May 2012
A monthly broadcast including upcoming educational programs, events, opportunities, and the latest resources from NASA’s Science Mission Directorate.
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New in this Issue
- Year of the Solar System – Resources for New Data, New Ideas
- “Where in the Solar System is This Image?” Classroom Connections Webinar – Grades 4-12 (May 10)
- Meteorite Outreach Events for the General Public (May 11, 12, 18)
- Student Event at AAS Summer Meeting (RSVP by May 15)
- GLOBE Webinars on Student Climate Research Campaign (May 21 & 22)
- Earth: The Final Frontier Video Contest (Entries Due May 31)
- Earthzine Seeks Letters of Intent from Universities for Virtual Poster Sessions (LOI due June 1)
- Transit of Venus Events and Resources (June 5)
- Galileo Goes to Mars – Workshop for Teachers Grades 3-12 (Register by June 10)
- NASA G.I.R.L.S. Mentoring Program – Grades 5-8 (Apply by June 15)
- Teachers Touch the Sky Workshop – Grades 3-9 (Apply by June 15)
Previously Broadcast
- Center for Astronomy Education Teaching Excellence Workshops for Higher Education Educators and Students (May 5, May 19-20, June 9-10)
- IGES Earth Day Photo Contest – Grades 5-8 (Entries Due May 11)
- Climate Science Research for Educators and Students (CSRES): Understanding Sun/Earth/Atmosphere Interactions – Workshop for Secondary School Educators (Apply by May 31)
- NASA’s Multiwavelength Universe Online Professional Development for Educators (June 25-July 13)
- ESIP Teacher Workshop – Grades 6-12 (July 17-18)
- Mars Revealed: Evolving Technology, Advancing Science – A Workshop for High School Teachers (July 19-23)
- The Unknown Moon Institute: A Workshop for High School Teachers (July 25-29)
- ASP Annual Meeting – Communicating Science: A National Conference on Education and Public Outreach (Aug. 4-8)
- Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Workshop for Grade 6-12 Educators
- Planet Hunters – Help Find Planets Using Kepler Data
- IceHunters Invites the World to Find New Horizons Future KBO Destinations
- Lifelines for High School Climate Change Education
- Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) Ambassador in the Classroom
- A Day At Goddard: Opportunity for DC Metro Teachers – Grades 8-12
- Volunteer E/PO Coordinator for Earthzine
- MY NASA DATA Lesson Plan 44: Think GREEN – Utilizing Renewable Solar Energy (Grades 7-12)
- New “State of Flux” Gallery Available on NASA’s Global Climate Change Website
Programs & Events
New in this Issue
Year of the Solar System – Resources for New Data, New Ideas
May’s topic for the Year of the Solar System is “New Data, New Ideas.” Our understanding of the solar system is constantly changing as we develop new technologies and make new discoveries. Join the YSS team as they explore the scientific process of gathering new data and formulating new ideas! To find resources and events relating to this month’s topic, please visit http://1.usa.gov/JGFUpc.
“Where in the Solar System is This Image?” Classroom Connections Webinar – Grades 4-12 (May 10)
(May 10)
NASA’s Expedition Earth and Beyond (EEAB) Program promotes student-led research investigations in the classroom using NASA data and resources. This Classroom Connection Webinar will feature an interactive presentation connecting students with a scientist at the NASA Johnson Space Center. Students will practice their observation, critical thinking, geography, and solar system knowledge skills by using astronaut imagery of Earth and remote sensing imagery of other planetary bodies in our Solar System. For more information and to register, please visit http://1.usa.gov/JZuCuU.
Meteorite Outreach Events for the General Public (May 11, 12, 18)
The general public is invited to attend programs on meteorites in the Pacific Northwest, sponsored by the Cascadia Meteorite Laboratory. Most programs feature a PowerPoint presentation, and a number of meteorites that participants may examine and hold. The following are upcoming presentations:
- May 11 – Portland, Ore.
- May 12 – Hillsboro, Ore.
- May 18 – Kennewick, Wash.
For more details, please visit http://bit.ly/If8sDU.
