Scottish Youngsters to Meet Space Shuttle Crew
A group of 26 young Scottish scientists will tomorrow (12 January 2007) embark on a mission to NASA's base in Houston, Texas and meet the crew of the Space Shuttle Discovery. The teenagers are all students of the Careers Scotland Space School, an inspirational programme that encourages young people to follow careers in science and technology.
The ten day residential space school will open its doors on Friday 12 January 2007, when the fourth and fifth year pupils set out from Glasgow Airport and travel to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. A highlight of the trip will be meeting British astronaut Nick Patrick and the space shuttle crew who spent 13 days in space last month.
The Careers Scotland Space School is a world leading programme supported by the Scottish Executive and NASA. It is designed to increase participation and motivation of school students in science and technology and help young people to understand how the subjects apply to real career choices.
For ten inspirational days the young people will work with a team of NASA astronauts and scientists and participate in a mixture of lectures, workshops, group tasks and assignments, alongside a full social programme. They will view NASA facilities and Nick Patrick will provide a guided tour of the historic mission control that was used during the Apollo space flights.
The teenagers have been selected from 3000 young people who took part in the Careers Scotland Space School programme last year. They have all successfully completed a programme of distance learning developed by Careers Scotland in conjunction with a team of NASA scientists. Designed to supplement studies in Higher Grade physics, chemistry, biology and maths, the Careers Scotland Space School aims to further develop the young people’s skills and knowledge in science, technology and enterprise.
Alex Blackwood, head of enterprise in education, Careers Scotland, said:
“Now in its sixth year, the Careers Scotland Space School is repeatedly described as an inspirational and life changing experience. Science and technology are vital to the success of Scotland’s economy and Careers Scotland aims to motivate young people and encourage them to study the subjects and go on to choose them as careers."
“Inspiring young people is something that NASA scientists do better than most and I am sure that the Careers Scotland Space School students will enjoy their trip of a lifetime. Not only will the young people develop their skills in science and technology but they will also increase their confidence, motivation and self-belief. More than 80 per cent of young people who have participated in the Careers Scotland Space School have gone on to university to study science and technology.”
On his flight aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery, Nick Patrick carried a Saltire into space in recognition of his support for the Careers Scotland Space School. He plans to return it to Scotland later this year.
Find out more about Space Camp and tune into regular video logs from Houston.
11/01/07
