Scientists from the Faculty of Science at Masaryk University are taking part in a project that aims to engage secondary school pupils and show them how they can get involved in space research right now.
The nationwide ‘Generation Space’ initiative has officially been launched. Its central idea is that amongst today’s secondary school pupils there may be someone who will one day discover a second Earth or design an instrument that will help in that endeavour. The aim is to use personal stories to connect the world of international astronomy with those choosing their next course of study, and to show them that they can get involved in real space research right now.
The initiative is being organised jointly by Masaryk University, the Brno Observatory and Planetarium, the ‘Zvaž vědu!’ association and the Brno University of Technology, and highlights that it is time to become more actively involved in European space programmes and organisations such as the European Southern Observatory (ESO) and the European Space Agency (ESA).
The Czech Republic has been a member of ESO for almost twenty years, and the organisation is currently building the largest optical telescope – the Extra Large Telescope (ELT) – in Chile. “Thanks to projects such as the ELT, as well as other projects being carried out here in Brno, a window of opportunity is opening up not only for graduates but also for university and secondary school students to get involved in these activities and perhaps even shape their future career paths,” said Jiří Dušek, director of the observatory.
It is precisely secondary school pupils that the ‘Generation Space’ initiative is aimed at. Current activities in the field of space exploration, in which the Czech Republic and Czech scientists are involved, offer opportunities for a wide range of interested parties. “Cutting-edge astronomy requires not only astrophysicists, but also engineers, opticians, programmers, biologists, chemists and experts in economics and space law,” emphasised Dušek.
A window of opportunity for greater involvement in space research is also opening up thanks to the Czech Republic’s membership of the European Southern Observatory, which is currently building the world’s largest optical telescope, and thanks to research projects being carried out at Masaryk University, amongst other institutions.
On Earth and in space
“The student who may one day discover a second Earth is sitting in a Czech school classroom today,” said astronomer Tereza Jeřábková from the Institute of Theoretical Physics and Astrophysics at the Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, who is one of the project’s initiators. She added that it depends on whether an Earth-like planet exists somewhere and whether we can detect signs of life in the atmosphere of such a planet. And this is precisely where opportunities are currently opening up to get involved in real-world projects dedicated to this research.
This is because studying so-called exoplanets requires a large mirror and an instrument capable of correctly ‘interpreting’ the light that will strike it from space – a so-called spectrograph. “The telescope’s mirror is currently being built by ESO, and we are fortunate that the Czech Republic can be part of this. We would also like to get involved in the development of the other essential component – the spectrograph. This instrument is called ANDES, and we have established the ANDES.cz consortium and are seeking to participate in this pan-European initiative,” added Jeřábková. The combination of the ELT telescope and the ANDES spectrograph will enable European scientists to study exoplanets, as well as the expansion of the universe and the processes involved in star formation.
Other projects currently being undertaken by experts at Masaryk University will also focus on these areas of research. One of these is BRNOsat, the development of a space telescope that will observe red dwarf stars and contribute to research into whether planets suitable for life might also exist around these stars. The second project is the QUVIK space telescope, which is capable of observing the universe in the ultraviolet spectrum. Among other things, it will focus on events accompanying collisions between neutron stars. Observing these events will help to shed light on how heavy elements, such as gold and platinum, are formed in the universe.
These activities are also supported by Luděk Bláha, Dean of the Faculty of Science. Among other things, he mentioned that a new interdisciplinary initiative, Space Research Priority, is being established at the Faculty of Science, which aims to attract other disciplines – ranging from physics to biology and chemistry – to the challenges of space research.
In the language of secondary school pupils
The Generation Space project is aimed at secondary school pupils. That is why institutions in Brno have joined forces with the organisation ‘Zvaž vědu!’ This secondary school initiative focuses on popularising the natural and technical sciences and supports active secondary school pupils. It is from their ranks that the ambassadors will emerge, who will introduce the Generation Space project to their peers.
“We also want to produce a short documentary film to introduce secondary school pupils to space projects and the people involved in space research. Among other places, we’ll be travelling to Chile to film,” said Jan Herzig, a representative of Zvaž vědu! He added that they would also like to offer two interested participants internships at ESO’s European headquarters and development centre in Garching.
As early as February – specifically on 8 February 2027 – the Brno Observatory will host a national conference and workshop for the ‘Generation Space’ project. The programme will feature lectures and panel discussions with leading scientists and experts from both ESO and ESA; topics will cover planetary research, working with radio telescopes, the challenges of securing observing time, and the technical infrastructure and construction of astronomical instruments. Academic institutions and industrial companies will also be presenting at the event, where those interested can choose topics for their own research or for the Secondary School Research Programme (SOČ).
The conference has a capacity of 250 participants and registration is now open on the website generacevesmir.cz. An online broadcast of the conference to secondary schools is also being organised.
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