Student Event at AAS Summer Meeting (RSVP by May 15)
(RSVP by May 15; June 12, Dena’ina Convention Center, Anchorage, Alaska)
The American Astronomical Society is proud to host a student event in conjunction with this year’s summer meeting. Dr. John Grunsfeld will kick off the event, which will draw several hundred middle and high school students and their parents. AAS is looking for projects, programs, and missions that are interested in doing short presentations, demonstrations, or hands-on activities to a succession of small groups of approximately 20 students and parents on the afternoon of June 12th. Interested parties may participate as exhibitors or by renting a table for $250 through http://bit.ly/I7J0MU. For more information about the week’s activities, please visit http://bit.ly/JBRKji.
GLOBE Webinars on Student Climate Research Campaign (May 21 & 22)
(May 21, 16:00 UTC; May 22, 01:30 UTC)
The GLOBE Science and Education team will host two online webinars to update the community on the Student Climate Research Campaign. To participate, login to Adobe Connect (http://bit.ly/IsrkP4) as “Guest” and enter your first and last name. The webinar provides an opportunity to learn more about the latest research and activities taking place in the Student Climate Research Campaign. To learn more, visit http://1.usa.gov/JsK7YK.
Earth: The Final Frontier Video Contest (Entries Due May 31)
(Entries Due May 31)
To mark Earth Day 2012, NASA invites the public to create compelling videos of NASA’s exploration of Earth: the Final Frontier. Entrants will post short videos on YouTube that capture what they find inspiring and important about the unique view and understanding of Earth provided by NASA science. The winner will receive behind-the-scenes access to the next rocket launch of a NASA Earth-observing satellite. The Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM), a joint project of NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey, is scheduled to launch in January 2013. For more information and guidelines for entering the contest, visit http://1.usa.gov/JFMZCt.
Earthzine Seeks Letters of Intent from Universities for Virtual Poster Sessions (LOI due June 1)
(LOI due June 1)
Earthzine has been involved in recent years with hosting Virtual Poster Sessions (VPS), which allow students and young professionals to showcase their research work in a global setting. These sessions include posting abstracts and short videos, or narrated slide presentations, to accompany each project presentation at Earthzine.org. Previous VPS’ have involved the NASA DEVELOP National Program.
Earthzine is seeking to open their VPS program to universities and colleges, and seek letters of interest from faculty members interested in contributing collections of research projects for VPS during the upcoming year. For information on submitting a LOI, please visit http://scr.bi/I8qALK.
Transit of Venus Events and Resources (June 5)
(June 5)
The Sun-Earth Day and NASA EDGE Teams will bring the Transit of Venus to the world from the summit of Mauna Kea in Hawaii. During a live webcast, the transit will be shown in high definition video through H-alpha, Calcium-K, and White Light telescopes. Coverage will consist of video of the transit, interviews with scientists and Native Hawaiians, and question and answer sessions.
Resources are available on the website for use in museum events and classroom participation, including videos providing cultural and historical information about the transit. Promotional materials include bookmarks, wallpapers, and a flier that can easily be downloaded from the website. A Google map is also available, to see where events are happening, and where you can submit your own event. For more information, visit http://1.usa.gov/H1raix.
Galileo Goes to Mars – Workshop for Teachers Grades 3-12 (Register by June 10)
(Register by June 10; Aug. 4-5, 8:30am-5:30pm; ASP Annual Meeting, DoubleTree Hotel Reid Park, Tucson, Ariz.)
In this workshop, participants will explore classroom-tested, standards-based astronomy activities, with a focus on the solar system. Participants will learn about the development of students’ understanding of science and science reasoning skills, which explore historical and multicultural perspectives on astronomy. Discussion will also cover how astronomy and space science fit into the new science framework and standards, and how to teach about recent developments in the exploration of the universe.
Registration is $75, and includes the new Universe at Your Fingertips DVD, which contains a collection of 133 classroom-ready activities. A certificate of participation will be awarded to participants, for proof of professional advancement. For more information and to register, visit http://bit.ly/IbX6is.
