Cecilia Scorza, Haus der Astronomie and Heidelberg University

Universe in the box

The Universe in the Box

UNAWE

Part 1

Initiator of UNAWE (2004): Prof. George Miley

Science

Technology

Culture

Unique characteristics of astronomy

A big challange: Our target groups

1.Developmental psychology

2.Mythical and scientific thinking

3.Astronomy in different cultural environments

4.Astronomy for children ages 4 - 10

Information sources

Need to develope didactical materialsfor different ages and cultural environments

Cosmic Africa

Think big!!

• Psychology: Astronomy estimulates creativity

Think big!

Mythical thinking is universal

Myths inspire, astonish and estimulate observational skills Key element for UNAWE and the preservation of own cultural roots

UNAWE Objetives: • Inspire children and awake their interest for science and technology• Promote Earth citizenship and tolerance• Show that we can interrogate nature by rational means

2. Mythical and scientific thinking

Scientific thinking can be learned

The search for causal relations and explanations: hypothetical thinking, observations-experiments and validation.

Venus transit 2004

UNAWE

The Moon seen with

Mythical eyes Scientific eyes

The Moon lab

Experiment and observations around the Moon

We can see the objects around us because they reflect light

First prototype 2005UNAWE Box Cecilia Scorza

First version of the Handbook (German 2011) Cecilia Scorza and Natalie Fischer

Development of the Box

Contents- Earth-Moon-Sun- The Solar System- The constellations

Module 1: Earth-Moon-Sun

Changes of perspective

„Up“

„Down“

The Universe in the Box (2012)

Contents

Module 1: Moon-Earth-Sun

Module 2: The Solar System

Module 3: The constellations

Module 4: The life of stars

Module 5: Our home the Milky Way

Module 6: The Universe of galaxies

Mérida, Venezuela

India

Tanzania

.The UNAWE Earth ball

Concept & Educational Development

Cecilia Scorza (EU-UNAWE Germany/House of Astronomy)

Project Management Pedro Russo (EU-UNAWE/Leiden University), Jaya Ramchandani (UNAWE/Sirius Interactive)

Educational Support Natalie Fischer(EU-UNAWE Germany/House of Astronomy), Sara Khalafinejad (UNAWE/Leiden University), Jos van den Broek (Leiden University)

Business Development Jaya Ramchandani (UNAWE/Leiden University)

Editorial Support Erik Arends (UNAWE/Leiden University), Jaya Ramchandani (UNAWE/Sirius Interactive)

Activity Contribution Angela Perez (UNAWE Colombia/Astronomy Kids Club), Curion Education Pvt. Ltd. (India)

Prototype Production Curion Education Pvt. Ltd. (India)Design Charlotte Provot (EU-UNAWE/Leiden University)

Design Support: Diti Kotecha (ditikotecha.com, Graphic designer)Web Support: John Pitsakis (clrblnd.com, Web designer and Photographer) 

LogoDistribution

Nikki Hartomo (Design), David Kerkhoff (Font)Abi Ashton

Credit List

The Universe in the box team

Module 5: The Milky Way“

Chile

Where is the Universe in the Box?

Islamic heritage astronomy kit:„The journey of the ideas“

EU-project „EU-SPACE-AWARENESS“, Horizon 2020

UNAWE Marocco

Part 2

Cecilia Scorza, Hassane Darhmaoui and Rajae Saidi

Fill the gap of 1000 years of amnesia and recognize the contribution of the Islamic civilization to the development of science

Salim Al-Hassani and Ian Fenn (2008)

„Salam Mu alekum“

98% of the immigrants are muslims

We share a history … collaboration, coexistence and tolerance

We share the night sky … Arabic names of stars

We all need and use calendars to measure time

We are all Earth citizens and should contribute to work together for the benefit of human kind and to preserve the environment

DIDACTICAL APPROACH

ISLAMIC HERITAGE ASTRONOMY KIT

Educational messages through the “Journey of Ideas”

