Teaching children about outer space is vital

Lucy Hawking

Children's knowledge of space could spark their imagination into preserving mother earth.
Lucy Hawking, who co-authored a series of adventure science books for children with her father Physicist Dr. Stephen Hawking, said addressing children was an important step to engage them with science.
"I noticed there was nothing about space directed to them. And it was time I translate the work of my father and his colleague to children as space became a very vital aspect of our life," she said on the sidelines of Emirates Airline Festival of Literature.
Hawking referred to UAE's Mars 2117 project that she said would help spark children to think about the vital issues humanity would need on another planet. It also brings their imagination into reality. 
"We don't want our children to exist in an imaginary future, we want them to live in a reality that is applicable to their day to day life that makes it real to them. Although the journey will be hard since there's a lot we need to know about the Red planet, but we have big problems and we need bigger solutions," she said.
She noted it would also inspires them to think about life on earth. "What meaning does life on earth hold and if we create life on Mars, what elements should we take and what elements should we leave behind?"
Influenced by her father's work, Hawking said she would have never thought she would co-author a book about science, until she felt the need to address the young.
Reading his book A Brief History of Time, she said was a challenging experience "that taught me something new every time I read it."
Her book, George and the Blue Moon that she was promoting at the festival in Dubai, is a part of a sequel of science books that engages children with science through storytelling.
"I am to make scientific information accessible and entertaining and show children that they shouldn't be afraid of science or asking questions," she added.
Her books also address environmental theme that highlight the beauty of earth and the importance of preserving it. She noted, "The planet gives us everything we need to support human life, when we look around this in solar system we see neighboring planets. Yes, they are fascinating and interesting even if not particularly habitable, and yes we need to go to space but we need to take care of our planet we are living on."
Although, she said, children already are interested in recycling and preserving environment, teachers and parents should help them grow up knowing that earth does not have infinite resources. "They need to be mindful and share those resources, and we need to expand that message of sharing to preserving water and using renewable energy. It is only through sharing that we will create a fairer and peaceful society," she noted.
sherouk@khaleejtimes.com
 

• Dubai

Sherouk Zakaria

sherouk@khaleejtimes.com