‘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.

UNAWE 2012 Impact Figures

To mark the end of a very busy and successful year inspiring young children with the delights of the Universe, UNAWE have gathered information from all corners of the extensive UNAWE international network to find out exactly what impact the project has had throughout 2012.

Read more at: http://www.unawe.org/updates/unawe-update-1304/

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.

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.

Outreach session at Girls' Home

UNAWE - Sri Lanka coordinator; Thilina Heenatigala celebrated his birthday with an UNAWE program for Girls' Home.

Read the full report with photos at Universe Cafe blog.

Galle Astronomy Workshop

An astronomy workshop was held in Galle (South) Sri Lanka on the 26 – 27 of March 2010 for students and teachers of Sacred Heart Convent. The workshop was conducted by Sri Lanka Astronomical Association as a part of UNAWE – Sri Lanka, Saturn Observation Campaign, Dark-Sky Astro-Tourism project and pre-Global Astronomy Month (GAM) program.

The workshop is one of the long running annual programs in Southern Sri Lanka and this is the 7th consecutive time it’s been held. About 150 students and 20 teachers participated in the workshop.

Read full report with images.

UNAWE supports Naming X contest

2010 celebrates the 80th anniversary of the discovery of Pluto and marks the 1st year anniversary of Venetia Burney Phair’s death, on 30th April 2009, aged 90.

Venetia was a young schoolgirl, living in Oxford, England in 1930, when she came up with the name ‘Pluto’ for the newly discovered Planet X. Venetia was interested in classical mythology as well as astronomy and considered the name, that of the Roman god of the Underworld, appropriate for such a presumably dark and cold world. To celebrate her insight, and the global endeavour that is astronomy, a new competition has been launched: ‘Naming X’, to find the next influential student or school group with the creative and scientific talent to suggest a suitable name (and reasons for it) should the same opportunity of naming a planetary or celestial body arise, like it did for Venetia.

More info and winners: http://venetiaburneyphair.blogspot.com/p/competition.html

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.