DYNAMIC EARTH EDINBURGH IS ‘MISSION CONTROL’ FOR POP23 … over 145,000 school learners and adults to participate in live-streamed event
Dynamic Earth, the UK’s leading earth science and engagement charity will virtually host over 145,000 school pupils and adults from throughout the UK on Thursday (30 November) as part of the ambitious Protecting Our Planet Day (POP23).
Organised by the UK Space Education Office (ESERO-UK) at STEM Learning, and in collaboration with the European Space Agency and the UK Space Agency, POP23 is a live-streamed event hosted by Dynamic Earth that aims to inspire primary and secondary age learners about the wonders of science.
Beamed live from Dynamic Earth by presenters, the day-long event will see leading scientists, including from the European Space Agency’s Centre for Earth Observation (Italy) and from aboard the RRS Sir David Attenborough (one of the world’s most advanced polar research vessels) join classrooms throughout the UK virtually. They will give their young audience an insight to the cutting-edge work being undertaken on Earth and in space to help protect our fragile planet.
Dynamic Earth, that’s committed to empowering people with an understanding of the Earth and its future, will be mission control for the day-long (9am-430pm) event that incorporates themed topics delivered in 25-minute to 60-minute sessions. This includes ‘Protecting from Space’, ‘Protecting through Science’, ‘Protecting through Technology’ and ‘Protecting our Ice and Ocean.’ Two marine sessions – ‘Protecting Our Ice and Ocean’ (primary learners) and ‘Protecting Our Ocean’ (secondary schools) are being run by Dynamic Earth’s own Learning and Engagement team.
‘Mission control’ Dynamic Earth will also be the setting for the event’s finale, STEM Club’s Hour. This will see thousands of school children join the expert in-house team for an Our World from Space session. Virtually based classrooms will build a satellite of their own, learn how satellites work and discover the vital and diverse scientific purpose of the thousands of satellites above Earth, including to help monitor forest fires and volcanoes and even to count penguins and track tigers.
Dr Hermione Cockburn, Scientific Director at Dynamic Earth and who is one of the presenters during the day, commented: “Everyone at Dynamic Earth is extremely proud and excited to be tasked by the UK Space Education Office (ESERO-UK) at STEM Learning and its partners with hosting Protecting Our Planet Day 2023.
“Learners from throughout the UK, including secondary school students who hope to pursue a career in science, can look forward to a packed programme of incredibly exciting and inspirational talks and presentations. This includes an exclusive live session by the production team of the BBC Planet Earth III series and beaming in from a classroom to hear from experts at both the European Space Agency and aboard the RSS Sir David Attenborough.
“Protecting Our Planet Day 2023 promises to be a fun and fact-filled science extravaganza and will open young minds to the many ways scientists – on Earth and in space – are working hard to mitigate for and find solutions to the climate crisis and to protect planet Earth.”
Schools register for POP23 at www.stem.org.uk
