Space science, astronaut health and the mysteries of the Universe took centre stage at the University of Liverpool as more than 200 local school pupils visited campus for a day of hands-on discovery.
The space science outreach event introduced pupils to expertise spanning human health in space, astronomy, robotics and asteroid tracking, while offering insights into the opportunities and challenges of space exploration.
Led by the University’s MicroAge team and supported through funding awarded to the programme by the UK Space Agency, the event was delivered in collaboration with the University’s Outreach and Widening Participation team.
It brought together University researchers and leading figures from the space sector for a programme of talks, hands-on activities and opportunities to discover more about the science behind space exploration.
From understanding how the human body responds to spaceflight to tracking asteroids and exploring the Universe through telescopes, pupils heard how researchers across different disciplines are helping to advance space science.
Dr Kai Hoettges, Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics, explored life sciences and the human body in space, while colleague Dr Anirudh Chhabra, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, introduced pupils to space robotics and asteroid tracking. Dr Helen Jermak, from Liverpool John Moores University, completed the research programme with a session on telescopes and astronomy.
They were joined by two keynote speakers: Libby Jackson OBE, Head of Space at the Science Museum, and Dr Meganne Christian, European Space Agency Reserve Astronaut, bringing perspectives from beyond academia and highlighting the breadth of careers and expertise involved in the space sector.
Pupils were also able to take part in a range of interactive activities which included muscle strength testing by a team from the Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences; a lego version of the LJMU Liverpool Telescope in Spain; LASER, the Student led space engineering group at the University of Liverpool and space clothes and an asteroid from the World Museum, Liverpool.
The MicroAge project
The event formed part of the wider public engagement programme of MicroAge, a University of Liverpool-led programme investigating how the space environment can help scientists better understand the processes that cause muscles to weaken on Earth.
Supported by the UK Space Agency, MicroAge researchers have sent lab-grown human muscle tissue to the International Space Station (ISS), using microgravity as a model to investigate processes associated with muscle ageing on Earth.
Alongside advancing understanding of muscle ageing, public engagement is a crucial part of the MicroAge programme. The MicroAge II outreach programme has been designed to inspire the next generation to engage with science and space-related careers, with a particular focus on widening access and participation among groups currently underrepresented in STEM.
Professor Anne McArdle, Professor of Musculoskeletal & Ageing and event co-ordinator said:
“We were delighted to see so many students take part in this day of discovery and inspiration which represented the growing strengths in space across the city region. A particular highlight for both staff and children was hearing from astronaut Meganne Christian’s adventures and Libby Jackson’s experience of working at the European Space Agency’s Mission Control as flight Director for the Columbus module on the International Space Station. Events like this help young people explore new possibilities, build confidence in their abilities and discover the diverse range of careers available in science, technology and engineering. We all agreed that the question of the day was “how did we go from nothing to the big bang!””
Find out more about MicroAge and how studying astronauts could help tackle aging on earth in this article written by Dr Samantha Jones, and Professor Anne McArdle.