14 members of PolAres and the Austrian Space Forum, all eager for knowledge, met for the first PolAres training weekend in Innsbruck/Tyrol on January 6th 2008.
"Let your projects fly" - that was the slogan of the first contribution. Willibald Stumptner explained the basics of project management. By using the various phases of a hypothetical space project he lead the participants on this complex path and outlined the use of Gantt- and bar charts. The lecture closed with a task for the auditors of preparing a project "Shopping". It was presented in detail after lunch by a group including the project's structure (team leader and assistant), the targets (healthy food, no fast food ...), tasks (programming software used for comparing the prices) and more.
The first part of the course "Planetology of Mars" also was on schedule before lunch. Mag. Gernot Groemer presented the history of planet Mars and explained the mysteries of the origin of craters. Dichotomy, Syrtis Major, Hellas Basin and other terms are not longer unknown amongst the participants. During lunch a discussion about Mars, space and much more emerged.
In the afternoon the auditors returned to earth for about one hour. Dr. Birgit Sattler roused their interest in life in extreme conditions on earth. They learned that there are organisms which endure much higher levels of radiation than humans. The participants discovered that Antarctica - though being extremely cold - is a continent full of life. They also learned the importance of leaving no traces to prevent the contamination of native life. Garbage hardly decays and decomposes because of the low temperatures.
The day concluded with the second part of Gernot Groemer's excursion to Mars. The participants learned more about the planet's secrets like what happened with its water. A lot of impressive pictures of Mars were presented.
"This training weekend really was a great event.", Olivier Hauser stated. Further he praised the organisation: "... especially the high level of professionalism stood out: ... the very early start of organising the event ... the smooth run of the lectures ... it's been a well rounded and great event.."
The next training weekend probably will take place during early summer.
