HR: 09:15h
AN: ED41A-06 INVITED     [PDF]
TI: Astrobiologists Seed The Future: Education and Public Outreach in the NASA Astrobiology Institute
AU: * Wilmoth, K L
EM: Krisstina.L.Wilmoth@NASA.gov
AF: NASA Astrobiology Institute, MS 240-1 NASA Ames Research Cntr, Moffett Field, CA 94035 United States
AB: Understanding the diversity of life in the universe, its relative abundance or rarity, and its origins is the work of astrobiology. The answers to astrobiological questions require the expertise of scientists from different fields as well as different generations to answer. It may take several lifetimes before we understand the potential for life beyond Earth. The multi-generational nature of the work drives the NASA Astrobiology Institute's interest in education and training. NASA has identified strategic goals in education which focus on inspiring and motivating "students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics," (NASA 2003 Strategic Plan Goal 6) as a way of developing its future workforce; this is perhaps most pressing in a relatively new field of research which cannot be continued without future researchers to pursue and follow through on new discoveries. The NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI) assures student involvement through both an education and public outreach program and direct training. NAI is a virtual institute of 16 Lead Teams around the country. Each team is an interdisciplinary collaboration in pursuit of one or more astrobiological goals complemented by efforts to strengthen the astrobiology community through training, education, and professional development. The specific education and public outreach (E/PO) and training efforts of each team are determined by the unique opportunities provided by the institution, specialty, and expertise of the team. Inherent in all NAI E/PO and training efforts is the inclusion of NAI researchers and their current work. The principle investigators of NAI Lead Teams have embraced the interdisciplinary nature of astrobiology; by building and leading their team's work, they become ideal candidates for communicating the broad topics of astrobiology to students of all levels. Each NAI PI identifies unique E/PO and training opportunities and includes their team members in these efforts. The result is an amalgamated program reaching the full spectrum of K-Postdoctoral students receiving information and opportunities in astrobiology. Research is embedded throughout the NAI's E/PO program with the ultimate goal of seeding future researchers and their discoveries of life in the universe.
UR: http://nai.arc.nasa.gov
DE: 6605 Education
SC: Education and Human Resources [ED]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting