. Winners competing in regional and international finals (complete with activity programme) will enjoy expenses-paid travel and accommodation. Prizes include iPads, computerized telescopes, travel opportunities, internships at space agencies or aerospace companies and trips to the European spaceport in French Guiana (South America).

Detailed information – including a media kit and detailed instructions on how to submit an entry online – is available at www.odysseus-contest.eu. 

Background

The contest is organized by Odysseus II, a three-year project funded through the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. The project consortium consists of 14 partners and four supporting organizations from 11 European countries.

Contact

Terry Martin

Teltower Damm 283, 14167 Berlin, Germany

phone: +49/ (0) 30 857 41404

info@spia-europa.de

Teachers and students are invited to the greatest science education contest in the last decade

Odysseus II is a competition open to students from the Primary Education up to University Education (http://www.odysseus-contest.eu).

For University students the final prize is a trip to Kourou Space Center in French Guiana associated with a 3 to 6 months internship at ESA. During the national and regional stages of the contest they also can win iPads and telescopes, among many other awards.

For Secondary Education as well as telescopes and iPads and also a trip to Kourou Space Center in French Guiana, accompanied by their teachers. They can also win iPads and telescopes, among many other awards.

For primary school students (7-13 years) will be spatial models kits and iPads with e-books and applications of spatial issues.

Competitors can present and defend their work in any of the 24 official EU languages ​​at all stages of the contest.

Odysseus II, a fun-based educational contest focusing on space science, is up and running. As of September 1^st, young people all over Europe can register to take part in an exciting competition that combines scientific learning with hands-on experience. Aimed at learners between the ages of 7 and 22, the contest is designed to engage talented young people with a spirit of discovery and an interest in science.

Odysseus II challenges European youth to push the boundaries of their knowledge by discovering answers to fundamental questions on topics ranging from satellites and space probes to astrobiology, space architecture and interplanetary travel. The ultimate aim to of the contest is to inspire young Europeans to get involved in space science.

Organized in multiple rounds, the competition will be conducted in two cycles covering the academic years 2015-2016 and 2016-2017. Teachers are encouraged to participate by coaching teams and will be offered access to professional mentoring upon request.

Three academic levels are targeted, with separate competitions for:

• Skywalkers (primary school pupils)
• Pioneers (secondary school students)
• Explorers (university undergraduates)

Participants will first compete at national level on the merits of their submissions addressing one of the contest’s broadly defined topics. Experienced judges will evaluate submissions on the basis of scientific knowledge, practical implementation and creativity. Winners will be selected at national, regional and international levels. Prizes include iPads, telescopes, travel opportunities, paid internships at the European Space Agency and trips to the Guiana Space Centre in South America.

The deadline for entries from students at secondary schools and universities is January 15, 2016. Entries from primary school pupils are expected by March 31, 2016.

Complete information – including detailed instructions on how to register and submit an entry online – is available at www.odysseus-contest.eu. High-resolution logos and a 30-second promotional video is available for download by the media.

The Odysseus II is organized by a consortium of 14 space agencies and companies linked to the space and supported by 5 entities associated with the Astronomy and Space Exploration and has funding of the European Union by the program Horizon 2020.

Science education contest gets underway – youth throughout Europe invited to compete for prizes, internships and travel opportunities

Brussels, Belgium – XX August 2015 – Odysseus II, a fun-based educational contest focusing on space science, is up and running. As of September 1^st, young people all over Europe can register to take part in an exciting competition that combines scientific learning with hands-on experience. Aimed at learners between the ages of 7 and 22, the contest is designed to engage talented young people with a spirit of discovery and an interest in science.

Odysseus II challenges European youth to push the boundaries of their knowledge by discovering answers to fundamental questions on topics ranging from satellites and space probes to astrobiology and interplanetary travel. The ultimate aim to of the contest is to inspire young Europeans to get involved in space science.

Organized in multiple rounds, the competition will be conducted in two cycles covering the academic years 2015-2016 and 2016-2017. Teachers are encouraged to participate by coaching teams and will be offered access to professional mentoring upon request. Entries can be submitted in any of the EU’s 24 official languages.

Three academic levels are targeted, with separate competitions for:

• Skywalkers (primary school pupils)
• Pioneers (secondary school students)
• Explorers (university undergraduates)

Participants will first compete at national level on the merits of their submissions addressing one of the contest’s broadly defined topics. Experienced judges will evaluate submissions on the basis of scientific knowledge, practical implementation and creativity. Winners will be selected at national, regional and international levels. Prizes include iPads, telescopes, travel opportunities, paid internships at the European Space Agency and trips to the Guiana Space Centre in South America.

The deadline for entries from students at secondary schools and universities is January 15, 2016. Entries from primary school pupils are expected by March 31, 2016.

Complete information – including detailed instructions on how to register and submit an entry online – is available at www.odysseus-contest.eu. High-resolution logos and a 30-second promotional video is available for download by the media.

Background

The contest is being organized by the consortium partners of Odysseus II, a three-year project funded through the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement 640218). Odyseus II is an expanded version of a pilot project that ran from 2011 to 2013. The current consortium consists of 14 partners and 4 supporting organizations from 11 European countries.