Speeddating with Space Experts at the High School Space Career Day

After the success of the previous edition, about 50 students from Vinay Xplore Agora Amsterdam and Kaj Munk College came to NEMO for the Space Career Day. During this day, high school students at havo and vwo level are introduced to career opportunities in the space sector. They received an introduction into space from NL Space Campus and SpaceNed. Students also speed-date with space experts and make a video about the job that appeals to them most. This allows them to broaden their horizons about possible careers in space. The day was organised by ESERO, a project initiated by ESA and NSO, that focuses on bringing space to teenagers.

During Career Day, experts from the field will be present to tell more about their work in short interviews. The students can ask their own questions during speed dates with the experts and they follow a workshop in the museum. At the end of the day, they will have more knowledge of the space sector that they can take with them when making their profile and study choice.

After a brief introduction on what you can do with space travel and an interactive mini-quiz, they got to work in two groups. In one area they were able to speed-date with space experts to discover more about career opportunities in space. The conversations were great and the pupils asked plenty of questions. Experts came from ESA, Dawn Aerospace, Leidse Instrumentmakers School, S&T, CGI Space, ICEE Space, Planet and SRON. In the other area they got to experience a creative workshop, supervised by members of the NEMO social team, they made videos about the space profession that appealed to them most. 

ESERO brings space travel to the classroom

Space and astronomy: a fascinating context for many subjects in primary and secondary education. And not just for science and technology subjects. Think geography, maths, biology, research and design. Sometimes the subjects are close to home. The moon, the seasons, our earth itself. Then again far away: space travel, planets in other solar systems, black holes.

ESERO NL supports teachers and educators who want to work with these themes. With a wide range of free teaching materials and projects and with training courses and workshops throughout the country. 

ESERO is an initiative started by the European Space Agency ESA. In the Netherlands, it is co-funded by NSO (the Netherlands Space Office). ESERO also cooperates with many partners from industry, academia and education. Every spring they organise the Space Career Day specifically for secondary students, where the introduction is offered by NL Space Campus and SpaceNed.