Astronaut Dirk Frimout is going to get students excited about science and mathematics
The Flemish economy is crying out for strong STEM profiles (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics – Exact Sciences, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Flanders therefore wants to make as many children and young people as possible interested in this training. “The challenge is to make STEM tangible and attractive to a young audience”, says Flemish Minister of Education Ben Weyts.
Working on space travel
In concrete terms, astronauts Dirk Frimout and Frank De Winne will challenge students in films to perform certain experiments. For example, primary school students can design a moon base, while secondary school students can launch their own satellite with a rocket. “The intention is to have as many schools as possible work on space travel with adapted material.”
Schools are encouraged to work on space travel for a whole year, but there is also a special Space Week between 21 and 25 March. “This year we celebrate a double anniversary: it is 30 years ago that Dirk Frimout flew 143 times around the Earth in space shuttle Atlantis and it is 20 years ago that Frank De Winne first stayed in the International Space Station (ISS). visit our universities, where secondary school students also participate in activities.”
“In space, science, technology, engineering and mathematics all come together. Moreover, space travel literally and figuratively brings people into the clouds. It makes you dream. In short, there is no better sign for STEM”, says Weyts. “We already start in primary school, because we want to stimulate children at a young age to choose a STEM direction later on.”