Speaker
Description
The Planeterrella experiment is a modernized version of the clasical Terrella experiment, used to visualize and demonstrate the formation of polar auroras and related phenomena. Since its initial development by Jean Lilensten, the Planeterrella has been adopted as a valuable tool in the popularization of space science to the general public. In particular, a version of the experiment has been developed at the Institute of Space Science in Romania, with optimisations for easy setup and mobility. Since 2018, the team at ISS has participated in dozens of events aiming to inform and educate the general public in the field of space weather and solar-terrestrial interactions.
In this work, we will focus on activities with a more pronounced educational component. We organized several events in schools throughout Romania, during which large numbers of younger students and their teachers benefited from an introductory lesson into space-
weather concepts. One or more scientists from our team at ISS offered non-formal lessons tailored for each specific age group. We aimed to share our excitement for science in general and space science in particular, hoping to foster curiosity and wonder in the new generation. Additionally, we highlight the practical application of notions covered by the school curriculum and potential career paths in STEM. In the poster, we describe our general approach and document some of the events, as well as future plans.
