The EGU has launched an educational initiative called Planet Press to bring new geoscientific research to children. Planet Presses are short versions of our press releases – articles for journalists based on scientific research published in EGU journals – written in child-friendly language. The project aims to get children (mainly 7-13 year olds), and their parents and educators, interested in and engaged with up-to-date scientific research and news.

Planet Press started a few months ago with only some of EGU’s press releases written in a language clear to young children. Now, all of EGU’s 22 science press releases issued to date have a corresponding kids version. Each Planet Press has been reviewed by at least one researcher (working in the scientific area of the press release) and by one educator. This ensures the content is scientifically accurate and that the language used is appropriate for the 7-13 age range. Each text is accompanied by an image and a print-friendly PDF.

In addition to making sure each Planet Press is clear and accurate, we have also been collaborating with teachers and scientists from across Europe to translate the texts. Thanks to their help, all texts have been translated to Serbian, and we have also published some translations in Spanish, French, Italian and Turkish. If you’d like to help us achieve our goal of having all texts translated in the official European Union languages, please contact Bárbara Ferreira at media@egu.eu.

We believe sharing new and exciting geoscientific research with children can inspire them to develop an interest in the Earth, planetary and space sciences. If you are a parent or an educator, you are encouraged to use Planet Press as an educational tool, to teach or to discuss geoscientific discoveries with your children.

The EGU is grateful to the many volunteer reviewers and translators who have helped us with this project. Planet Press is inspired by Space Scoop, an initiative by UNAWE (EU Universe Awareness) aimed at keeping children up-to-date with the latest astronomical discoveries.

• EGU Planet Press
• Planet Press articles
• EGU press releases