About: The first talk was delivered on 26th November 2021, titled “Learning through Play with NASA-LEGO Apollo toys: One Small Step for Man, One Giant Leap for Mankind” by Dr. Guneshwar Thangjam, School of Earth and Planetary Sciences. In this talk, Dr. Thangjam spoke about planetary explorations, from Apollo on Moon to New Horizons on Pluto and Arrokoth in Kuiper Belt, and LEGO-NASA toy models. He related the use of these scientific toys to the giant space programs in a very interesting way.
Abstract: The NASA Apollo program, especially the Apollo 11, is one of the most celebrated historic events in human mankind. The legacy and further exploration continue. Recognizing the significant impact in society, especially the kids, NASA and LEGO Group are reaching out with creative toys and models for active learning toward Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education through play. In this regard, Dr. Thangjam will talk about planetary explorations, from Apollo on Moon to New Horizons on Pluto and Arrokoth in Kuiper Belt, and LEGO-NASA toy models.