The new protectors of the earth

Winners of the nationwide school competition “Beschützer der Erde 2.0” (protectors of the earth 2.0) to be honoured on Mainau Island – Ideas competition of the German Aerospace Centre in cooperation with the University of Konstanz and the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology

His appeal was relayed to all schools in Germany: ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst called on students in grades 8 to 10 to develop project ideas for the protection of habitats and preservation of the biodiversity of our planet. Now the winners of the nationwide school competition will be honoured on Friday, 10 May 2019, starting 10:00 at an awards ceremony in the Palm House on Mainau Island. Some 100 schools throughout Germany took part in the competition to promote creative ideas for the protection of the environment, organized by the German Aerospace Centre (DLR, Spaceflight Management Division) in cooperation with the University of Konstanz and the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology. All interested media representatives are cordially invited to participate in the event. If you are interested, please register with Alexandra Herzog, German Aerospace Centre.

The ICARUS space project of the University of Konstanz and the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Radolfzell plays a central role in the “protectors of the earth” ideas competition. The ICARUS research antenna, mounted on the International Space Station (ISS), makes it possible to observe the worldwide migratory movements of animals equipped with transmitters. School classes use broadcast data and satellite imagery to explore habitats and protect animals.

For each of the four biotopes “fields and meadows”, “towns and villages”, “bodies of water” and “woods and forests”, a winning class was chosen, which will present its project at the concluding ceremony in the Palm House on Mainau Island. Dr Walther Pelzer, Chairman of DLR Spaceflight Management, will give a talk about the perspectives of spaceflight. Professor Reinhold Ewald, ESA astronaut and Professor of Astronautics and Space Stations at the University of Stuttgart, will describe an astronaut’s perspective on earth and be happy to answer questions from the students. The event will start at 10:00 and end after a joint lunch at 13:30.

Facts:

  • Concluding ceremony of the school competition “protectors of the earth 2.0” on Friday, 10 May 2019, from 10:00 to 13:30 in the Palm House on Mainau Island
  • Competition of the German Aerospace Centre (DLR, Spaceflight Management Division) in cooperation with the University of Konstanz and the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology (Radolfzell)
  • Speakers: Dr Walther Pelzer, Chairman of DLR Spaceflight Management, and Professor Reinhold Ewald, ESA astronaut and Professor of Astronautics and Space Stations at the University of Stuttgart
  • Ideas competition in the context of the ICARUS space project under the scientific direction of Professor Martin Wikelski, Director of the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Radolfzell and an honorary professor at the University of Konstanz.