The Summer School is always a great moment for the CVA and for the host university and city/cities. The programme is intended for engineering students having completed at least three years of undergraduate studies and young professionals already working in the space sector. Following Bordeaux in 2010, the 2011 Summer School is being hosted by the Sapienza University of Rome and the Ariane City of Colleferro, where the firm Avio is based. lt is also being sponsored by the Province of Rome, the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and the firm ELV.
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The inauguration ceremony for the CVA's 2011 Summer School took place on Monday 4 July, at the Palazzo Valentini in Rome. There were several distinguished participants in the proceedings: Gianluigi De Palo, Secretary for Education at Rome City Hall, representing the Mayor of Rome Gianni Alemanno; Biagio Ancarola, Adviser to Mariastella Gelmini, ltalian Minister of Education, Universities & Research and Chair of the ESA Ministerial Council; Enrico Saggese, President of the ltalian Space Agency (ASI); Professor Filippo Sabetta, Dean of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering at the Sapienza University of Rome;…
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Under the Educational Network of Ariane Cities (REVA) programme, Liège (Belgium) from 6 to 8 July played host to a group of 21 science teachers and science facilitators from the Ariane Cites of Augsburg, Barcelona, Bremen, Kourou, Liège itself, Madrid and Zurich. The Seminar enabled the participants to improve their knowledge of space topics and see how to introduce those topics into the classroom. This year, the programme focused on cryogenic propulsion and tribology.
The lectures given by distinguished experts in these areas were supplemented by site visits to the University of Liège; to the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne; and to Techspace (SAFRAN Group) based in the host city. Those taking part all expressed the hope that they would be able to meet again for a 5th REVA Seminar in early summer 2012.
Also in the framework of the REVA programme, the CVA and Toulouse's ISSAT Institute brought together in Liège, on 6/7 July, headteachers and senior education administrators from several Ariane Cities, the theme of the Gathering being space transportatìon. Participants were able to attend part of the REVA Seminar and then meet to compare the involvement of their respective establishments in the space field and look into possible exchanges. They too decided to meet again in 2012 to further their cooperation.
These two events were organised jointly by Brigitte De Deyne, CVA Vìce-President, representing the City of Liège, and Philippe Noël of ISSAT, head of the REVA programme for the CVA. In addition to the very active participation of the host City Council and the University of Liège, these events enjoyed the sponsorship of ESA, the DLR, CNES, and Techspace Aero and Snecma (SAFRAN Group).
→ For further information on REVA: CVA and ISSAT
The 2011 CVA Presidency, held by the City of Les Mureaux (French department of Les Yvelines) and its Mayor François Garay and his team, includes, in addition to participation in the usual CVA programmes, actions of a more local nature directed more particularly to the inhabitants of Les Mureaux and its surrounding area. Events, conferences, lectures and workshops, focused on science and technology, especially space and European space transportation, are taking place throughout the year. For schools, activities linked to space will, at the Mayor's initiative, even extend into next year, to June 2012.
→ For further information: Mairie des Mureaux and CVA.
This event took place on 1 July at the Verneuil-Les Mureaux aerodrome, in partnership with the City of Poissy and the Parc aux Etoiles at Triel-sur-Seine. The participants, of all ages, enjoyed a friendly bring-and-share dinner before attending the lecture by Philippe Gineste, who runs the theme park, and then observing the sky using equipment made available by Planète Sciences. Saturn, as ever, was quite an attraction!
Outdoor science workshops at Les Mureaux helped bring science and space to the attention of some 420 local 5 to 17-year-olds. These young participants were able to find out all about robotics, water rockets, satellites and space training. Introduced at the initiative of CNES, this event is held every year in about twenty French towns or cities with input from the Planète Sciences association. It has also just taken place in Roubaix and Le Havre.
