Deep Space High: Intergalactic Weather Watch

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Fun Kids is the UK's radio station dedicated to children and their families. Our ethos is to provide an environment which is unique to children and they can call their own. We entertain and educate by encouraging children to listen, use their imagination and develop interaction skills, as well as help make them more aware of their wider environment.We know children love space - from fascination with stars and planets to wondering whether there might be alien life out there. Over the last 5 years, we have created a number of audio series to help introduce children to space with a focus on both broad space topics (i.e. exploration and technology used) and specific missions (e.g. Pioneer, Skylab and ISS). Entitled 'Deep Space High', our series are based in an interplanetary school and are presented by fictional character, Principal Pulsar. They are informal in style and provide children with key facts and opportunities to explore further. These series were broadcast on Fun Kids and remain available to listen again on the Fun Kids website and app, and free download on iTunes. We also created a dedicated micro-site on the Fun Kids website (http://www.funkidslive.com/space/) where children are able to find additional information and images.'Deep Space High: Intergalactic Weather Watch' will introduce children aged 10+ to a major area of space, solar and planetary science not currently covered - space weather. The series will explore weather on other planets and the impact of space weather on our own planet Earth.Space weather is of growing importance, reflected in the Government adding solar storms to the National Risk Register of Civil Emergencies and establishing the Met Office Space Weather Operations Centre to help protect the UK from the serious threats posed by space weather events. The potential for these events to cause future disruption to everyday life, including cutting electricity supplies and communications systems, necessitates that they be understood by today's children.Our project has three key elements:1. Create a ten-part series of short audio programmes2. Create a supplementary, animated video series3. Provide a team of early-career scientists with opportunities to engage with a young audience and help deliver the projectThe premise of our project is developed from a recent online survey of 217 parents with primary school children. When asked how interested children would be in accessing a series introducing them to new areas of space and planetary science, 55% of respondents were very interested and 37% interested. The increasing number of space related magazines and television programmes is testament to this interest. Often, though, these are more adult in their focus, with information that goes over a child's head. We therefore also asked about alternative methods of engagement. Aside from 'audio programmes', our research showed the next highest level of interest in 'video content', reflecting the increasing time spent by children on video sharing platforms, such as YouTube. The continued growth of Fun Kids' own YouTube channels supports this.Our project's impact will be to broaden the knowledge of children (and their families) about space weather: namely what it is, what different types there are, and the threat these pose to life on Earth. Children will have the opportunity to ask questions they might have about the topic, either through direct contact with their schools or voice messages recorded through the Fun Kids app, and have these answered by our experts. We will give children confidence to explore the science further and discuss their findings with friends, relatives and classmates. As space weather issues gain greater public awareness over the coming years, children accessing the project will be better placed to understand these developments. The project will inspire children to consider space related careers and motivate them to study sciences at GCSE and beyond.