SOFIA’s Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors: Partnerships at 43,000 Feet The Partners Program is to support SOFIA-affiliated people (scientists, engineers, technicians, etc.) in partnerships with teachers in their own communities. D. Backman, P. Harman, C. Clark

Teachers Mission Director Reporter FOSTER Flight Staff Scientists It’s 3 AM onboard the KAO ...

AAA = Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors GOALS: Educators achieve better understanding of scientific research processes; Pass understanding along to their students, colleagues, and fellow citizens. Teams of 2 educators selected to fly on SOFIA (One team member must be an in-service grade 7-12 science teacher.) National annual calls for applications Applications must describe post-flight plans; peer reviewed Ambassadors trained to understand flight research project Ambassadors supported afterward by SOFIA E/PO to fulfill proposals Ambassadors become a growing on-line support community.

Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors 2011 “Pilot” Program May 26, 2011 June 1, 2011 June 3, 2011 Six educators from across the U.S. were chosen in May 2011 to serve as the first class of SOFIA Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors (AAAs). Each AAA proposed specific plans for using their SOFIA experiences to inform their teaching and to share their knowledge with other educators. We provided a DVD with AAA program information video & slide files to NASA Administrator Charles Bolden at his request.

U.S. AAA flights – May 26, June 1, June 3, 2011 M. Beard San Jose, CA M. Blessing Herdon, VA C. DeWolf Remus, MI K. J. Fredette Palmdale,CA T. Paulsen Mellen, WI M. Piper Frankfort, IL

German AAA flight -- July 14 Deutsches SOFIA Institut  German AAA flight -- July 14 Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy  Jörg Trebs Thomas Mann Oberschule - Berlin Reinickendorf Dr. Wolfgang Vieser Christoph-Probst-Gymnasium, Gilching @ Munich Slide prepared by Dr. Dörte Mehlert, DSI

Some results from WestEd Post-AAA pilot program evaluation report All six teachers felt highly engaged throughout All six received important science content knowledge All six felt strong enthusiasm & and empowerment to: Be ambassadors of the SOFIA mission and NASA Develop revised/additional curricula Teachers were surprised by diverse range of personnel and career paths involved in “big mission” science 7 7

Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors Cycle 1 Schedule & Plans January, 2012: AAA 2012-13 educator teams selection were publicly announced (NASA news release) February-May 2012: AAA educators received on-line course instruction August 2012: AAA educators begin communicating with their astronomer partners (Guest Investigators = GIs) December 2012 – December 2013: Cycle 1 GI & AAA flights 8 8

SOFIA E/PO Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors Cycle 1 cohort selections announced Jan. 2012 (to fly in 2012-13): Melvin Gorman & Gordon Serkis, Chinle JHS, Chinle, Ariz. Ira Harden & Vincente Washington, City Honors CS, Inglewood, Calif. Clifford Gerstman & Susan Groff, Middle College HS, Santa Ana, Calif. Mike Cimino (Heritage MS) & John Clark (Deltona HS), Deltona, Fla. Randi Brennon (Hawaii Acad. of Arts & Sci., Pahoa, Hawaii) & James Johnson (Children’s Center for Treatment & Education, Custer City, Penn.). Jo Dodds (Twin Falls HS, Twin Falls, Idaho) & Ralph Peterson (North Gem HS, Bancroft, Idaho). Jennifer Carter & Claudett Edie, Rowan County HS, Morehead, Ky. Chelen Johnson (Breck School, Golden Valley, Minn.) & Constance Gartner (Wisconsin School for the Deaf, Delavan, Wisc.). Matt Oates (Dilworth STEM Academy, Sparks, Nev.) & Dan Ruby (Fleischmann Planetarium & Science Center, Reno, Nev.). Ryan Munkwitz & John Walsh, Southampton MS & HS, Southampton, N.Y. Adriana Alvarez & Mariela Aguirre, Alicia R. Chacon International School, El Paso, Texas. Sarah Scoles (National Radio Astronomy Observatory) & Anne Smith (Green Bank MS), Green Bank, W.V. David V. Black (Walden School of Liberal Arts, Provo, Utah) & Carolyn Bushman (Wendover Jr./Sr. HS, Wendover, Utah).

Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors – Cycle 1 cohort

SOFIA’s Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors: Opportunities for Informal Educators and Amateur Astronomers The Partners Program is to support SOFIA-affiliated people (scientists, engineers, technicians, etc.) in partnerships with teachers in their own communities. C. Clark, P. Harman, D. Backman

Recognizing the Informal Educator Contribution & Opportunities for Unique Partnerships The Partners Program is to support SOFIA-affiliated people (scientists, engineers, technicians, etc.) in partnerships with teachers in their own communities. Mike Bennett through ASP evaluated the contribution of the amateur astronomer, encouraging the addition of formal educators into eligible pool of participants

Kuiper Airborne Observatory: Building on an E/PO Prototype September, 1995 First live link from plane in flight to ground Tested equipment for Live From the Stratosphere Over 250 students participated in event at the Exploratorium The Partners Program is to support SOFIA-affiliated people (scientists, engineers, technicians, etc.) in partnerships with teachers in their own communities. C. Clark, P. Harman, D. Backman

AAA = Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors Goal: Educators to better understand scientific research processes and pass that understanding along to their students, colleagues, and fellow citizens Teams of 2 educators: formal (classroom) educators, informal (museum, etc.) educators, and public outreach specialists (e.g. amateur astronomers) selected to fly and work on SOFIA as partners with teams of researchers. Chosen via national call for proposals, aligned with GI calls Criteria in peer review of AAA proposals: Quality of plans for post-flight impact back home Geographic and demographic diversity Ambassadors trained to understand flight research project, involved in SOFIA flight series w/ research partners. Ambassadors supported by SOFIA Outreach after flights to fulfill their proposed STEM education initiatives back in their home communities. Ambassadors become a growing on-line support community.

Goals of Including Informal Educators in AAA Program Recognize the Significant Contribution of the Informal Educator Foster the Ability for Innovative Partnerships with Spectrum of Educators Increase Potential Educational Impact on Participants/Students Utilize existing infrastructure/networks

NO NO Who is Eligible for AAA? Amateur Astronomer views skies once a week in their backyard NO NO Engineer volunteers once a year with a local rocket club Amateur Astronomer active with local club, volunteering with public events and in classrooms

SOFIA E/PO Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors Cycle 1 Cohort Teams with Informal Educators Matt Oates (Dilworth STEM Academy, Sparks, Nev.) Dan Ruby (Fleischmann Planetarium & Science Center, Reno, Nev.). Sarah Scoles (National Radio Astronomy Observatory) Anne Smith (Green Bank MS), Green Bank, W.V.

SOFIA Needs YOU! Spreading the News Informing of deadlines Empowering innovative partnerships Encouraging applications

> Next application opportunity: spring 2013 > Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors - About 60 educators per year will fly on SOFIA in full-scale program - Classroom teachers - Planetarium & science center staff - Community college faculty - Amateur astronomers with robust public outreach programs > Next application opportunity: spring 2013 (to be announced via SOFIA website, e-mail newsletter, and other media) > Apply as teams of 2; one member of the team must be a currently active middle- or high school science teacher.

Further information: SOFIA Science Center home page http://www.sofia.usra.edu SETI Institute http://www.seti.org Astronomical Society of the Pacific http://www.astrosociety.org