This is a very important year for Space: not only is it 50 years since the first human set foot on the moon, but it is 20 years since the first ever University of Kent Space School launched!
This residential event for young people was first run in 1999 in order to inspire the next generation of scientists and to share some of the fantastic work carried out by astronomers and space scientists at the University.
Since then, it has been an annual staple in the School of Physical Sciences’ calendar, involving exciting activities such as designing, building and launching rockets, night sky observations and hands on astrophysics and space science workshops.
The University has its own state of the art Beacon observatory, giving Space School students the opportunity to do some observing that really is out of this world. The event is run by academics, postgraduate and undergraduate students as well as school of physical sciences alumni.
Students get the chance to work on science projects with academics and postgraduate students who do research at the University of Kent. More recently the event has focused on this project work with University researchers, covering observational astronomy with the Beacon Observatory, planetary science with the Light Gas Gun (a gun which can accelerate small projectiles to speeds of up to 7kms-1) and small solar system body research.
This year Space School will be bigger and better than ever, celebrating its 20th Anniversary, so come and join us by applying here!
If you have any questions about space school 2019, please email science@kent.ac.uk
Space School 2019 is open to 15-18 year olds and will take place from Friday 2nd August to Sunday 4th August.