Last week, the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research (CRI) organised its yearly Nightscience conference. Reseachers, educators, education entrepeneurs and science communicators gather during this event to discuss new developments in science education. This year, the conference was hosted by the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie—a large science centre in Paris, France.
The programme consisted of a number of inspiring talks on initiatives to improve science education around the world. Gilson Schwartz from São Paolo, Brazil presented his project Games for Change, which develops computer games where the player is a journalist in an international conflict. This makes the gamer think about the different sides and the complexity of a conflict situation, like in the the Middle East.
Lance Weiler from Connected Sparks told his story about the development of Lyka, a plush toy robot from another planet with a big heart. Her planet is in danger because of climate change, and goes to Earth to seek help. Lyka is both a real plush toy that actually travels the world, visiting schools and landmark places on Earth, and the main character in a book series called Lyka’s Adventure.
Another entrepeneur, Alex Cureton-Griffiths, set up an international collaboration of space enthousiast, called Space Gambit. This initiative has an agreement with NASA to support its Asteroid Grand Challenge. This project challenges the public and research institutions to look for and find asteroids heading for Earth that could potentially endanger our planet.
The Nightscience conference also made room for very young changemakers. For example, 12 year old Nellie Shute explained her touching story about saving elephants from extinction by enforcing a ban on ivory trade in her home city, Hong Kong. By making all ivory artifacts illegal, even from the existing stack, there is no market left for new elephant tusks. If you agree, you can sign her petition here.
Throughout the event, the ever recurring message was that we need to do something to change the world, and we need the youth to do that. They are needed both now, as youth leaders to set change in motion with the ‘super powers’ that only a teenager has (power in media, untouchable by politicians, large network in school, free time), as well as in the future, when they are in charge. And to reach these youngsters, we need original, inspiring and inventive science education initiatives.
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