Highlights from the Ecsite Space Group annual meeting 2018
On 30–31 January 2019, the Ecsite Space Group’s Annual meeting was held at the Columbus Earth Center in Kerkrade, The Netherlands.
On the first day, Hans Gubbels, Director of Museumplein, Limburg, welcomed the Space Group at the Columbus Earth Center.
After an introduction of the group by the Ecsite Space Group co-chairs, the participants had the opportunity to learn about ESA’s next missions and milestones presented by Roberto Lo Verde, Head of Management support and corporate activities office, ESA Communication Department.
This was followed by a presentation on the activities of The Netherlands Space Office’s by Jasper Wamsteker, Head of Communication and educational programme.
The group also approached the latest developments in the Virtual Reality with Ruud Dullens, Bluetea B.V., and visited the Columbus and its impressive immersive projection surface with Mischa Horninge, product manager at the Columbus Earth Center.
Later on, Robert Meisner, ESA’s Earth Observation Communication officer, illustrated the Earth Observation resources available at ɸ Experience at ESA/ESRIN.
The group ended the first day with an overview of the third pilot project ‘Climate Change: Monitoring the Atmosphere and Oceans from Space’ led by Ana Noronha, Ciência Viva, Lisbon, Portugal.
On the second day, participants learned about the Einstein Telescope project from Gideon Koekoek, Assistant Professor at the University of Maastricht, followed by a presentation on ESA educational activities by Catia Cardoso, representative of ESA’s Education office.
The Group also received information on the Discovery Space platform, presented by Jules No Mura, Airbus Foundation, and Didier Laval, Culture Instable.
Later on Rosa Marti, Ciutad de las Artes y Ciencias, Valencia, Spain, updated all participants on the Alive! Board game, the second pilot project of the Space Group.
The Group closed the two-day workshop with the Showcase session, the attendance of Mahbobah Ahmadi, Leiden University who presented the UNAWE’s Discovery Club and the opportunity to shared more resources, opinions and ideas.
The Space Group will next meet in Copenhagen, Denmark, for the Ecsite Annual Conference 2019, with a two-days pre-conference ‘Space for all, Space for Earth’ on the 4–5 June, focusing on European space activities and achievements and in particular on the Earth observation programme from space.
About the Space Group
The Space Group, with more than 190 members and the support of ESA, aims to facilitate the exchange of ideas and projects to better share the European achievements in space with the general public.
The group benefits from the established European networks of Ecsite and the European Space network of ESA and its Member States.
The Space Group is led by three co-chairs, Marc Moutin, Director of Exhibitions at Cite’de l’Espace, Toulouse, France; Ana Noronha, Executive Director of Ciência Viva, Lisbon, Portugal; Maria Menendez, Maria Menendez, Head of Exhibition and Strategic Events.
For more information on the Ecsite Space Group, please click here.
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