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may 20, 2016 - European Space Agency

Belgian schools are awarded for the second time ‘sciences at school’ label

20 May 2016

Yesterday 21 primary school and 5 secondary Belgian school projects were awarded the official ‘Sciences à l’école’ (Sciences at School) label – an ESA initiative in collaboration with the Ministry of Education of the French-speaking community of Belgium.

The award ceremony took place in Rebecq, Belgium, marking a significant milestone in this unique Belgian award that seeks to improve science education in schools by using space as a teaching and learning context.

Students, teachers, inspectors, and high-level representatives attended the event, which included an exhibit of dozens of school projects completed by the pupils. A presentation ceremony was organised by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, the European Space Education Resource Office (ESERO) in Belgium, and ESA.  Fabrice Aerts-Bancken, Chief of Staff for Education Minister Marie-Martine Schyns, attended the event and awarded the prestigious ‘Sciences at School’ label to each of the schools present.

ESA’s Head of the Education and Knowledge Management Office, Hugo Marée, also attended the event. "We are delighted that this project has been so successful since its introduction," he said. "Thanks to the close coordination between ESA’s Education Office, the Belgian Science Policy Office and the Belgian ESERO office located at the Planetarium of the Belgian Royal Observatory in Brussels, teachers have been able to give students the opportunity to develop scientific activities focused on research methodologies while using space and space missions during their teaching. Looking at what the students and teachers have developed in their schools, science can clearly be presented in an exciting, attractive, interesting and fun way for students!"

About the 'Espace et Enseignement' (Space and Education) project

The 'Sciences at School' label - an ESA initiative in collaboration with the 'Espace et Enseignement' (Space and Education) project (a project from the Ministry of Education of the French-speaking community (DGEO), led by the school inspection services of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation) - recognises schools which make a special effort to stimulate interest in science and technology subjects while using space as a context.

The 'Space and Education' project was launched by the Prince Philippe Fund, a Belgian foundation that strives to maintain and encourage dialogue between the different Belgian communities (Brussels, Flanders and Wallonia). The project is implemented by the Ministry of Education of the French-speaking community (DGEO), the school inspection services of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, and ESA, through its ESERO office in Belgium.

The project enables teachers and students to develop and implement space-related scientific activities. Its objective is to instil a scientific methodology and critical thinking in young pupils. Excellent collaboration between all partners has enabled the project to become very successful.

Within the framework of the 'Space and Education' project, a call was issued to all schools in the French-speaking community to apply for a 'Sciences at School' label. This label aims to encourage schools to make science attractive and accessible, and increase students’ interest in science subjects, both at primary and secondary school level.  Schools that applied to receive the 'Sciences at School' label presented a detailed, comprehensive dossier which explained the scientific methodologies developed by their teaching staff and students, as well as the projects they implemented.

A commission including  school inspectors and the Ministry of Education then evaluated the schools’ dossiers and visited the schools to see the work that was being done.   The schools that  achieved the required objectives received the prestigious 'Sciences at School' label. 

ESA’s ESERO network across Europe

In an effort to inform and inspire young people about science and technology, ESA has supported the creation of European Space Education Resource Offices (ESEROs), currently established in 13 of its Member States: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ireland, Finland, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, and UK.

Additional support is provided by national governments and/or science-related organisations. In Belgium, the national ESERO office works in close collaboration with the Belgian Federal Science Policy Office (BELSPO).

By encouraging #educational activities specifically tailored for the national curriculum and needs of each ESA Member State, the ESEROs play an important role in supporting STEM education. 

Using the space context to make the teaching and learning of STEM subjects more attractive and accessible helps pupils feel more comfortable and familiar with sciences in general. The ESERO activities bring STEM subjects within the pupils’ reach, demolishing the misconception that science is only for geniuses. Space, in particular, becomes not just a place of inspiration and future dreams, but a natural part of modern life.

By familiarising students with space missions and the associated applications from space, ESEROs contribute to encourage the next generation to pursue careers in STEM, particularly in the space domain.

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