NASA G.I.R.L.S. Mentoring Program – Grades 5-8 (Apply by June 15)
(Applications Accepted May 15-June 15)
NASA is looking for the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators. Women@NASA has created a mentoring project that offers a one-of-a-kind experience for middle school girls. Participants will get to explore the possibilities of a career in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The project will feature one-on-one mentoring from women working at NASA, and participants will complete online lessons with their mentors while virtually connected through Skype or Google Chat. The mentoring project will take place over a five-week period during the summer. For more information and to register online, visit http://bit.ly/IbUh0V.
Teachers Touch the Sky Workshop – Grades 3-9 (Apply by June 15)
(Apply by June 15; August 6-10, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.)
During the summer of 2012, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory will hold a one-week workshop for teachers grades 3-9. Teachers will learn about hands-on activities that are based on current projects in astronomy and space science at JPL, focusing on NASA’s current Dawn Mission to the asteroid Vesta. The integration of the lessons into curricula will be discussed, and a field trip to JPL’s Table Mountain Observatory is included. Teachers will also have the opportunity to meet and discuss their work with JPL scientists. For more information and to register, please visit http://1.usa.gov/IrhOsK.
Previously Broadcast
Center for Astronomy Education Teaching Excellence Workshops for Higher Education Educators and Students (May 5, May 19-20, June 9-10)
The Center for Astronomy Education Teaching Excellence Workshops for Higher Education announces a series of educator workshops for astronomy educators. The goal of these workshops is to familiarize participants with research-validated active engagement teaching strategies and assessment materials, as well as how to implement them in their college courses. Participants will learn how to create productive learning environments, beginning with a brief review of research on the nature of teaching and learning. Participants will spend most of the workshop in the roles of student, instructor, and critical friend to practice implementing new strategies learned. Advanced levels are available for those who have participated in previous CAE workshops. To learn more and to register, visit http://bit.ly/rLp5cu.
- May 5 – Oceanside, Calif. – Regional Teaching Exchange on Implementing Lecture-Tutorials for Introductory Astronomy
- May 19-20 - Holly Springs, Miss. – Improving the General Education College-Level Introductory Astronomy and Space Science Courses Through Active Engagement: A Tier I (Introductory) Workshop
- June 2 - Seattle, Wash. – CAE Greater Northwest Regional Teaching Exchange on Introductory Astronomy and Space Science Courses
- June 9-10 - Anchorage, Alaska – Improving the College Introductory Courses Through Active Engagement: A Tier I (Introductory) Workshop (Fee)
- June 10 - Anchorage, Alaska – NASA CAE Tier II (Advanced) Special Topics Workshop: Using Technology in the Classroom (Fee)
IGES Earth Day Photo Contest – Grades 5-8 (Entries Due May 11)
(Entries due May 11)
Our planet is changing quickly – and what better way to capture those seasonal changes than with a photograph. Spring is a dynamic season: gray and brown landscapes give way to green trees and colorful flowers, birds migrate to summer homes, and weather patterns change. During the week of Earth Day (April 22), middle school students across the country can be part of a unique photography and short essay contest, documenting changes in their local environment. The top three winners will receive $150, $100, and $75 Visa gift cards. For more information and complete rules, visit http://bit.ly/yV35bh.
Climate Science Research for Educators and Students (CSRES): Understanding Sun/Earth/Atmosphere Interactions – Workshop for Secondary School Educators (Apply by May 31)
(Apply by May 31; June 28-30, Queens College, New York City, N.Y.)
Secondary school educators interested in enhancing their effectiveness in teaching about climate and climate change are invited to participate in this workshop, funded through NASA’s Innovations in Climate Education (NICE) program. The workshop, conducted by the Institute for Earth Science Research and Education, in partnership with Queens College, has the goal of developing a comprehensive approach to developing teachers’ and students’ understanding of sun/Earth/atmosphere interactions through hands-on student activities and research that combine NASA climate data with innovative and inexpensive instruments for ground-based measurements. The program also hopes to start building an infrastructure that enables secondary school students to undertake independent climate science research projects that will be competitive in high-level local, regional, and national science competitions.
