Table of Contents

A Guide to Microgravity for All Ages

The Microgravity Speaker Network

The Microgravity Sciences Program (MSP) within the Space Science Program of the Canadian Space Agency has a mandate to prepare Canadians, especially scientists and engineers, to use Canada's allotted time on the International Space Station.

As part of that mandate the MSP has devised the Microgravity Education Plan, with the goals of exposing, encouraging and involving Canadians between the ages of 10 and 18 in microgravity sciences.

A prominent part of the Microgravity Education Plan is a national Microgravity Speaker Network. The speaker network is a voluntary network of professionals involved in space sciences, who give talks at schools in their vicinity. To assist speakers, the MSP has prepared a Microgravity Speaker Handbook, upon which this portion of the Space Science web site is based. The handbook includes background information on microgravity ranging from fundamental science to applications, demonstrations and references.

Speaker's aids such as a set of 35-mm slides are available from regional coordinators. The slide kit includes all the figures appearing in this document, plus a number of supplemental slides. Wherever possible the work of the Canadian microgravity community has been emphasized without specifically mentioning the scientists and engineers engaged in microgravity research and applications. Finally, the benefits of microgravity research to Canadians are highlighted.

The handbook has been written in a language and style understandable to someone without an extensive science background. As such it can serve as a guide for the type of language and depth of content needed in your talks. The handbook was prepared with input and review from scientists and engineers engaged in microgravity research, curriculum advisors and teachers.

For more information on the Microgravity Speaker Network, please contact:

Youth Awareness
Communications
Canadian Space Agency
6767 route de l'Aéroport
Saint-Hubert, Québec J3Y 8Y9