Questioning the relationship between pre-compulsory education and school

As interpretative researchers with an interest in pre- compulsory education, we find ourselves challenging the relationship between education and school. In a time where 94% of four-year-olds are in some form of funded education in England (National Statistics, 2020) the expectation for children to be in reception classes from such a young age is clear. In this paper we question the relationship between education and school in a system of hyperactive policy change (Ball, 2018). By changing the conjunction between ‘education’ and ‘school’ the focus shifts from viewing education as school, to consider approaches to education at school, and what education looks like other than school. We would like to share our research into different facets of pre-compulsory education through a consideration of parents choosing different forms of education, an analysis of partnership working through mathematical play in the reception class and learning through unsupervised play outside of the school gates. We hope to challenge current thinking that school starts at four and to question the schoolification of early education

Initial survey on fresh fruit and vegetable preferences of Neumayer Station crew members: Input to crop selection and psychological benefits of space-based plant production systems

The inclusion of higher plants in bio-regenerative life support systems has been suggested to contribute to a nutritious menu, increase food acceptability and provide psychological benefits to the crew. In 2017, the EDEN ISS project will deploy a greenhouse module to the Neumayer Station III in Antarctica. This system will be used to advance bio-regenerative life support system technologies and operations. An initial survey was conducted to improve crop selection for the EDEN ISS greenhouse module by further investigating the aspects of food acceptability and psychological benefits of crop cultivation. Former members of the overwintering crews of the three Neumayer stations were asked about their fresh food and vegetable preferences and about further aspects concerning Antarctic plant production. Results confirm the benefits of growing higher plants in isolated and confined environments and offer insight on the importance of crop selection aspects like taste, texture, pungency and colour

Comparative field tests of pressurised rover prototypes

The conceptual designs, interior layouts and operational performances of three pressurised rover prototypes - Aonia, ARES and Everest - were field tested during a recent simulation at the Mars Desert Reserch Station in Utah. A human factors experiment, in which the same crew of three executed the same simulated science mission in each of the three vehicles, yielded comparative data on the capacity of each vehicle to safely and comfortably carry explorers away from the main base, enter and exit the vehicle in spacesuit, perform science tasks in the field, and manage geological and biological samples. As well as offering recommendations for design improvements for specific vehicles, the results suggest that a conventional Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) would not be suitable for analog field work; that a pressurised docking tunnel to the main habitat is essential; that better provisions for spacesuit storage are required; and that a crew consisting of one driver/navigator and two field science crew specialists may be optimal. From a field operations viewpoint, a recurring conflict between rover and habitat crews at the time of return to the habitat was observed. An analysis of these incidents leads to proposed refinements of operational protocols, specific crew training for rover returns and again points to the need for a pressurised docking tunnel. Sound field testing, circulating of results, and building the lessons learned into new vehicles is advocated as a way of producing ever-higher fidelity rover analogues

Four-Month Moon and Mars Crew Water Utilization Study Conducted at the Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station, Devon Island, Nunavut

A categorized water usage study was undertaken at the Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station on Devon Island, Nunavut in the High Canadian Arctic. This study was conducted as part of a long duration four-month Mars mission simulation during the summer of 2007. The study determined that the crew of seven averaged 82.07 L/day over the expedition (standard deviation 22.58 L/day). The study also incorporated a Mars Time Study phase which determined that an average of 12.12 L/sol of water was required for each crewmember. Drinking, food preparation, hand/face, oral, dish wash, clothes wash, shower, shaving, cleaning, engineering, science, plant growth and medical water were each individually monitored throughout the detailed study phases. It was determined that implementing the monitoring program itself resulted in an approximate water savings of 1.5 L/day per crewmember. The seven person crew averaged 202 distinct water draws a day (standard deviation 34) with high water use periods focusing around meal times. No statistically significant correlation was established between total water use and EVA or exercise duration. Study results suggest that current crew water utilization estimates for long duration planetary surface stays are more than two times greater than that required

Greenhouse module for space systems: A lunar greenhouse design

This presentation describes the results of the Greenhouse Module for Space Systems project carried out by DLR and its partners within the framework of the Micro-Ecological Life Support System Alternative (MELiSSA) program. The presentation gives an overview of the final design, which was further detailed in a concurrent engineering design study. Based on the study, the consortium also identified technology and knowledge gaps, which have to be addressed in future projects