World Space Week is an international celebration of science and technology, and their contribution to the betterment of the human condition. The United Nations General Assembly declared in 1999 that World Space Week will be held each year from October 4-10. These dates commemorate two events:

• October 4, 1957 – Launch of the first human-made Earth satellite, Sputnik 1, thus opening the way for space exploration.

• October 10, 1967 – The signing of the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activites of States in the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies.

This event is ideal for teachers to promote student interest in science and maths. A free Teacher's Activity Guide is available from the World Space Week website www.worldspaceweek.org. It is fitting that, in 2009 on the 10th anniversary of UN-declared World Space Week, the theme will be "Space for Education."

In 2009 we are also celebrating the International Year of Astronomy. Thanks to Swinburne Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing VSSEC is proud to present a talk by Dr Emma Ryan-Weber: Lighting up the early Universe.