CALLINGTON College's pioneering space centre is celebrating another industry first, being named one of only four 'space ambassadors' in England.

The centre is part of a new collaboration using space exploration as a means of exciting young people about science, technology, engineering and mathematics, launched this month at an event hosted by the Institute of Physics in London.

The ESERO-UK launch, attended by Callington Space Centre's resident astronomer Clive Purchase and centre manager, teacher Mike Grocott, marks the start of an important link between the European space sector and the UK education community.  

ESERO-UK will provide teachers and students with a wealth of information, materials and activities geared towards science, engineering and space exploration. 

The four designated UK space ambassadors are tasked with supporting schools and colleges and space teaching and learning resources throughout the country. 

Lisa Grocott of Callington Space Centre said: 'The exciting thing is we can now offer free inset training sessions for schools on space education, giving out resources that the staff can then use within their own classrooms.'

The centre is delighted that the close links it already had with NASA and the Russian space agency were now going to be boosted by its new relationship with the European Space Agency.'

'It's going to open up many more opportunities for local schools,' Lisa said.

The centre at Callington will be the first point of contact for the education and space communities when seeking information about space education and careers.

As a result, it will raise the profile of the education work of ESA, the UK Space Agency and the wider UK space community with schools and colleges.

Jeremy Curtis, head of education for the UK Space Agency, said: 'Space has always captured the imaginations of young people and offers an excellent way to get them interested in science and engineering.

'It also provides a huge range of exciting careers that can inspire young people.

'Space sells and ESERO-UK will ensure that there's an abundant supply for UK students.'

The new role for Callington Space Centre coincides with an exciting visit for four sixth formers from the college, who are currently seeing at first hand the workings of NASA in America.

The students who are due to return to the UK on October 30, will meet astronauts and rocket scientists, and have been given privileged access, enabling them to see far more of the US space base than usual visitors.

l Any schools interested in finding out more about the free space training sessions and educational materials now available from Callington Space Centre can contact Lisa Grocott on 01579 386124.