After two years of online meetings and conferences, the Space Group finally reconvened in person at Ecsite 2022 preconference. The Ecsite Space Group offers a platform for science centres and museums to improve and extend communication about ESA and space science by sharing experiences, expertise, knowledge, tools, resources and best practices.

This year preconference day took place in Heilbronn, Germany between the Bildungscampus of the Dieter Schwarz Foundation and the Science Dome of Experimenta Science Center. In a time when we are all increasingly called upon to foster more sustainable futures, this year’s preconference explored what role space can play to address current challenges. 47 participants from 19 different countries joined the preconference day to create connections, while working with tools, data and expertise.

Participants were welcomed by Ecsite Executive Director, Catherine Franche, joined by Maria Menendez, Head of the Outreach Coordination Office at ESA, followed by the other co‐chairs of the Space Group – Cristophe Chaffardon, Ana Noronha, Tobias Wolff, Miriam Atienza, and the coordinator of the Ecsite Space Group for ESA, Barbara Budassi.

Participants discovered the latest developments in space education and communication from ESA, national space agencies and industries. They exchanged resources with peers and obtained a wealth of knowledge and inspiration. The projects showcase featured a wide variety of presentations ranging from the Planetary Dinner which invites people to “eat their way through the Solar System” and where everything is designed to replicate the solar system – to the SpaceBuzz, a virtual reality education program allowing children to experience an astronaut’s mission.

This inspiring session was followed by a workshop dedicated to Earth Observation – an hands-on activity led by Tobias Wolff, exhibition manager at Universum Bremen who invited participants to explore how printed satellite images and Earth observations data could be used in their own science centers.

The day ended at the Science Dome of Experimenta Science Center with the projection of “We are stars”, a 3D animation show during which participants went through time and space to experience the universe from a new angle.

The preconference was a unique opportunity to learn about new and inspiring resources for the science centers, space professionals and non-specialists to develop collaborative projects and events.