Hands-On Universe
has been undergoing an overhaul. It explains why we haven’t had a blog post since
before last year’s hybrid solar eclipse on November 3rd. Since coming
back from Turkana we have been busy with plenty of Science outreach activities
all over the country and its amazing meeting people from all walks of life all
equally impressed by the spectacle that is our cosmos. During our travels, we come
across kindred spirits who spur us on to greater things. We are happy to state
that we are expanding our mission, and we’re bringing on a new organization to
help us realize our vision of inspiring minds all over the world. “The
Travelling telescope”. http://www.travellingtelescope.co.uk/home/4576101799
The Travelling
Telescope project was founded by Daniel “Chu” Owen in the UK and is focused on bringing
astronomy to people from all walks of life in a unique and interactive way by
hosting informal stargazing events at various locations around the country. The
Travelling Telescope visits give members of the public the rare opportunity to
look through a telescope for the first time and experience a guided tour of the
local night sky. Astronomy can be a tricky subject to grasp, and a myriad of
factors such as light pollution in cities & cloud cover often get in the
way of proper sky observations. The TT effectively goes around this problem
because being mobile means it’s able to avoid bright city lights and go around unfavorable
weather patterns. Africa H.O.U deemed it wise to team up with this wonderful
project & mind to add depth to our programmes as well as expand our reach
to the entire country. It’s exciting,
this new direction we’re heading and we’ll certainly do our best to share the
story of our journey with you.
Friday 28th
February was not just any other day. It was Braeburn School’s space day.
Jonathan Andrews, the Prep school’s head of Science had certainly put
tremendous effort in making the event a success. We got there early in the
morning and began setting up our equipment. The Telescopes and film screenings
would take place in the high school, and the mobile planetarium in the
elementary school.
Soon we would be
swamped in crowds of curious children, seemingly anxious to peer through the
telescopes and get a chance to go into the planetarium. From Jonathan who came
dressed in an authentic NASA jumpsuit to the little kids in Darth Vader
costumes complete with light sabers there was no doubt what the theme of the
day was. 
It was a great day out and the atmosphere was electric when middle
school students showcased their home made rockets. Some got lift, some fizzled and
sputtered on the ground but the theme was an excellent opportunity for the
children to learn about space exploration and the setbacks mankind has had to
overcome throughout the space age. We believe
exposure to the advancements in science help expand young minds’ thought process
and encourages inquiry based learning. Children and young people need to be empowered
as decision makers in their own future; and this includes enabling their
parents and supporters to make educational decisions with them from an early
age in the way that Braeburn and all the other schools we have had the
opportunity to work with do.
It was a great day out and the atmosphere was electric when middle
school students showcased their home made rockets. Some got lift, some fizzled and
sputtered on the ground but the theme was an excellent opportunity for the
children to learn about space exploration and the setbacks mankind has had to
overcome throughout the space age. We believe
exposure to the advancements in science help expand young minds’ thought process
and encourages inquiry based learning. Children and young people need to be empowered
as decision makers in their own future; and this includes enabling their
parents and supporters to make educational decisions with them from an early
age in the way that Braeburn and all the other schools we have had the
opportunity to work with do.
Soon the sun was
setting subtly in the west and our day was done. There was already talk of a
subsequent night event to follow shortly afterwards. We are happy to announce
that Braeburn School, Garden Estate will be hosting the Travelling Telescope’s “Space
Night:The Journey continues” on Friday, 23rd May 2014. More details
on that event will be featured on our website, Facebook & Twitter pages.
Our film “Good Luck, & Clear Skies: African
Eclipse 2013” which debuted on 27th February at the Best Western
Premier rooftop has also been receiving great response from all audiences, you
can check it out here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IorWrjteE4. 
As always, we are thankful to all
our supporters and critics for all the tremendous support. The Travelling
telescope project is one of the first mobilization and mutual learning action
plans, leading to new ways of doing research and developing technologies which
encompass societal needs and concerns here in Africa. We’re proud to be behind
the new wave of thinkers that will change the world!
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