Astrophysics Missions, Grants, and Forum Nuggets for June 2012

2 Amazing Space Incorporated into Arizona’s K12 Center STScI’s Amazing Space website has been integrated into statewide initiatives and served as an instructional resource for many educators throughout the U.S. A newly identified state-level user is the Arizona K12 Center, where Amazing Space is used as a student research tool in a lesson plan called “Space, the Final Frontier.” This lesson challenges students to research space science topics and apply their knowledge by creating a podcast presentation. Amazing Space is identified by the Center as a resource that supports Arizona’s Full Integration of Technology Matrix - a framework that supports Arizona’s state technology standards and provides guidance for K-12 educators in using technology to enhance student learning. The Arizona K12 Center serves as a vital hub connecting Arizona's educators with the most current best practices in professional development. The Center is affiliated with Northern Arizona University, and in the past 10 years, it has become a statewide professional development center offering training opportunities to hundreds of Arizona educators.

3 NSTA STEM Forum and Expo Members of STScI’s education team attended the NSTA STEM Forum and Expo in Atlantic City on May 17 th – 19 th. This is the first ever NSTA Expo featuring STEM-focused presentations, exhibits, and workshops. The STEM workforce is often viewed as an indicator of a nation's ability to sustain itself. Maintaining a citizenry that is well versed in STEM has become a recurring theme within the national agenda for education. NASA’s education program also strongly supports this agenda. One important theme reiterated throughout the Expo was that students need to have successful STEM learning experiences early-on to generate the curiosity, interest, and confidence in these topics that is critical for students to have in order to pursue these fields in the future. Educators face unique challenges and opportunities for building foundational skills and interest in STEM. This Expo provided opportunities for educators to explore and discuss strategies for addressing these opportunities and challenges in the classroom. The NSTA STEM Forum & Expo was designed for educators, administrators, researchers, and those involved with after-school and outreach programs who are interested in developing better STEM opportunities for youth and professional development for STEM educators.

On May 19, Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Joe A. Hairston led parents, teachers, and friends in saluting the winners of the 9th annual Baltimore County Public Schools Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Fair – a two-day, county-wide competition at Randallstown High School. This year, as part of a partnership between STScI’s OPO and Baltimore County Public Schools, OPO astronomer Frank Summers provided a “Hubble’s Magnificent Universe” presentation for attending families that focused on both the majestic imagery and scientific discoveries of the Hubble Space Telescope. Following the presentation, parents and students were able to interact directly with Dr. Summers during a Q & A session. Nearly 400 students and their families participated in this year’s STEM Fair activities. Hubble Presentation at Baltimore County STEM Fair

Space Telescope Presentation & Student Workshop at Jemicy School On May 14, staff members from STScI’s OPO ran one of seventeen student workshops at the Jemicy School in Owings Mills, Maryland. The Jemicy School serves a talented, yet high-needs, population of students in grades 1-12 with language-based learning differences such as dyslexia. During the workshop entitled, “The Scale of Things,” students were presented with information about how refracting and reflecting telescopes focus light, and the differences and strengths of Hubble Space Telescope and the future James Webb Space Telescope. Students also built their own refracting telescopes as part of the workshop. There were ample opportunities for students to ask questions related to astrophysics, telescopes, and STEM career paths. The event culminated when students were asked to recall new facts and information they had learned throughout the day. The Hubble and the James Webb space telescopes were featured highly during this question- and-answer session.

Chandra Internship Leads to Continued NASA Involvement Jessica Brodsky, a rising junior at Brown Univ., and newly aspiring science communicator/educator, made Science & Society her undergrad concentration after working on a metadata project while interning for Chandra EPO. She applied for the Chandra internship after attending a presentation at Brown by Chandra EPO staff member Kimberly Arcand. “Even though I did not have a strong background in astronomy when I started at Chandra EPO last June, my Chandra mentors did a wonderful job showing me the ropes. As a result of my outreach work, I also put together a Reference Guide about metadata to help with future interns. I am passionate about exploring the best ways of creating, communicating, and promoting science with the public.” This summer, she continues her NASA and astronomy communication journey by interning in the History Program Office at NASA HQ. For the fall semester, she is leading a Group Independent Study Project at Brown on visual representations of information.

7 NASA Center for Astronomy Education* CAE Brings Professional Development to the 220 th Meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Anchorage, Alaska! * Sponsored by the Exoplanet Exploration Program A spirited group of attendees participated in the CAE Tier I Introductory Workshop on Improving College Introductory Astronomy Through Active Engagement. The majority of the participants were graduate students and postdocs. The CAE Tier II Special Topics in Technology Workshop had 15 “return visitor” who had previously participated in a CAE Tier I workshop. Participants included graduate students, postdocs, and tenured and non- tenured faculty from both 2-year and 4- year institutions. Left: “Students” and “Teachers” interact. Right: Past CAE Tier I workshop participants pause to have their picture taken during the CAE Tier II workshop focusing on best practices using technology in the classroom. Below: Practicing Think-Pair-Share. Educator Evaluation Responses: “Everyone should be aware of these ideas, whether to implement them, themselves, or to support their use in class.” “This is by far the best workshop I’ve attended. I love the practice time.” 9-10 June 2012Anchorage, AK

NASA Center for Astronomy Education* CAE Breaks New Ground in Mississippi * Sponsored by the Exoplanet Exploration Program Educator Evaluation Responses: “Great tools, great ideas, good practice!” “The role-playing exercises were the most effective. Practice is more valuable than note-taking.” The Center for Astronomy Education held its Improving the General Education Astronomy and Space Science Course Tier I Workshop for the first time in the Hospitality State of Mississippi. Curriculum Improvements Partnership Award for the Integration of Research (CIPAIR) partners Mid-South Community College and Rust College hosted this inaugural event, boasting 34 participants from eight different states and one foreign country. Of the 34 participants, 84% were faculty members, 8% were high school teachers and 8% were postdocs. Also, of the participants, 40% were from Rust College. Left: Participants ‘think’ about their answers the Think-Pair- Share question that they’re looking at. Above: Workshop participants work in small groups. May 19 & 20, 2012Holly Springs, MS

9 Planck Presents! Interactive display delivered to the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History on May 24th. On May 24th Planck E/PO Lead Jatila van der Veen and undergraduate research assistant Blake Regalia delivered Planck Presents! Interactive to the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History to begin field testing with the public. The exhibit will open sometime in the next month, and will be distributed via the Planck e/po website. For further information, please contact planetarium director Javier Rivera at

10 BalloonFest payload prototype test for Small Satellites project May 5, 2012, Paso Robles, CA Sonoma State University E/PO built and launched a prototype CanSat payload on a tethered helium balloon. Google Earth map showing the projected path of the payload GPS Students get ready to launch Lynn Cominsky BalloonFest2012/ Balloons aloft to 300 m