Ulysse Pedreira-Segade

Co-author: Anita Heward
In recent years, the education and outreach team in the Europlanet 2024 Research Infrastructure project, the Europlanet Society’s Outreach Working Group and the Europlanet Early Careers network have developed a number of resources to support teaching of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics subjects. Among these, we have created ready-to-use, adaptable planetary science and astrobiology lessons. These lessons are linked to six planetary field analogues that Europlanet 2024 RI enables scientists and engineers to visit to carry out research projects. Europlanet is aiming for diversity and inclusivity in the use of its educational resources, and is especially willing to reach out to underrepresented European countries and communities. To reflect on our resources and engage a wider community, we crafted, translated in 10 languages, tested and circulated an online consultation in 2022. Our aim was to (i) promote Europlanet’s set of educational resources and collect earnest feedback on their qualities; (ii) understand our target audience; (iii) understand how COVID has changed their habits and needs; (iv) create a community that will sustainably use, improve and create new resources in collaboration with us. This presentation will report on the findings of this consultation and share the lessons learnt for interrogating education and outreach professionals from diverse countries, backgrounds and expertise. We will explore their habits and practices, their struggles, their plans, and their interest in planetary sciences and astronomy. These results might benefit education, public outreach, and communication professionals as well as researchers who less often collaborate in outreach and education projects.