Promoting education in solar energy

SOLIS (SOLar energy In Schools) is a project of the Norwegian ministry of education and involves students in physics who are nearing graduation (17 to 18 years old). As with GLOBE, SOLIS focuses completely on natural sciences. The project started out with 2 universities and 5 schools and now includes over fifty schools, including some in Finland and Latvia. The project uses computers to measure the incoming solar radiation and temperature every 30 minutes throughout the year. This information is then compiled into an annual report. Just as with the GLOBE project, these data are also being used by scientists. Some of the imaging software was actually programmed by a participating students who were unsatisfied with the old programmes. To take a step beyond measurements, the students also conducted projects using solar energy. Most of these involved the use of solar energy for heating or photovoltaic cells to generate electricity. Several of the projects even made it on national television.