On 13th February 2024, a 1-hour virtual internet link-up based on astronomy took place between classes from primary schools in Armenia, Ethiopia, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Nigeria. The contact was a trial organized by the International Astronomical Union European Regional Office of Astronomy for Development (E-ROAD) at Leiden University (the Netherlands). The eventual goal is to bring together young children from as many countries as possible, at the ages of 6 to 9 years, when their value systems are just beginning to form.
Encouraging young children from different countries to discuss the wonder and perspective of the Universe and the place of our tiny planet within it, is a unique way of stimulating a feeling of global togetherness and illustrating the need to protect the earth from the many common threats that we face. The school classes in each of the five countries made their presentations of paintings or songs related to the astronomy theme.
The C-Link programme is being set up in memory of Dr. Carolina Ödman, who died in November 2022 at the age of 48. She spent several years at Leiden University building up Universe Awareness for young children, an activity that reached more than 50 countries.
Excited, fun, interesting
The Dutch school that participated in the link-up was De Vogelweid, in Schagen. According to Brigitte Pruijt, the Leiden astronomy Ph.D. candidate who acted as a voluntary liaison with the school, the kids were extremely excited and found the event to be fun and interesting.
Aideen Hughes, the teacher in the Irish school said: "The children were thrilled by the project and loved making their presentations. They enjoyed seeing the other classrooms around the world and listening to the other children and are eager to get involved in any future projects!"
According to Mirjana Povic, an astronomer from Ethiopia, "It was a wonderful experience and I am happy to have been a part of it. The children were excited and appreciative. Several of them asked how they can continue to connect with children from other countries to build a lasting friendship."
Global website
To follow up on this pilot, the E-ROAD is hoping to set up a C-Link global website, through which a primary-school teacher anywhere in the world can make a class-twinning arrangement with a colleague from another country based on C-Link themes. The site would also give primary school teachers access to a multilingual 'Ask the Astronomer'-service, consisting of volunteer astronomers from all over the world, who would assist.
The E-ROAD is a collaboration between Leiden University and the European Astronomical Society and is one of ten regional offices, affiliated to the International Astronomical Office of Astronomy for Development, headquartered in South Africa, and financed by the South African government. It receives support from the Netherlands Research School for Astronomy (NOVA).