On December 22, 2021, the Webb Space Telescope will be launched in Kourou, a worldwide mission offering exceptional prospects for scientific discoveries. A team of ten researchers from French laboratories involved in the mission - Paris Observatory - PSL, CEA and IAS - with the support of the scientific mediation association SpaceBus France, will take advantage of this event to reach out to citizens and promote the science-society dialogue around astronomy.
From December 5 to 21, 2021, the scientists will crisscross the Guiana territory. They will explain the major issues of knowledge related to the launch of the new telescope in space, with the objectives of :
- To make discover astronomy and science thanks to ludic, interactive animations and accessible to all.
- To train to the scientific approach and to develop the critical spirit through a rich program of conferences.
- To testify of the cultural richness and the international aspect of the space professions.
- To create vocations and promote the place of women in science to fight against their under-representation in this sector.
The tour, which has been prepared for a long time, will cover 1,000 kilometers in 11 cities through 35 events.
The team will visit schools, markets, villages, social centers, tourist spots, public places and the Guiana Space Center. All along the route, specific animations have been planned to adapt to the audiences encountered :
- For schoolchildren, the team of scientists will propose scientific workshops around space and astronomy. These workshops will also be an opportunity for the students to exchange with astrophysicists, in particular on the space professions.
- For teachers, academic training for all levels in astronomy and space will be provided by two astronomers of the Observatoire de Paris - PSL through general courses, turnkey activities and initiations to sky observation.
- For the general public, conferences will be given by astrophysicists and animations on astronomy as well as observations will be proposed free of charge, in a public place, in the afternoon and in the evening, with the support of the mediators of the Canopée des Sciences.
Ambitious and original, this operation of scientific culture received the support of Gabriel Serville, President of the Territorial Collectivity of Guyana.
It is placed under the high patronage of Sébastien Lecornu, Minister of Overseas Territories and is sponsored by Marlène Schiappa, Minister Delegate in charge of Citizenship.
Dates of the tour
|
Websites
The whole program of the tour can be found on : https://www.jwst.fr/la-guyane-vers-les-etoiles/
or https://centrespatialguyanais.cnes.fr/fr/agenda
Social networks
"Guyana to the stars" is to be followed day by day :
on Twitter : https://twitter.com/Guyane_Etoiles
and Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/guyane_etoiles/
Contributions
"Guiana to the stars" is an operation of scientific culture carried by Alain Doressoundiram, researcher at the Observatoire de Paris - PSL, and Raphaël Peralta, researcher at the CEA and president of the SpaceBus France association.
It has received financial and logistical support from the CEA, the Observatoire de Paris - PSL, the SpaceBus France association, the Académie de Guyane, the Canopée des Sciences, the CNES, the Maison pour la Science en Guyane, the French Government, the CNRS, the Université Paris Science et Lettres, the OSUPS, the SF2A, the IAS, the Unistellar company, the Collectivité Territoriale de Guyane and the Main à la Pâte foundation.
