Space for Species

This intriguing, new educational program, initiated by Canadian Astronaut Bob Thirsk and sponsored by CWF, The Canadian Wildlife Service, and the Canadian Space Agency, enables students to monitor migratory species and their habitats from beyond the Earth's atmosphere.

"In my line of work," says Thirsk, "I'm surrounded by scientific breakthroughs, from human spaceflight to the amazing variety of satellites that help us investigate, communicate, and navigate. But just as amazing are the natural wonders on the face of the Earth, especially the marvel of migration".

That's what Space for Species is all about: monitoring wild wanderers, like the leatherback sea turtle, polar bear, king eider, and peregrine falcon, and their habitats from outer space.

Why watch species from space? From Earth, it's often hard to tell where migrators are going or where they're coming from. From space, with the help of advanced technology, we can locate the breeding grounds, migratory pathways, and winter homes of a wide range of species, many of which are rare or endangered. We can gather data required to protect them or even save them from extinction.

Space for Species includes a teacher's guide and a dedicated Web site where students can explore the role of satellite telemetry, remote sensing, astronaut observations, and weather satellites in wildlife conservation. All these "eyes in the sky," in combination, provide a panoramic view of untamed travellers. Participants create migration maps, record data on habitats, and keep their own field notes as part of a tracking journal, science project, or even a recovery plan. They explore the role of scientific inquiry in conservation, get acquainted with Thirsk and wildlife biologists involved in the project, and learn about careers in the realm where space and species meet.

Come see for yourself at our Space for Species Web site.