Under the leadership of Dr Rainer Reuter, Oldenburg marine physicists are participating in the Science Education through Earth Observation for High Schools (SEOS) project. The project is being developed and implemented by scientists and teachers from various European countries. The project partners are working in close co-operation with the European Space Agency (ESA). The project is funded by the European Commission on the basis of the 6th Framework Programme (Aeronautics and Space).

Aims of the project

Earth observation using remote sensing methods from space is an important element of teaching in schools, as it raises awareness of the environment and strengthens interest in scientific contexts. The range of subjects is broad and includes, for example, daily and short-term weather phenomena, long-term climatic studies, land use, marine pollution and environmental disasters.

The European Association of Remote Sensing Laboratories (EARSeL) is made up of around 250 members, most of whom have a university background. Their current research results will be used to develop learning modules as part of the SEOS project, which will be available on the Internet and cover a wide range of remote sensing topics. During the two-year project phase, which will last until the beginning of August 2009, 15 such learning units, so-called eLearning tutorials, will be developed and trialled in cooperation with various European partner secondary schools.

The learning modules cover several subject areas, including physics, biology, geography, maths and engineering, with the focus on the interdisciplinary nature of the individual topics. Students will translate personal observations into a global perspective and gain an understanding of the working techniques required to obtain and interpret the necessary data. The project is aimed at upper secondary school students, is conducted in English and also aims to teach the basic techniques of scientific work.

More