‘Universe in the Classroom’ Launched in Sri Lanka

For six-weeks, a group of interns brought the Universe in to the classroom. Working together, they reached hundreds of young students. From stars, solar system to constellations, many hands-on topics were explored.

Association internationale des étudiants en sciences économiques et commerciales (AIESEC) is the world’s largest student-led organisation, a non-profit, non-political platform for youth to enhance their skills. Universe Awareness (UNAWE) Sri Lanka is a programme dedicated to bring the joy and knowledge of the universe to children. Together with AIESEC Sri Lanka, Jayawardenepura Local Committee and UNAWE Sri Lanka launched the project ‘Universe in the Classroom’ where interns and volunteers will use the ‘Universe in a Box’ resources to reach out to young students to learn and enjoy basic astronomy with a hands-on approach.

The first phase of the project, named ‘Astrovaganza’ gathered 12 international and local students. It was coordinated by Thishan Pavithra, a student of University of Jayawardenepura and supervised by Thilina Heenatigala, coordinator of UNAWE Sri Lanka programme. UNAWE Sri Lanka hopes to continue ‘Universe in the Classroom’ in more rural areas with collaboration of AIESEC.

Supernova Hunters!

Check out this new space photo of a galaxy. It is the most detailed photo ever taken of this galaxy! In the picture it looks like a peaceful place, but astronomers have spotted the violent explosions of two stars in this galaxy over the past 30 years.

Read the full article in Sinhalese here.


Credits:
Text - ESO/UNAWE
Image - ESO
Translation: UNAWE-Sri Lanka (Rangitha Kuruppu)

The ‘O’ So Big Gobstoppers of the Universe!

The Universe is like a pick n’ mix store when it comes to the variety of stars that it contains. Read the full article in Sinhalese here.



Credits:
Text - ESO/UNAWE
Image - ESO
Translation: UNAWE-Sri Lanka (Rangitha Kuruppu)

Commemoration Ceremony of Sergei Pavlovich Korolev

In collaboration with Royal College Astronomical Society and The Russian Centre in Colombo, UNAWE-Sri Lanka celebrated on 18 January 2012, the birth and death anniversary of Sergei Pavlovich Korolev; lead Soviet rocket engineer and spacecraft designer in the Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union during the 1950s and 1960s.

The event was participated by H.E. The Russian Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Prof. Tissa Vitharana; Minister of Scientific Affairs, Prof. Kavan Ratanatunga; astrophysicist, Thilina Heenatigala; Sri Lanka Astronomical Association and school students from several schools in Colombo.

The event started with screening a rare footage of Russian Space program and S.P. Korolev’s involvement. This was followed up by a hands-on activity session on rocketry for school students.



Images from the event:

S.P. Korolev memorial

H.E. The Russian Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Prof. Tissa Vitharana;
Minister of Scientific Affairs at the S.P. Korolev exhibition.

Participants; school students, teachers and military personals.


Students engaged in the activity session.


Students engaged in the activity session.

Cub Scouts of Sri Lanka Enjoys a Tour around the Universe

UNAWE Sri Lanka organized an astronomy session for cub scouts of Athurugiriya Maha Vidyalaya (Athurugiriya School) as a part of their first camp on 24 September 2011. The event gathered about 100+ cub scouts aged 8 – 10 with 20 teachers.

The evening started with an introduction to Night Sky which was followed up with observing sessions. It was the first time for all the children and teachers to learn about the wonders of the night sky. They enjoyed identifying the constellations and the first glimpse of the deep sky objects through binoculars.

The next session was an introduction to the Solar System. Before the session, UNAWE Sri Lanka coordinator asked couple of questions to determine the knowledge level of the children. Majority was not aware of the number of planets in the Solar System or in proper order. Interestingly many thought Venus is a Star due to local word phrasing for the planet which gives the meaning as a Star.

After the tour around the Solar System, children enjoyed doing some activities such as astronomy words finding, colouring an astronaut and moon, and building a paper rocket. As the last session of the event, the cubs got to learn about rockets and space shuttles with some videos to explain them better.

At the end of the event, plans were made to do some follow up workshop series for students from grades 2 – 9 and also a teacher training program for teachers from several schools in the area.

Astronomy Event for Scouts of Athurugiriya School, Sri Lanka

UNAWE Sri Lanka will be running an astronomy event for scouts of Athurugiriya School. The event will cover introduction to Night Sky, Solar System, and Rockets which will follow up with observing session (weather permitting) and other hands-on activities.

Date: 24/09/2011
Venue: Auditorium and main grounds of Athurugiriya School.

Astronomers Make a Splash with a New Discovery

Did you know that everything on Earth is made of stuff from stars? If you could look at the world around you with a super-powerful microscope, you would see that everything is made up of tiny things called atoms. Today we know about more than 110 different types of atoms, with hydrogen being the most common atom in the Universe.

Full article in Sinhalese:

Open publication

Click here for English version.






Credits:
Text - ESO/UNAWE
Image - ESO
Translation: UNAWE-Sri Lanka (Rangitha Kuruppu)

A Flash from the Past

Astronomers can look back in time to when the Universe was younger. But they don’t have to hop into a time travel machine to do this, like in a sci-fi movie. Instead, all they need are powerful telescopes to look at objects that are far away in the Universe, because when we look at space we are looking at the past!

Full article in Sinhalese:

Open publication -

Click here for English version.






Credits:
Text - ESO/UNAWE
Image - ESO
Translation: UNAWE-Sri Lanka (Rangitha Kuruppu)

A Big Fiery Giant!

Using the VISIR instrument on ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT), astronomers have imaged a complex and bright nebula around the supergiant star Betelgeuse in greater detail than ever before. This structure, which resembles flames emanating from the star, is formed as the behemoth sheds its material into space.

Full article in Sinhalese:

Open publication

Click here for English version.





Credits:
Text - ESO/UNAWE
Image - ESO
Translation: UNAWE-Sri Lanka (Rangitha Kuruppu)

Our Universe is big, beautiful… and mostly invisible!

A team of scientists has studied the galaxy cluster Abell 2744, nicknamed Pandora’s Cluster. They have pieced together the cluster’s complex and violent history using telescopes in space and on the ground, including ESO’s Very Large Telescope and the Hubble Space Telescope. Abell 2744 seems to be the result of a simultaneous pile-up of at least four separate galaxy clusters and this complex collision has produced strange effects that have never been seen together before.

Full article in Sinhalese:

Open publication

Click here for English version.





Credits:
Text - ESO/UNAWE
Image - ESO
Translation: UNAWE-Sri Lanka (Rangitha Kuruppu)

UNAWE - Sri Lanka launched with Girl Guides

The first UNAWE - Sri Lanka program was held on 8 August 2009 for Girl Guides at Holly Family Convent, Dehiwala. About 50+ girls in grades 6 - 9 and teachers joined for an evening of celestial experience.

The program started with an introduction to the night sky conducted by Thilina Heenatigala. It was followed by an introduction on how to use star maps by Dimuth Waliwitiya. The girls were divided into two groups and the conductors took them for a ride through the night sky, introducing constellations, planets. The students were given a chance to find constellations using star maps on their own as well. The evening concluded with a dinner together with the guides.

You can download a full report of the experience here.

UPDATE: Report of the event featured on UNAWE website.