NASA to help students study earth's surface

In a rare opportunity, school students will get a chance to capture images of earth as seen from space in a four-day workshop under a NASA-sponsored education programme, a statement said. Helping children learn more about earth from the unique perspective of space, NASA's Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle School Students (EarthKAM) allows students to view and capture images of their world from an astronaut's perspective. EarthKAM is a NASA-funded educational outreach programme run in collaboration with the Science Popularisation Association of Communicators and Educators (SPACE) in India. "SPACE has been conducting this NASA educational outreach programme in India for the past four years to promote students' engagement in science, technology and astronomy. Workshops are conducted across the country for SPACE associated schools," the statement said. Seven schools from Delhi and one each from Noida and Chandigarh are participating in the workshop conducted in their own premises. According to SPACE, the goal is to provide an enriched and enhanced educational experience to motivate students toward math and science studies. A camera allows students to examine and photograph earth from the unique vantage point of the International Space Station (ISS). "Students will get a hands-on experience using the same kinds of tools and systems used by scientists and astronauts and the chance to apply that knowledge inside the classroom," the statement said. Students can control a digital camera and capture custom images of the earth's surface of their choice as seen from space. The service was used by astronaut Sunita Williams on her last mission on the ISS. The images by students will then be available for viewing and studying," said the statement. The workshop also gives students an opportunity to view large-scale geographical features of earth, weather and climate and also to study the areas affected by natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, fires etc. "Teachers can use these images for the development of the curriculum plans for studies in subjects like physics, oceanography, climate, geography, earth science etc," the statement added.