Silver European award for the project « Hands-On Universe »

Vítejte na Hands-On Universe, ČESKÁ REPUBLIKA

Silver European award for the project « Hands-On Universe »

The project « Hands-On Universe, Europe – Bringing frontline interactive astronomy to the classroom » has been honoured with the silver award of the European Commission at the occasion of the conference « Innovation and Creativity in the Lifelong Learning Programme: Create, Innovate and Cooperate » held in Prague, 6-7 May 2009, in the framework of the Czech Presidency of the European Union.

In the category « Information and Communication Technologies », this award has been handed out to Roger Ferlet (IAP) by Ondrej Liska, Czech Minister of Education, Youth and Sports and Ján Figel, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Training and Youth.

The aim was to award outstanding European projects which will serve as motivating examples of the best innovative practices to accomplish the goals set by European leaders in Lisbon to become "the most dynamic and competitive knowledge-based economy in the world" by 2010 in the field of Education and Training.

EU-HOU aims to re-awaken interest in science among young people by demonstrating the excitement of astronomy via new technologies.

Teaching science through astronomy and ICT! Hands-on tools for studying universe to awaken interest in maths and science! The project managed to make formulas and computations attractive to young pupils. Thanks to this project, and to the collaboration between teachers and researchers that made it possible, pupils now have the possibility to experience the thrill of discovery by using webcam systems, radio telescopes and a world-wide network of optical telescopes available through the Internet.

Roger Ferlet with the European Commissioner for Education (left) and the Czech Minister of Education (right)

More information about all the awarded projects here.