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Tim Peake to attend UK Space Agency’s Schools Conferences

Posted on 7 September 2016

The European Space Agency (ESA) has confirmed that British astronaut Tim Peake will be attending the University of York as part of the UK Space Agency’s Schools Conferences.

Photo courtesy of the European Space Agency (ESA).

The conferences will celebrate the work of more than a million school students throughout the UK, inspired by Tim’s Principia mission. Students will present their work to Tim through talks and exhibitions, as well as experts from the UK Space Agency, the European Space Agency (ESA), partner organisations, and the space sector.

The conference takes place at Central Hall, University of York, on Saturday, 5 November and is free to attend.  The event will also be hosted at the University of Portsmouth on Wednesday, 2 November.

The UK Space Agency has invested £3 million in the biggest education and outreach initiative ever undertaken for an ESA astronaut.  Young people have taken part in a broad spectrum of curriculum-linked projects, including scientific experiments, coding challenges, family shows at local science centres, creative writing and more.

Showcase

Tim Peake said: “Encouraging students to engage with my Principia mission was always something that I had hoped to do and I am thrilled at the range of different things young people have done to follow my mission.  I’m really looking forward to hearing about their work direct from the young people themselves.”

Professor Sarah Thompson, Head of the University of York’s Department of Physics, said: "We are really excited to welcome Tim Peake and schools across the UK to the University of York.  This is a wonderful opportunity for young people to showcase some of their amazing work, inspired by Tim's mission."

There is still time for young people to apply to be one of the 500 students that will be invited to attend each conference.

Take part

Individuals or groups of young people of school age are able to apply to come to the conference and present or exhibit their work by submitting short accounts or write-ups of their work, along with a covering note from an adult.

Applications should explain to the judging panel what the young people have done, why they should come to a conference, and what they would present at the event.

Full details of how to apply are available on the Principia website.

Applications must be received at the UK Space Agency by 12 noon on Thursday 15 September 2016.

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