INCAS pentru TINERI - INCAS for YOUNG PEOPLE

INCAS - National Institute for Aerospace Research "Elie Carafoli" is the leading research establishment in aerospace sciences in Romania, with more than 60 years tradition in aerospace engineering, flow physics and applied aerodynamics, using state-of-the-art technologies and unique infrastructure of national strategic importance. The project “INCAS for YOUNG PEOPLE” offers a unique opportunity to young people, to experience the Aerospace Sciences and very exquisite laboratories. Due to the offered yearly workshops, pupils can develop scientific and practical competencies based on knowledge from their formal education in different disciplines such as Geometry, Information Technology and Physics.

Aims are focused on the children’s development: to gain information and experience, to acquire knowledge and some basic skills, to increase their interest for a potential career in science and/ or technology.
Objectives to receive a number of at least 100 children every year for workshops regarding aerospace sciences and to have them experiencing the realistic simulators within INCAS, during the "UniCo intensive program" (everyday activities for 2 weeks in the summer holiday) and during the National Program "School differently" (Scoala Altfel). As stated in the Romanian legislation (OM nr. 3.191/2019) the National Program "School differently" (Scoala Altfel) is a national educational program when the teachers monitored by school heads can decide any non-formal, informal or formal type of education regarding whatever subject. It has a duration of 5 consecutive working days during the school year and can be carried out between October and May, based on a planning that remains at the decision of the schools: teachers and School Heads as monitors.

The project is carried on for more than 5 years, each year gaining new experiences and new challenges in the work with young people.

The approach and consequent methodologies are based on “Project Related Courses” and “Project Organized, Problem Based Learning”

So far it was a personal contribution from the responsible of the project, to create lessons, tutorials, courses and also to organize guided tours with other colleagues, as a volunteer activity. The institution is looking for partners to be involved in MSCA Marie Curie Actions Horizon Project.

Results are related to the development of the children, in term of their personality, knowledge, experience, basic skills related to science and technology, enhanced potential for interaction, communication, team spirit, fair play; team building and attraction for a potential career in science and/ or technology.

INCAS - National Institute for Aerospace Research "Elie Carafoli" is the leading research establishment in aerospace sciences in Romania, with more than 60 years tradition in aerospace engineering, flow physics and applied aerodynamics, using state-of-the-art technologies and unique infrastructure of national strategic importance ‘. The project “INCAS for YOUNG PEOPLE” offers a unique opportunity to the participants, to experience the Aerospace Sciences and also very exquisite laboratories.

The main activities are based on the Learning-by-Doing concept.

Young people have the opportunity to handle different models of aircraft in small scale but also simulators in real scale as simulators within project related courses. They learn also how to make their own small model of aircraft out of paper, under the guidance of researchers.

Young people are all enabled to be active to make their own small paper aircraft and to be part of all hands on activities.

The feedback from the target groups as auditorium is important. By target groups we refer to the children involved in primary education, secondary education and high school. The presentation of knowledge and information is gradually introduced to the auditorium, tailored in accordance with their degree of perception and understanding.

The workshops are adapted for young people aged 7 to 18 years old.

All the participants involved in the project are equally respected and treated; there is no discrimination of any kind.

The ethical required by the academic work and the ones required by the work with children.

The main feature of the "INCAS for Young People" program is the interdisciplinarity, as it involves the combination more academic disciplines, with a focus on Mathematics, Engineering, Physics, enabling the development of logical thinking and argumentation.

During the workshops the young people are developing scientific and practical competencies based on knowledge from their formal education in different disciplines such as Geometry, Information Technology and Physics.

The project is developed in partnership with different schools and an NGO so each partner plays different roles: INCAS is organising the workshops after consulting the partners regarding more appropriate contents for the young people, the schools are organising groups of young people from October to May, within the National Programme “School Differently” (Scoala Altfel) and the Children’s University UniCO is organising the groups from different schools and environments ( rural , urban ) within the “UniCO intensiv Program”

The coordinator decides democratically with the colleague researcher’s implementation team, the designated persons in charge for specific tasks as well as the supervisor and science advisor(s). The project coordinator is usually organizing the activities and the time frames and also is assigning the researchers that guides the young people through the spaces and the workshops.
The coordinator decides also democratically with the partners the subjects to be addressed to the young people.

The supervision is provided by the project coordinator Ph.D. Irina Andrei and the designated groups responsible on behalf of INCAS.

The information technology is used to provide educational content in a way that improves the performance of students, through different kind of presentations or activities using technological means and also aircraft simulators on real scale, engines, etc. that children can use in order to have a better understanding.

Communication among the project is based on transparency, decisions being made in democratically.

Asociatia Universitatea Copiilor - Children's University - UniCO is organizing every year groups of children in partnership with INCAS (within the UniCo's Intensive Program) and has also a dissemination role of the possibilities of open schooling that INCAS can provide among its participants, with the aim of reaching the participant's schools that can also benefit from the workshops provided by INCAS.

Every year the project received a wider interest. The workshops have also changed during time, being adapted to the new kind of groups and of course to their age. Some young people coming to workshops acted like promoters of INCAS and suggested to their schools to be part of the project too.
The children became more interested in aircrafts and some of them even motioned their willingness for a career in the field.

The implementation team includes designated people in charge of specific tasks as well as a supervisor and science advisor(s). The project coordinator is usually organizing the activities and the time frames and also is assigning the researchers that guides the young people through the spaces and the workshops.

The feedback is insured by oral evaluation and even practical evaluation of the new skills assessed during the use of the realistic simulators of aircrafts and aircraft engines.

The documentation describes the specific tasks and includes also the supporting materials (tutorials, courses, lessons).