Some travel support may be available for participants from outside the New York City metropolitan area. For more information and to apply, please visit http://bit.ly/tpNh4R.
NASA’s Multiwavelength Universe Online Professional Development for Educators (June 25-July 13)
(June 25-July 13)
Explore NASA resources in a combination of online synchronous and asynchronous formats to understand how astronomers use their knowledge of light to investigate the universe. Participants have the opportunity to obtain academic credit through Sonoma State University (1 credit for EDUC 490 or 1.5 Continuing Education Credits). For more information and to register, visit http://bit.ly/GTMM1t.
ESIP Teacher Workshop – Grades 6-12 (July 17-18)
(July 17-18; Madison, Wisc.)
The Federation of Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP) invites teachers to attend a 1.5 day workshop on Earth science education, with an integral strand dedicated to climate change education. Participants will be able to choose from several breakout sessions demonstrating ways that Earth science tools and data can be used in science classrooms. Educators for grades 6-12 are eligible to receive a $200 time and travel stipend. After the workshop, teachers are invited to stay for the ESIP conference plenary and poster reception. To register for the workshop, please visit http://bit.ly/HpPqFT. To learn more about the ESIP summer conference, please visit http://bit.ly/H4x4AP.
Mars Revealed: Evolving Technology, Advancing Science – A Workshop for High School Teachers (July 19-23)
(July 19-23; Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston, Texas)
High school teachers, both those currently teaching high school and those preparing to teach, are invited to attend this week-long workshop investigating Mars science and exploration. Topics include a comparison of Earth and Mars geologic features, Mars’ volcanic and aqueous mineralogy, spectroscopy, Mars exploration, and the relationship between science and technology. Workshop registration is free, and participants will receive a $700 stipend upon completion of the workshop. For more information and to apply, visit http://bit.ly/H9Albf.
The Unknown Moon Institute: A Workshop for High School Teachers (July 25-29)
(July 25-29; Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston, Texas)
High school science teachers, both those currently teaching high school and those preparing to teach, are invited to this free 35-hour, 5-day institute investigating the Moon. Topics will include the lunar pole environment and the search for water on the Moon, exploration of the Moon, spectrometry, the Moon’s formation and geologic evolution, and more! For more information and to apply, visit http://bit.ly/H9zxTI.
ASP Annual Meeting – Communicating Science: A National Conference on Education and Public Outreach (Aug. 4-8)
(Aug. 4-8; Doubletree by Hilton, Tucson, Ariz.)
The 124th annual meeting of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific welcomes education and public outreach perspectives from astronomy, space, Earth and biological sciences, journalism, film, and social media, with a particular focus on effective communication of science and scientific ideas. There will be professional development sessions, hands-on workshops, special interest group meetings, talks, panels, poster papers, tours and lots of time for networking. Special hotel rates have been arranged for participants. For more information, please visit http://bit.ly/vSpJa6.
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Workshop for Grade 6-12 Educators
Science teachers are invited to attend a free workshop focused on lunar science, exploration, and how our understanding of the Moon is evolving with the new data from current and recent lunar missions. Participants will learn about recent discoveries, reinforce their understanding of lunar science concepts, gain tools to address common student misconceptions about the Moon, interact with lunar scientists and engineers, and learn how to bring LRO data to their students using activities aligned with National Science Education Standards and Benchmarks. Where possible, workshops will include either a tour of a science facility or field trip that will help participants better understand mission operations or geologic processes relevant to the Moon. The workshops will be held on the following dates:
- June 18-22 – Morehead State University; Morehead, Ky. (application deadline May 20)
- June 25-28 – Lunar and Planetary Institute; Houston, Texas
- July 30-Aug. 3 – Museum of the North – University of Alaska; Fairbanks, Alaska (application deadline June 24)
For more information and to register, please visit http://bit.ly/xFXw59.
