It is rocket science as UAE teachers sign up with Nasa
The US space agency will offer educators simulated astronaut training
UAE teachers will attend simulated astronaut training and rocket-building courses at Nasa, so they can bring their knowledge back to their classrooms.
Lara Chouman was among the first batch of four teachers to be selected last year for the Honeywell Educators at Space Academy programme.
“I knew it would be a unique experience and there is so much we learnt that I have begun implementing in class,” said Ms Chouman, a Grade 9 biology and general sciences teacher at Al Ittihad Private School in Jumeirah.
After returning from the US, she began an astronomy class and helped students to conduct experiments on heat transfer.
“There is so much that students can learn about outer space, astronauts and rockets,” Ms Chouman said. “I relate all this also to the UAE’s space vision.
“We usually teach basic conduction and convection in classrooms.
“This year we had experiments to understand how a shield can protect something like an egg from the direct heat of a flame torch to show how astronauts are protected with thick insulation layers.
“As teachers, we are preparing children for the future, maybe some of our students could be future astronauts. Many students question what happens outside their planet and they are always interested to learn more.”
Four UAE teachers have been selected for the next part of the programme, which promotes science, technology, engineering and maths at the US Space and Rocket Centre in Huntsville, Alabama.
They will inspire the scientists, engineers and programmers of the future, said Norm Gilsdorf, regional president of Honeywell Middle East.
“You can see the excitement and passion the four teachers shared when they returned last year with experience that helped them to better explain concepts to students,” Mr Gilsdorf said.
“Dubai and Abu Dhabi are also focused on aerospace in the country with their space programme. We are also committed to developing the next generation of scientists and engineers.”
They will join hundreds of teachers from across the world for the week-long programme in June, Honeywell said at the Think Science fair in Dubai yesterday.
Since the programme began in 2004, 2,776 teachers from 62 countries have been selected after a rigorous application process.
The sessions include 45 hours of classroom, laboratory and field exercises, including astronaut training, high-performance jet simulations, space missions, coding, rocket-building and flying programmes.
“This world-class programme has enabled them to gain cutting-edge skills and know-how in science, technology and engineering to nurture tomorrow’s innovators who will lead our nation to become a top global science and technology leader,” said Maytha Al Habsi, chief executive of the Emirates Foundation, which organises the annual Think Science programme.
The fair runs until today at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
We are committed to developing the next generation of scientists and engineers NORM GILSDORF Regional president of Honeywell Middle East