Current Trends in European Astronomy Education

Summary

Introduction

A European Initiative

Astronomy knows no geographical borders – the sky is the same over all countries. However, while professional astronomers have long established bi- and multilateral collaborations, many of which take place under the auspices of the IAU, few similar schemes exist within astronomy education.

Now, following the establishment in 1995 of the European Association for Astronomy Education (EAAE), this situation is about to change on that continent. This new association offers an efficient platform for astronomy educators at various levels – in particular at the approx. 7000 secondary schools in this geographical area – to interact in all related matters, e.g. curricula, all kinds of teaching materials, student exchanges and other events. Together with the European Commission and some of the professional institutes, EAAE is now planning a major, international event in November 1996.

Geographical disparity

Astronomy is taught at secondary school level in most European countries, but there are enormous differences from area to area. In some places astronomy plays an important role within the physics curriculum, in other places CCD-equipped telescopes of medium size are available for observational studies, and in some places astronomy is barely visible or the connected matters are spread over many different subjects. With some notable exceptions, it cannot be said that the teaching of astronomy in Europe is satisfactory, and it would appear that the great potential inherent in this science with so many connections and of such an outspoken interdisciplinary nature is very poorly exploited.