Planet Hunters – Help Find Planets Using Kepler Data
Planet Hunters is a citizen science project where site visitors can help to sieve through data taken by the NASA Kepler space mission. These data consist of brightness measurements, or “light curves,” taken every thirty minutes for more than 150,000 stars. Users search for possible transit events – a brief dip in brightness that occurs when a planet passes in front of a star – with the goal of discovering a planet. The project’s first paper, Fischer, et al. 2011, ‘Planet Hunters: The First Two Planet Candidates Identified by the Public using the Kepler Public Archive Data‘ was published in September, and two more papers have recently been submitted: Schwamb, et al. 2012, ‘Planet Hunters: Assessing the Kepler Inventory of Short Period Planets‘ and Lintott, et al. 2012, ‘Planet Hunters: New planet candidates from the first year of analysis.‘ So far, over 10 million light curves have been classified by more than 100,000 users. To join the hunt, visit http://bit.ly/xh9kit.
IceHunters Invites the World to Find New Horizons Future KBO Destinations
The world is invited to help discover a potential new, icy follow-on destination for NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft through the IceHunters website. New Horizons is currently en route to make the first flyby of the Pluto system, and is then capable of making additional exploration of bodies still farther out in the Sun’s Kuiper Belt. Through this citizen science project, the public can help scientists search through specially-obtained deep telescopic images for currently unknown objects in the Kuiper Belt. Along the way, they will also discover variable stars and asteroids. For more information, visit http://www.icehunters.org/ or visit the project blog at http://blogs.zooniverse.org/icehunters.
Lifelines for High School Climate Change Education
Lifelines for High School Climate Change Education is a project to establish professional learning communities (PLCs) of high school teachers aimed at implementing effective teaching of climate change in existing courses. PLCs are identifying the best resources to use, comparing course outlines, and are hearing/seeing webinars by climate scientists, both live and as archived presentations. PLCs are having real-time telemeetings, as well as asynchronous communication through shared websites, wikis, and other techniques to achieve the most effective ways to communicate without petroleum-fueled travel. If you are interested in joining a Lifeline PLC, or forming a PLC (becoming a PLC Leader) please visit: http://www.lawrencehallofscience.org/gss/lifelines/.
Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) Ambassador in the Classroom
Let NASA take over your classroom for the day! Teachers in the DC Metro area and southern Pennsylvania are eligible for a visit from an SDO educator or scientist. Your students will learn about solar clocks, Earth’s place in the solar system, electricity and magnetism, the electromagnetic spectrum, and the Doppler effect. Visits are free, include all supplies for the activity, and can be customized for each teacher. Register at http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/epo/educators/ambassador.php.
A Day At Goddard: Opportunity for DC Metro Teachers – Grades 8-12
Teachers in the DC Metro area are invited to bring their students to NASA Goddard Space Flight Center for a day spent learning what it is like to work for NASA. Field trips include a meet-and-greet at the visitors center featuring a scientist and engineer, a demonstration of the Science on a Sphere program, a tour of the satellite testing facility, and an inquiry-based science lab activity. Programs are highly customizable, teacher-friendly and are designed for grades 8-12. Contact Aleya Van Doren with your desired date and class information to reserve your spot. Slots fill up quickly, so register today!
Employment Opportunities
Volunteer E/PO Coordinator for Earthzine
Earthzine, an IEEE publication covering Earth observation, is seeking a volunteer education and public outreach (E/PO) coordinator. Earthzine’s recent activities include an essay contest and virtual poster session, featuring students from NASA’s DEVELOP national program. Responsibilities include representing Earthzine across the E/PO community, coordinating contributions, and associated E/PO activities. Earthzine seeks an E/PO specialist with an interest in Earth science and the international Earth observation community. The right candidate should be ambitious, someone who loves to write, and a good communicator. This is a great opportunity to make contacts and gain experience. Send a letter of interest with qualifications to Paul Racette, Editor-in-Chief. To learn more about Earthzine, visit http://bit.ly/GSaIPf.
