Children encouraged to reach for the stars as Life launches World Space Week
Children from across the North East are being encouraged to aim for the stars as Newcastle’s Life Science Centre (Life) celebrates World Space Week.
World Space Week, an international celebration of science and technology coordinated by the United Nations, takes place from 4-10 October each year.
This year’s theme, Rocket Revolution, explores how advances in launch technology and reusable rockets have transformed the space industry.
To mark the week, Life will engage with thousands of children through a programme of space-themed workshops, family activities, community outreach and STEM events – with a particular focus on showing young people who may never have considered a career in space, that there is a place for them in the sector.
The North East is already home to more than 80 space-sector organisations, supporting more than 1,300 jobs and generating £171 million in regional income. The region has ambitions to grow this to 10,000 space-sector jobs by 2030.
If the region is to grow in line with its ambitions, it needs a skills-ready workforce and it’s never too early to start inspiring the next generation about the opportunities a career in space can offer.
Linda Conlon added, “Life has more than 26 years’ experience in engaging audiences of all ages with space – starting with preschoolers and continuing through the key stages at school and beyond – highlighting the breadth of career options available and raising the aspirations of young people from all backgrounds.
“World Space Week is an ideal opportunity to build on that ongoing work and show children that space is not just about astronauts. There are opportunities for people with all sorts of interests, skills and talents, from engineering and science to computing, design, communications and more.”
Life has one of the most comprehensive space engagement programmes in the North with a dedicated space zone featuring a replica International Space Station and Mission Control, alongside a state-of-the-art Planetarium, which is the biggest in the region.
Life has received praise from astronauts including Helen Sharman, Tim Peake and Chris Hadfield, who have all visited the science centre.
There is a huge variety of careers on offer in space right here in the UK. I hope this activity [at Life] sparks an interest in the future generations who will take our space sector to new heights.
World Space Week launches on Sunday (4 October), on Life’s Accessibility Day, which is a full day of family-friendly activities including workshops such as Smells in Space and Robotics, with extra support for visitors with additional needs. Life’s aspiration is to be the most accessible and inclusive visitor attraction in Europe.
The centre will also welcome children from four regional schools taking part in Life’s funded Space Explorers programme.
The Life team will also be at STEMFest at Vertu Motors Arena delivering space-related activities to around 3,000 local students and also take the mobile planetarium to a local SEND school to deliver bespoke space experiences to its 120 students.
