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INTERESTING TODAY'S YOUTH IN A CAREER IN SPACE TOMORROW

Wubbo Ockels, the first Dutch astronaut, is today responsible for the educational activities run by ESA in Noordwijk. In an exclusive interview with Matthias Gründer of FLUG REVUE, he describes his plans.

FLUG REVUE: Mr. Ockels, how long has ESA's Education Office existed?

Wubbo Ockels: Since 1999, and in fact it was set up at my suggestion. When the Euromoon project was cancelled, I had practically nothing to do. The project was on the verge of becoming a reality, but then it failed for political reasons. After that I came up with the idea of an educational initiative at ESA which would achieve a big effect but with only modest financial resources. Thanks to the support of our Director General, it all proceeded fairly smoothly.

FR: Why are you so committed to working with schoolchildren and students?

Ockels: On the one hand, the situation regarding the future recruitment of young engineers and scientists is extremely worrying, and in a few years' time it will cause us major problems when it comes to implementing European space projects. We need to take action here in good time if we are to interest young people in space. On the other hand, as a professor at Delft University, I have a lot of dealings with students and I know how quickly they can be fired up to take on challenges. And finally, working with young people keeps me young myself.

FR: Your colleagues here in Noordwijk are also very young...

Ockels: Indeed, and in fact that is intentional. We make a point of only working with young graduates, who come from all over Europe. At the beginning there were two who were responsible here for various projects. Today there are seven. They come fresh from college or university and still speak the language of students. During the two years they spend here they are expected to discover their talents, motivate young people to make a career in space and simply interest schoolchildren in space.

FR: Why do they only stay for two years?

Ockels: For us two years may seem a short time, but when one is 25 and has one's whole professional life before one, two years is a long time. I wouldn't want them to become part of the establishment here and get worn down in the bureaucratic treadmill.

FR: Why do begin your projects in schools?

Ockels: Space is an immanent element of human development. For this reason we need to include subject matter about space, space perspectives and also the associated problems in school and hence in general education. Children and young people need guidance for their later life, but they also want to be taken seriously and not looked down upon. Despite their tender years they are already thinking seriously about the meaning of life and the future of our world. We want to take advantage of that.

FR: Could you describe an example of your work with schoolchildren for us?

Ockels: With pleasure. One example is a pilot project that we carried out last year in 40 primary schools, in which we established a link between milk and a Mars project. The people who brought the milk distributed electronic games which tested the children's knowledge. They then had two hours in which to build a city on Mars out of the empty milk cartons. The campaign met with an unbelievable response and released enormous potentials in creativity and fantasy. But that was only a beginning. Our primary aim with our campaigns is to reach a lot of children, and especially their teachers.

FR: What do you hope to gain from contact with the teachers?

Ockels: We have noticed in the course of our work that after the enthusiasm for space which I mentioned in the primary schools, interest in space suddenly tails off in secondary schools. Here we want to achieve continuity, and the most effective way of doing that is to recruit teachers. If they feel drawn to what we offer, then they will pass that message on to their pupil; otherwise, we will have to do this ourselves.

FR: But what your office is most well-known for is its parabolic flight campaigns for students. How did that come about?

Ockels: The first campaign of that kind was run back in 1994, i.e. before our office was set up. With the support of the European Commission, students flew on the Caravelle and carried out first experiments in weightlessness. A year later we wanted to repeat the programme, but the Caravelle had already been withdrawn from service and the A300 ZERO-G did not yet exist. So we brought the NASA KC-135 over to Europe and flew with 80 students. NASA was so enthusiastic about the campaign that it has put on similar programmes itself since 1996.

FR: But such flights are very expensive. Is the expense worth it?

Ockels: Most definitely. I am now in charge of this area and I am also the budget-holder for the work of the office. The annual parabolic flight campaigns use up about a quarter of the budget, but they are worth it. We get about 1,000 applicants for every flight, and some 120 survive the selection process. It works out at about _3000 per participant, which is not too much for the long-term effect and the concrete results of the experiments, from which at the end of the day ESA profits.

FR: Where do you get your financial resources from?

Ockels: In 1998, when I was finding it difficult to continue the parabolic flights, I had the idea of planning in a percentage of the ESA budget for youth work. Before then, getting hold of the funds that were needed was always a matter of mental gymnastics. What I needed was therefore a decision from high up. When all one is asking for is a minute percentage, no one can say no, and thus I managed to defend the programme successfully before the Member States' delegates. The sums added up, and we immediately obtained approval for the next five years' funding. I have to admit, though, that I make full use here of my position as an ESA astronaut and won't allow myself to be fobbed off so easily.

FR: What are your future plans?

Ockels: The Education Office has only been around for two years. We have to stabilise the work and of course the office must function even without me. Then we will see.

From page 54 of FLUG REVUE 12/2001