Contents

1. The roads of knowledge. Example of the house of wisdom in Bagdad 2.The first university of the World founded by a woman (Fatima´s Muhammad Al-Fihri story)3.Observing the Sun and the Moon (Time – Calendar / Cardinal directions)4.The astronomer Al-Sufi: Observing and naming the stars /

Measuring positions Coordinate system (Zenith / Nadir)

5. The physicist Alhazen and his works on optic. Camara obscura and the eye (vision)6.The life of the brightest stars: Linking Al-Sufi´s work with modern astronomy7.Islamic countries striving against Earth warming Climate box 

CONCEPT: JOURNEY OF IDEAS

ISLAMIC HERITAGE ASTRONOMY KIT

HOUSE OF WISDOM

(BAHGDAD)

AL QARAWIYYIN UNIVERSITY

CONCEPT: JOURNEY OF IDEAS

ISLAMIC HERITAGE ASTRONOMY KIT

Fatima Al Fihri founder of the Qarawiyyin University, Fez, Morocco, 9th century

Four Muslim Scientists/Figures for the kit

Meriam Al Ijlilia Al Austaurlabi, 10th century ,Aleppo, Syria. She was a famous scientist who designed and constructed astrolabes.

Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi (902-960), Rey, Iran. He identified the Large Magellan Cloud, which is visible from Yemen. He also made the earliest recorded observation of the Andromeda galaxy in 964.

Ibn Al Haytham (Alhazen, 965-1040), Basra, Iraq. He is considered as one of the most influential scientists of all time. Referred to as the father of experimental physics and modern optics and scientific methodology.

Islamic Heritage Toolkit• Islam and its influence on the development of science• Using history of science for cultural convergence

Alhazen (965-1040 AD)

Book of OpticsScientific method!Experiments with lenses and mirrors

Great influence on Roger Bacon, da Vinci, Galileo, Huygens, Descartes and Kepler!

Booklet for the teachers/students

He identified the Large Magellanic Cloud, which is visible from Yemen; it was not seen by Europeans until Magellan's voyage in the 16th century. He also made the earliest recorded observation of the Andromeda galaxy in 964 AD; describing it as a "small cloud".

He observed and described the stars, their positions, their magnitude and their colour, setting out his results constellation by constellation.

Islamic Heritage Toolkit• Astronomical and cultural approach: We share history

Al-Sufi(902-960 AD)

First activities of the Islamic heritage kit: The arabic star names, their meanings and pronunciation

The kit/Astronomical and cultural approach: We share the sky

ISLAMIC HERITAGE ASTRONOMY KIT

Cultural “fusion“: Greek constellations and the arabic names of the stars

• Foster the development of scientific thinking• Emphasize that science is cultural independant

Islamic Heritage ToolkitThe moon in our lifes: The islamic and western calender

Ramadan

Build telescopes to observe the Moon

Our fragile planet

Our fragile planet

• generate awareness for environmental challenges of the Earth

• climate change

• role of satellite observations

• comparison with other planets (solar system and extrasolar)

Educational resources

• experience with developing educational resources

• Scientix award winning “Universe in a box”

• Example: Infrared Box

Educational resources

• comprehensive educational kit• covers a wide range of topics:→ the astronomical perspective: habitable zone→ Solar system: The evolution of Venus – Earth – Mars→ Weather phenomena→ Climate (zones, variations, atmospheric and marine

influences)→ Climate change (natural and manmade)→ What can we do?

The Facts

• comprehensive educational kit• covers a wide range of topics:→ weather phenomena→ climate (zones, variations, atmospheric and marine

influences)→ climate change (natural and manmade)→ chances of mitigation (What can I do?)→ the astronomical perspective: habitable zone→ Solar system: Venus – Earth – Mars

The Facts

• some 20 experiments and activities

• enquiry based where suitable

• age range from 10 to 16 years

• comes with a comprehensive manual (scientific background)

• based on latest scientific research

The Didactics