→ For further information: CNES and Planète Sciences
On 5, 19 and 26 July, the Guinguettes organised by the CCAS (Centre Communal d'Actions Sociales) at Les Mureaux are welcoming locals and visitors to the Parc de l'Oseraie, on the banks of the Seine. There they can dance to a space beat in the star-filled guinguettes venues evocatively named Laïka, Lune, Ariane, Mars, Apollon and Terre. On 5 July, some twenty people took part in a quiz on space and, following a draw from among the best entries, a hamper was won by Ms Maryline Maillet.
This "Citizens' Stay", which took place on 9-16 July in Clécy, the capital of "Norman Switzerland" in the Orne valley, was given over to the themes of space, the arts, culture, science and sport. A total of 32 young people, of whom eight came from each of the partner Ariane Cities – Bremen, Madrid, Liège and Les Mureaux – met up in this countryside setting to find out more about these exciting topics.
This CVA program, taking place on 18-28 July at the Escale, Relais International de la Jeunesse de Poissy, on Migneaux Island at Poissy (Les Yvelines), is bringing together thirty 15-17-year-old Europeans from the Ariane Cities of Augsburg, Barcelona, Bordeaux, Bremen, Charleroi, Hardthausen/Lampoldshausen, Les Mureaux, Liège, Madrid, Mulhouse and Vernon, as well as French Guiana. The aim of the CVA Science Holidays is to awaken young people's interest in science and space through a 10-day stay including numerous activities, such as workshops linked to micro-rockets, robotics and astronomy, in an intercultural, recreational context.
The program is under the responsibility of Brigitte De Deyne, CVA Vice-President. The teaching team is coordinated by Jean-Luc Menu, education coordinator at the OFAJ/DFJW (Franco-German Youth Office), who is also in charge of international affairs at Union Peuple et Culture as well as the CVA's Intercultural Seminars..
The Mayor of Les Mureaux, François Garay via his Youth Information Bureau (BIJ) expressed the wish to extend his City's initiative here to the other Ariane Cities. The Cities of Barcelona, Liège and Salon-de-Provence answered the call. Seven young people from Les Mureaux have completed or are currently doing a two-week "summer job" in one of these Cities. These stints involve for example coordinating activities for small children (0-6 years), children/teenagers (6-18 years), third-age and disabled people; specialised coordination (sport, culture, etc.); administrative tasks (computer data inputting, telephone reception, setting up databases); and maintenance (roads, waste collection, postal services).
The start of the new academic year will be 'sky-themed', as reflected in a number of "airborne" events. With the "Fête de l'air" on 10 September, the exhibition "Des ailes et des hommes" on 10-18 September, and the concert by the "Musique de l'Air", the French Air Force's prestigious military band, on 16 September, the host city is entering into a major partnership with the Air Force.
The CVA was present at the International Paris Air Show - Le Bourget. On Thursday 23 June, the association welcomed members, partners, alumni and guests to an informal meeting held in the CNES chalet. The proceedings were chaired by François Garay, Mayor of Les Mureaux and 2011 CVA President, and opened by Pierre Tréfouret, CNES Director of External Communication, Education & Public Affairs.
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The CVA took part in the prize-giving ceremony for the finalists of the Rocketry Challenge international competition on Friday 24 June at the International Paris Air Show - Le Bourget.
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→ For further information: ESA (French), ESA (German) and CVA
The CVA Presidency's Newsletter is an e-publication open to all CVA members (Cities, firms), partners and alumni wishing to share information with other members of the association. To contact the editorial staff, email Boris Venon, Director of Communication, City of Les Mureaux (bvenon@mairie-Lesmureaux.fr); Anne du Fretay, CVA Project Manager, ESA (Anne.du.Fretay@esa.int) or Magali Foulet, CVA General Delegation Assistant (cva@ariane-cities.com).
Photo credits: © Cercedilla (ESP) 2010 - Feuselino; © CNES/Pierre Kolko; 2011© Noel Powell - Fotolia.com; © Rain 95; © Segreteria MasterSTS/B. Ermini; © ULg-Michel Houet; © Ville des Mureaux; © Communauté des Villes Ariane.