Educational Resources
MY NASA DATA Lesson Plan 44: Think GREEN – Utilizing Renewable Solar Energy (Grades 7-12)
Through this lesson plan, students utilize satellite data to determine greatest renewable energy potentials in any given region. This process allows students to develop skills in graphing and reading graphs.
http://bit.ly/IsKB2I
New “State of Flux” Gallery Available on NASA’s Global Climate Change Website
In celebration of this year’s Earth Day, NASA’s Webby Award-winning Global Climate Change website has unveiled a new version of its popular image gallery, “State of Flux.” This gallery presents images, mostly from space, of our ever-changing planet, chronicling changes taking place over time periods ranging from days to centuries. To view the gallery, visit http://1.usa.gov/I8mT96.
Calendar
May 2012
May 5 – Center for Astronomy Education Teaching Excellence Workshop http://bit.ly/rLp5cu
May 6 – Stars on Sundays http://bit.ly/yI1uip
May 10 – “Where in the Solar System is This Image?” Classroom Connections Webinar http://1.usa.gov/JZuCuU
May 11 – Meteorite Outreach Event – Portland, Ore. http://bit.ly/If8sDU
May 12 – Meteorite Outreach Event – Hillsboro, Ore. http://bit.ly/If8sDU
May 15 – RSVP Due – Student Event at AAS Summer Meeting http://bit.ly/I7J0MU
May 18 – Meteorite Outreach Event – Kennewick, Wash. http://bit.ly/If8sDU
May 21 & 22 – GLOBE Webinars on Student Climate Research Campaign http://1.usa.gov/JsK7YK
May 31 – Entries Due – Earth: The Final Frontier Video Contest http://1.usa.gov/JFMZCt
May 31 – Applications Due – Climate Science Research for Educators and Students (CSRES) Workshop http://bit.ly/tpNh4R
June 2012
June 1 – LOI Due – Earthzine Virtual Poster Sessions http://scr.bi/I8qALK
June 4-8 – Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Workshop – Durango, Colo. http://bit.ly/xFXw59
June 5 – Transit of Venus Webcast http://1.usa.gov/H1raix
June 9-10 – Center for Astronomy Education Teaching Excellence Workshop http://bit.ly/rLp5cu
June 10 – Registration Due – Galileo Goes to Mars Workshop for Teachers http://bit.ly/IbX6is
June 15 – Applications Due – NASA G.I.R.L.S. Mentoring Program http://bit.ly/IbUh0V
June 15 – Applications Due – Teachers Touch the Sky Workshop http://1.usa.gov/IrhOsK
June 18-22 – Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Workshop – Morehead, Ky. http://bit.ly/xFXw59
June 25-29 – Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Workshop – Houston, Texas http://bit.ly/xFXw59
June 25-July 13 – NASA’s Multiwavelength Universe Online Professional Development for Educators http://bit.ly/GTMM1t
July 2012
July 9-13 – Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Workshop – Greenbelt, Md. http://bit.ly/xFXw59
July 17-18 – ESIP Teacher Workshop http://bit.ly/HpPqFT
July 19-23 – Mars Revealed: Evolving Technology, Advancing Science Workshop for High School Teachers http://bit.ly/H9Albf
July 25-29 – The Unknown Moon Institute Workshop for High School Teachers http://bit.ly/H9zxTI
July 30-Aug. 3 – Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Workshop – Fairbanks, Alaska http://bit.ly/xFXw59
August 2012
Aug. 4-8 – ASP Annual Meeting http://bit.ly/vSpJa6
Acknowledgements
NASA Science Mission Directorate: Stephanie Stockman and Jim Lochner
Editors: Theresa Schwerin and Brandi Bernoskie, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES).
Writer: Morgan Woroner, IGES.
Contributions From: Anya Biferno, NASA JPL; Heather Brubach, Adler Planetarium; Alan Buis, NASA JPL; Bonnie Buratti, NASA JPL; Andrew Fraknoi, ASP; Jan Heiderer, GLOBE; Katie Hessen, LPI; Jeff Kart, Earthzine; Elaine Lewis, NASA GSFC; Shannon Roach, University of Arizona; Alex Ruzicka, Portland State University; and Paige Valderrama Graff, NASA JSC.
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