Part of the International Year of Astronomy program (IYA) 2009, Universe Awareness (UNAWE) is an international outreach activity that uses the beauty and grandeur of the Universe to inspire very young disadvantaged children.

UNAWE illustrates the multicultural origins of modern astronomy in an effort to broaden children's minds, awaken their curiosity in science, and stimulate global citizenship and tolerance. Using the sky and children's natural fascination with it as common ground, UNAWE creates an international awareness of our place in the Universe and our place on Earth.

The Planetarium Science Center (PSC) is dedicated to increasing awareness, understanding, and appreciation of science, especially in children. Accordingly, UNAWE is a significant program to promote among school children in Alexandria, not only for its importance as an international activity that unites children from all over the world, but also because it materializes the skies and makes it more tangible to the children’s imaginative minds.

UNAWE distributed “Universe Awareness” kits that contain interactive activities for students, 10-15 years of age, at under-privileged schools, as well as the material that were used to conduct these activities; such as cotton, glue, colors, …etc. Through these activities, students had the chance to get to know more information about the solar system, planets, galaxies and constellations. Every week, PSC specialists visited one of the schools to give them a brief about it and provide them with kit.

• Target Age Group: 10-15 years
• Program duration: 3 months (15 February – 30 April 2009)
• Session Duration: 2 hrs (10:00-12:00)
• Minimum number of participants: 15
• Maximum number of participants: 30
• Session duration: 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
• Fees: Free
• For additional information and registration, please contact the PSC Administrator.

For contact information, please go to: http://www.bibalex.org/psc/Home/contactus.aspx