UNESCO Public Day 

The eighth plenary meeting featured the conference's youngest speakers in a presentation featuring the United Nations Education Science and Culture Organisation. Following a few words by Dr Conrado Varotto from Argentina, encouraging young people to become involved in space development, there were two main presenters:

• Mr Maurizio Fea, Educational Programme, European Space Agency, ESRIN
• Mr Mario Hernandez, Chief of Remote Sensing Unit, UNESCO

Mr Fea discussed the importance of UNESCO in environmental monitoring including telecommunications, navigation, GPS and Earth Observation.

He stressed the importance of stimulating the younger generation's interest in space technology. The discussion then went live to the waterfalls of Iguazu in Argentina where a group of students explained the role that satellite observation plays in protecting locations of cultural heritage.

Two more groups of students presented their trips around Spain to UNESCO protected sites and talked about the necessity of protecting these locations.

Mr Hernandez finished the presentation by showing satellite images that have been employed by UNESCO to aid governments in protecting locations of cultural heritage such as the Alahambra in Spain, the Great Wall of China, and the Great Pyramids of Cairo.

Satellite images are used to monitor environmental changes and urban growth that threatens the integrity of these historic sites.

 Full video of this Plenary session (WMV format)