National Radio Astronomy Observatory December 2003 – NSF/AUI Proposal Review Education and Public Outreach Broader Impact of the NRAO as a Whole L. T. Shapiro

National Radio Astronomy Observatory December 2003 – NSF/AUI Proposal Review EPO Strategic Plan Broaden the impact of the NRAO with support for the development of a scientifically and technically literate society. Provide information about radio astronomy and the NRAO via national and local news media and the internet. Broaden and enhance the use of NRAO sites as places of high quality encounters for visitors and for education. Develop educational programs and exhibits in partnership with other institutions. Emphasize that NRAO sites are facets of a single unique observatory and the growing sophistication of our telescopes with the advent of the GBT, EVLA & ALMA.

National Radio Astronomy Observatory December 2003 – NSF/AUI Proposal Review EPO Depth Breadth Pyramid RETs Teacher Wksps Observing Groups Class & Group Field Trips Public Visitation to Centers Community Outreach Internet Visitation to NRAO website National Media Stories Local Media Stories Greater Depth of Experience Greater Breadth of Contact

National Radio Astronomy Observatory December 2003 – NSF/AUI Proposal Review Media Interactions National Press Releases: 12 in in in 2003 (to date) Despite Appearances, Cosmic Explosions Have Common Origin, Astronomers Discover VLA NRAO continues to provide support at national meetings including: AAS, AAAS NSTA, CCAP, SACNAS 21 in in 2002 Local Coverage

National Radio Astronomy Observatory December 2003 – NSF/AUI Proposal Review NRAO Internet Appearance New Web Site Image Gallery 4 User Lead Pages PowerPoint Sets Directions Consolidation Navigation Ease Uniform Templates To Come: NA ALMA Sci Ctr Pages PowerPoint for K-12 Joint ALMA website EVLA & ALMA progress

National Radio Astronomy Observatory December 2003 – NSF/AUI Proposal Review Science Center at Green Bank Year Jan-Mar1010 Apr-Jun5,9746,120 Jul-Sep13,26715,075 Oct-Dec3,1716,671* Total22,51327,866 Year Jan-Mar4,3923,214 Apr-Jun5,5072,956 Jul-Sep5,3935,646 Oct-Dec3,3403,403* Total18,63215,219 Visitor Center at the VLA A large spurt in EPO staff size occurred over the past year due to opening the Science Center at Green Bank and staffing the gift shop at the VLA. A couple of positions have yet to be filled and a smaller spurt will occur during as plans for a new VLA Center come to fruition. A growth in attendance appears to be occurring at both centers. Science/Visitor Center Activity

National Radio Astronomy Observatory December 2003 – NSF/AUI Proposal Review Community Outreach Childrens Fairs Mall & Event Displays School Presentations Public Observing Sessions School Observing Sessions Science Fairs Science Olympiad Scout Presentations

National Radio Astronomy Observatory December 2003 – NSF/AUI Proposal Review Class & Group Visits Goals To have every WV K-12 student visit the Science Center at Green Bank at least once during their school career To increase the number of high quality, effective interactive exhibits To increase school & group awareness of the existence of the public sites in GB & NM

National Radio Astronomy Observatory December 2003 – NSF/AUI Proposal Review Observing Groups Middle school, high school, college classes and teacher workshop groups make observations on site using the 40-foot, the N 2 I 2, and even the VLA. Observing runs at Green Bank will be abetted by the recent opening of the new bunkhouse. Some schools to recently take advantage of this unique opportunity include: Concord Col., GW Community School, Gettysburg Col., Glenelg HS, Glenville State Col., Harvard, Lincolntown HS, Linwood Holton Governors School, Marshall Univ., Morehead Univ., Mountain Inst. on Astronomy, North HS, Newburg HS, Ohio State Univ., Ohio Univ. Towson Univ., Tygarts Valley School, Univ. HS, Univ. of Chicago, Univ. of Kentucky, Virginia Tech., Western Albemarle HS, and West Virginia Univ.

National Radio Astronomy Observatory December 2003 – NSF/AUI Proposal Review Teacher Workshops Chautauqua Short Courses for Teachers both at Green Bank and Socorro (more than 500 teachers have participated) Teachers Workshops for K-12 Teachers at Green Bank with intent to expand to Socorro and Charlottesville RET Program YearNo.States 20007MI, OH, PA, WV 20011OH 20025MN, WV 20033PA, WI

National Radio Astronomy Observatory December 2003 – NSF/AUI Proposal Review Program Progress for Teachers Commence Masters of Teaching Science workshop collaboration with New Mexico Tech & Magdalena Ridge Observatory. Develop, test, and implement student RFI detection project, use in WV, and expand nationwide. Expand RET program to Charlottesville. Expand teacher workshops to New Mexico, then Virginia.

National Radio Astronomy Observatory December 2003 – NSF/AUI Proposal Review NRAO Science Centers Research Centers: discoveries happen! Telescopes in Action Diverse NRAO Community: scientists,engineers,technicians,machinists, computer programmers who volunteer What makes us different from Science Museums?

National Radio Astronomy Observatory December 2003 – NSF/AUI Proposal Review VLA Visitor Center History 2,400 sq ft Visitor Center opened in 1983 Self-guided walking tour Unmanned Center was open from 8am to dusk. No available food service (for many miles) Service facilities undersized for typical class size Summer weekend VLA guided tours began ~1988 Public Information Officer hired in 1992 Guided tours now offered to groups & on special occasions Education Officer hired in 2000 Small staffed gift shop addition in 2003

National Radio Astronomy Observatory December 2003 – NSF/AUI Proposal Review

National Radio Astronomy Observatory December 2003 – NSF/AUI Proposal Review Future of the VLA Visitor Center Visitor Guest Book records strong appreciation for existing facilities. New Center to provide modern facilities for projected visitation of 100,000 annually. Exhibit space of 5,000 sq ft, 10,000 total sq ft. Additional educator, exhibit tech & custodian. Expanded exhibits and programs. Include topics of site geology and ecology.

National Radio Astronomy Observatory December 2003 – NSF/AUI Proposal Review Green Bank Science Center

National Radio Astronomy Observatory December 2003 – NSF/AUI Proposal Review

National Radio Astronomy Observatory December 2003 – NSF/AUI Proposal Review What Can Radio Waves tell us about the Universe? Exhibition Themes: How Do we Detect Radio Waves? What is Going on at the GBT right now? What are Radio Waves?

National Radio Astronomy Observatory December 2003 – NSF/AUI Proposal Review Programs

National Radio Astronomy Observatory December 2003 – NSF/AUI Proposal Review Radio Astronomer for a Day overnight fieldtrips Grade School to Undergraduate School hey mom, we emit radio waves!Neutral hydrogen scan

National Radio Astronomy Observatory December 2003 – NSF/AUI Proposal Review

National Radio Astronomy Observatory December 2003 – NSF/AUI Proposal Review Products Web Activities: Brochures: distributed to all Welcome Centers Radio astronomy video to all WV schools Mountain Radio Astronomy talk show Whos using the telescopes?

National Radio Astronomy Observatory December 2003 – NSF/AUI Proposal Review Program Focus

National Radio Astronomy Observatory December 2003 – NSF/AUI Proposal Review Really Out There…. Best Gadgets in the Universe A workshop to share NSF educational products Training-Museums/Science Center Educators Pulsars at Home Like SETI at home, but with a possibility of real discovery. Distributed computing