The MRIC in collaboration with the Ministry of Information Technology,
Communication and Innovation and the Ministry of Education, Tertiary Education,
Science and Technology is organising the first of a series of training workshops
(from the 30th Nov – 4th Dec 2020) entitled: Building of
a Simplified Antenna for Satellite Communication and Ground Station Operation.
These workshops are in line with the ‘First Mauritian Satellite in space’
initiative which the MRIC is leading (for more information: www.spacemauritius.com).
For the period 2020-2021, the MRIC envisages to
train 4 students and 1 teacher from around 100 secondary and tertiary education
institutions in Mauritius and Rodrigues combined. The training programme will
consist of a series of hands-on workshops being conducted over school holidays
showing students how to build a simple Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellite Antenna
and a receiving station. At the end of the workshops, each participating institution
will be gifted the completed antenna and accessories. This will enable them to
receive satellite telemetry and imagery from open (LEO) satellites such as
weather satellites. The main aim of the workshops is to introduce our younger
generation (from Mauritius and Rodrigues) to basic satellite technology and
empower them with a tool with which they could explore novel initiatives and
endeavours in the New Space Era.
It is envisaged that the basic training provided through these workshops, if studied
further, could lead to unlocking of bigger opportunities in the New Space Era.
The first of
the 6 sessions of the training programme will be held on the 30th November to
4th December 2020 at the Forest Side Girls SSS, Curepipe, in which 17 schools,
each comprising 1 Educator and 4 students, are participating. The participation
to these workshops is free of cost. The honourable Minister of Education and
Hon Minister of Technology will be the guests of honour for a ceremony on the 3rd
of December 2020.