Astrophysics Missions, Grants, and Forum Nuggets for March 2011

2 Data from real Kepler Mission planet discoveries are now in the new version of the already popular online interactive: Previous version had fabricated data to illustrate the transit method of planet discovery. Now several of the stars have real Kepler planets for users to discover. See

3 SOFIA Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors (1995 photo from AAA predecessor program, FOSTER (Flight Opportunities for Science Teacher Enrichment) on the Kuiper Airborne Observatory; teachers at front and back right)

SOFIA Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors (AAA) “pilot program” –SOFIA Program Office requested that SOFIA E/PO select and train 4-6 U.S. and 2 German teachers to fly (in teams of two, one flight per team) during SOFIA’s Basic Science program, sometime in summer 2011 –Call for Proposals issued March 1, 2011 to targeted groups of teachers (teachers already in SOFIA-sponsored professional development programs; teachers located near SOFIA program and project offices) –Proposals due April 1; requires description of plans to use the SOFIA experience for enhancing STEM education in the applicants’ home communities –Full expenses for teacher participation in AAA program to be supported by SOFIA E/PO –Pilot program to exercise and evaluate processes before implementation of full AAA program (with national CfP) in 2012, parallel with SOFIA’s first regular Guest Investigator cycle Page 4

5 NASA Center for Astronomy Education* CAE Brings Teaching Excellence to Penn State Educator Evaluation Responses: “Seeing it modeled was invaluable and getting to practice it really helped it to actually sink in.” “[I thought the most effective part of the workshop was] Think-Pair-Share. I always use this, can’t imagine teaching Astro I without it, and each time I’ve taken a workshop I see how I can do it better.” * Sponsored by the Exoplanet Exploration Program The Tier I Teaching Excellence workshop (Feb 26-27) was attended by 39 participants, ranging from senior faculty to undergraduate students. Participants came from as far away as 500 miles. 30% of the attendees were graduate students and postdocs. 5% were undergraduate students. Workshop participants worked on practicing implementing Lecture- Tutorials, Think-Pair-Share, Ranking Tasks, interactive lectures, demonstrations, animations and simulations. This event was kicked off on Friday the 25 th with a special colloquium presentation given by Ed Prather, which was attended by approximately 50 people from the Penn State Department of Astronomy as well as the Center for Teaching Excellence.

Page 6 Members of OPO’s Education Team presented a professional development workshop to Baltimore City elementary and middle school science educators on March 8 th. The theme of the workshop focused on astronomical weather conditions found on other places located in our Solar System. Educators were challenged to select Solar System objects and make predictions about their weather, and were presented with background information about weather conditions found here on Earth and elsewhere in our Solar System. This workshop is a part of an ongoing collaboration between the Baltimore City School System and the STScI’s Office of Public Outreach. Baltimore City is the fourth largest school district in Maryland, serving more than 87,000 students in over 195 schools. Baltimore City Public Schools Partnership

Page 7 On Sunday, March 6, OPO staff worked in partnership with the Institute’s scientific staff to host a booth at the 2011 “Girl Power: Reach for the Sky” event held at the Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Lab (APL). This event, free and open to girls and parents, allows girls to explore STEM career pathways with professional women. The Institute hosted a booth at which girls and their parents could learn about space science and other STEM-related careers. Students were also able to participate in an infrared camera demonstration, do observations through a Galileoscope telescope, and explore light, color, and filters. Now in its fourth year, over 500 girls and parents attended this year’s “Girl Power: Reach for the Sky” event. More than 200 representatives from industry and the K-16 education community hosted booths providing career information and hands-on activities. Girl Power

Page 8 OPO educators presented a student STEM workshop entitled “To Infinity and Beyond” on Saturday March 5 th during the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Conference and Expo (STEMcx) at Baltimore’s The New Psalmist Baptist Church. The event, sponsored in partnership by Baltimore’s Living Classrooms Foundation and the Sankofa Community Development Corporation, targeted local middle and high school students. “To Infinity and Beyond” workshop participants observed a demonstration using an infrared camera and worked in small groups while completing hands-on explorations. Specifically, students observed emission spectra, explored Hubble images, worked with filters, and observed and classified objected in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field. The Expo was designed to engage Baltimore youth in hands-on, real-world STEM experiences, and highlight the importance of STEM education and careers. STEMcx

Page 9 On February 18, 2011, a member of OPO’s education team gave three Career Day presentations to middle and high school students at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC. The presentations were part of the Maryland MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement) PreCollege Career Fair, held in conjunction with the three-day BEYA (Black Engineer of the Year Awards) STEM Global Competitiveness Conference, which attracts top professionals and students from across the nation and all science, technology, engineering and math- related fields. The presentations were attended by 140 students from across the eastern seaboard. OPO’s participation in this Career Day is part of Space Telescope’s continuing effort to support NASA’s STEM education and career paths initiative within Maryland, and is part of OPO’s ongoing partnership with Maryland MESA. Maryland MESA Partnership: PreCollege Career Fair