The decline in students choosing traditional science and engineering subjects poses a significant challenge for organizations like ESA. To address this, ESA’s Education Office created the European Space Education Resource Office (ESERO) project. ESERO uses European space exploration as a way to inspire young people and spark interest in Science, Engineering, and Technology (SET).
Across Europe, there has been a dramatic drop in the number of young people studying SET subjects in school and pursuing careers in these fields. While interest in applied sciences such as Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Biotechnology has grown, it has not been enough to compensate for the overall decline—especially among women.
With Europe’s current SET workforce aging, the lack of new talent to replace them could have serious consequences. Fewer students entering university to study these subjects negatively impacts the SET industry and job markets. If the number of qualified professionals falls below a critical level, the future of Europe’s knowledge-based society and economy could be at risk.
These challenges will affect organizations such as ESA and its contractors most severely, reducing their ability to innovate by limiting the pool of highly skilled scientists and engineers.
ESERO Offices
ESA adopted a Member State by Member State approach, enabling tailored support to address these challenges effectively. ESERO offices were established at locations already recognized for science and attractive to students, teachers, and the general public.
Each ESERO office is staffed by an expert who is well integrated into the local education system and networks. This ensures ESA Education can meet the specific needs of each Member State while leveraging national networks of publishers, museums, teacher associations, and more.
The primary mission of ESERO offices is to create enthusiasm and excitement for European space exploration among students and inspire the next generation to pursue careers in SET.