The UNAM/Africa Millimetre Telescope (AMT) programme began late last month with school excursions in Windhoek to provide hands-on astronomical education and inspire young minds in the field of astrophysics and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).
The UNAM/AMT Mobile Planetarium is an inflatable, interactive facility designed to bring the wonders of the cosmos directly to learners in Namibia.
Senior AMT team member Emmy Iiyambo told Nampa yesterday that the planetarium offers a range of programmes tailored to different learners on different educational levels giving plaudits to the success of the first pilot tour to Pionierspark Primary School.
She said the planetarium will be visiting different schools in the country to educate learners about astronomy and science, fostering inspiration and motivation among them. “The shows unfolded seamlessly, with learners displaying remarkable enthusiasm even before entering the planetarium. Their existing knowledge of astronomy was both surprising and motivational for us in the team. The event’s success was evident as the excited learners left with numerous questions, displaying a hunger for further learning. As this was only the first show of the year, this positive outcome serves as a promising start, energising us for many more successful events ahead,” Iiyambo said. Nedbank Namibia Communications and Public Relations Manager, Selma Kaulinge told Nampa yesterday that the planetarium offers a range of programmes tailored to different learners on different educational levels.
“Seeing the awe and wonder on the faces of the learners during the planetarium school visit reaffirms the power of immersive experiences in education, especially when exposure begins at an earlier stage.”
She said Nedbank through its partnership in the programme is aware of how important these excursions are to the learners, especially in providing access to educational opportunities in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
The mobile planetarium is scheduled to make its next stop at the Namibia University of Science and Technology on Friday, 16 February 2024. - Nampa