2007 Annual Report - World Space Week

Europlanet National CompetitionLocation: “Octavian Goga” National CollegeSibiu, Sibiu CountyOctober 4 - October 10, 2007: Sibiu County has a special relationship with space research having been hometo Conrad Haas, the inventor of the multi-stage rocket, and to Herman Oberth, father of astronautics, who taughtphysics and mathematics in Medias. 2007 is not only the fiftieth anniversary of the start of the space era, but also asthe year Sibiu acted as the European Capital of Culture. It is, therefore, not surprising that Sibiu would bring itscontribution to the 2007 edition of the World Space Week.Report: The “Octavian Goga” National College, under the coordination of Prof. Elisabeta Ana Pica, organized thenational competition “Europlanet”. The competition was widely popularized in the mass media, resulting in theparticipation of 28 schools from Arad, Bacau, Barlad, Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Constanta, Dumbravita de Codru, Galati,Moreni, Sibiu and Targoviste, with 734 pupils coordinated by 52 teachers. Prizes were awarded in the “junior” and“senior” age groups, and for several categories. These were “I like astronomy” (questionnaire), the most beautifuldrawing of a Solar System celestial body, photography, and “A present for the Solar System” (video, poster). Thepartners were the Astronomical Institute of the Romanian Academy, the “XXI Astronomia” association, Brief Press, andthe Sibiu County school inspectorate. On October 17th, the “Octavian Goga” National College hosted the scientificpapers session for pupils: “Artificial Satellites – 50 Years from the First Launch” and “Discover the Neighbors of theSolar System”. Science was combined with art and with a film dedicated to “Mars – a Second Earth”. The sessionfeatured three songs composed by pupils from the Arts Highschool of Sibiu with the theme “For the Fifty Years of theSpace Era”.Organization: “Octavian Goga” National CollegeWorld Space Week eventsLocation: Suceava Astronomical Observatory Suceava, Suceava CountyOctober 6, 2007: Suceava’s Astronomical Observatory hosted an event organized by County’s Schools Inspectorate,centered on a session of Astronomy student papers and posters titled “50 Years in Outer Space”. The symposiumhosted as well an exhibition featuring space-themed photos and drawings, as well as small telescopes. Thesymposium culminated with a film gala. The event was covered in the “News Bucovina” website.Organization: Suceava Astronomical ObservatoryRocket FlightLocation: Avram Iancu School Turda and Mihai Eminescu School DejTurda and Dej, Cluj CountyOctober 1 - November 30, 2007:community representativesParticipants: Secondary school students and teachers, administration and localOrganization: Avram Iancu School Turda and Mihai Eminescu School DejWorld Space Week eventsLocation: Technical College “Alesandru Papiu Ilarian” Zalau, Salaj CountyOctober 4 - October 10, 2007: The anniversary WorldSpace Week, marking fifty years from the start of the Space Age,was celebrated in the Salaj county by the students of Zalau’sTechnical College “Alesandru Papiu Ilarian”. A special eventorganized by teacher Maria Pop, involving the participation of thePhysics Inspector Ioan Opri, of teachers and students was astudent’s dissertation session. Other activities dedicated to theWSW took place during the weekly meeting with the class principal,and had as a theme “The History of the Universe” and “SpaceHeroes”. As a practical activity, the students created space-themedposters. With the occasion of the WSW, the tenth issue of “Prisma”(the physics review of the college) was published. The event wascovered in the “Salajeanul” newspaper.Organization: Technical College “Alesandru Papiu Ilarian”, Zalau77