Science communicator: some space missions are more about inspiring others than having a strictly scientific goal

Not every space mission has to be of a clearly scientific nature. Some are carried out more to inspire successors or interest young people in science, science popularizer Dr. Tomasz Rożek told PAP. In his opinion, the mission with the Polish astronaut should be treated in the same way.

In less than three weeks – on May 29 – the Polish technological and scientific mission IGNIS will be launched to the International Space Station (ISS). Among the Ax-4 crew is the Polish project astronaut of the European Space Agency (ESA), Dr. Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski. During the two-week stay in orbit, 13 Polish scientific experiments will be conducted.

However, according to physicist and science popularizer Dr. Tomasz Rożek, not every space mission, not every human flight into orbit must be of a clearly scientific nature. "Some are carried out more to inspire successors than to solve a specific scientific problem," he said in an interview with PAP.

Tomasz Rożek added that astronaut missions increase interest in science in general, and in particular in exact sciences (STEM - science, technology, engineering, mathematics).

"The growing interest in science is a very important thing. There are missions whose success is measured not by the number of experiments conducted in orbit, but by the above-average number of applications submitted to studies. In my opinion, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski's mission should also be treated this way," said the popularizer, who in 2022 was the only representative of Poland to become a member of the advisory group of the European Space Agency.

However, in order to achieve this popularizing effect - he continued - one must prepare well for it, for example by promoting manned missions in schools. "For example, the launch of the mission in which British astronaut Tim Peake took part was broadcast to every British school. But before that happened, schools received a huge amount of materials to help teachers conduct 'space' lessons," he said.

He also admitted that pointing to space themes is easier in countries with strong space programs. "Poland is not such a country, but it will never become one if we do not have something to build space personnel on. Today, 'space personnel' are not only physicists or engineers, but also doctors, biologists and lawyers. Inspiring young people with space is an extremely important matter, and in the meantime, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski's mission is taking place without proper educational preparation of children and youth. In fact, it is taking place without any preparation at all. I decided to try to change this," emphasized Tomasz Rożek.

That's why his team from the Nauka. To Lubię Foundation has prepared a free package of several dozen lesson plans for children of different ages from primary school. These materials - called "Space Week" - are to be available on the foundation's website from next week.

The idea of ​​"Space Week" is to show the various dimensions of space exploration – from manned flights and robotic missions, through human sciences, to philosophy and the humanities.

As the founder and head of the Nauka. To Lubię Foundation said, "space is truly interdisciplinary". "It contains physics, chemistry, and biology, but also the humanities (philosophy, ethics, law), and preparing for a space mission also means physical activity and a properly composed, healthy diet. Basically, all of these threads and contexts are included in the school curriculum anyway. There is no need to additionally burden students (and teachers) with topics and classes, it is enough to skillfully combine what the school teaches anyway," he said.

The primary goal of the creators of this program is to inspire young people to become interested in science, engineering, technology and to work in them in the future, including working in the space sector. "Today, when you talk to owners of space companies in Poland, they already see the end of the 'bench' from which they can take educated employees. This industry will stop if it does not have the staff. And by stopping, it will condemn our economy to buying important technologies from abroad," said Tomasz Rożek.

As the authors of the lesson plans emphasize, participation in the project is free of charge, and the prepared program is in line with the core curriculum of individual subjects. Details on the website: www.naukatolubie.pl (PAP)

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