The British Council is making a large commitment to science education in Russia by planning to provide schools in cities across Russia with access to the Faulkes Telescopes.
These research-quality telescopes are located in Hawaii and North Australia; each one stands 8 metres tall and has a 2 metre diameter primary mirror. They operate as robots – all that is necessary to control them is an Internet connection and a standard Windows or Apple computer. A control system in the UK relays instructions from the user in a school to the telescope, which then decides if the weather is good enough to open the enclosure, points the telescope and takes the images requested. Through this system excellent images of stars, galaxies and other objects are sent within minutes to the school computer via the Internet.
Each school will work in partnership with a professional astronomer to identify a research project to undertake. This project will involve students and teachers doing some “real” astronomy, and there will be the opportunity for them to work together to collect data which will contribute to finding answers to research questions which are of interest to professional astronomers. Through a new website “Hands-On Universe, Russia” schools and astronomers will share and discuss their findings with each other and with schools and astronomers in the UK and across Europe. This autumn regions, taking part in the project made their first observations. The results are the following:
- Moscow
- Moscow House of Adolescent Creativity (report)
- South-West Gymnasium 1543 (report)
- Interschool Astronomical Centre “Vega” (report, addendum)
- St Petersburg
- Ekaterinburg (report)
- Samara(report)
- Nizhniy Novgorod
British Council and Sternberg Astronomy Institute (SAI) will celebrate the one-year anniversary of the ‘Faulkes Telescope’ project that has brought the wonders of Space to more than 500 Russian school students via the Internet. Click here to view invitation.
Date: 26 September 2007
Location: Moscow State University
Faulkes Telescope in Russia is part of the work of the British Council to engage and inspire young people with science. By linking professional scientists with students and teachers in schools we want to show all young people how science is at the heart of our modern world, and how studying science can be both enjoyable and rewarding. The links we create between scientists and schools in Russia, the UK and Europe will help to do this, allowing all participants to take part in discussions which will deepen understanding and enhance opportunities.
To find out more about Faulkes Telescope in Russia, contact:
Tatiana Kladko, British Council Russia
T 7 495 782 02 00
E-mail Tatiana.Kladko@britishcouncil.ru
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