The European Space Agency (ESA) featured Universe Awareness in the first magazine on the Citizens' Debate on Space for Europe. Over 2000 European citizens participated in this debate, which was organised in every European member state. With this debate, ESA intends to involve more people in choices concerning societal challenges and the topic of space, especially citizens. The results of the debate have been published on the website.
Pages from the booklet by ESA for the citizens debate.
As a source of information on issues related to space, a magazine was made available in all languages of the 22 member states. On page 8 of the magazine, UNAWE is mentioned as an example of the numerous associations relating to space issues: “Universe Awareness (UNAWE), an international project that uses astronomy to bring science to children all over the world”.
The debate showed positive attitudes of the public towards space science and technology. For instance, citizens in Europe think that the best way to involve the public with space in through educational programmes in schools and universities.
Results of the ESA Citizen’s Debate on Space for Europe from www.citizensdebate.space
The results show that participants feel that space programmes and activities should be more easily accessible to citizens, schools and universities, as well as NGOs and start-up companies. It is believed that more resources should be made available for space activities and that citizens should be given the possibility of contributing on a voluntary basis to space programmes, like crowdfunding. Debates on space should be global, and not just about space. People feel their friends and relatives should participate in future debates.
Soon you will be able to organise your own debates at your school or club.
What do you think?
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