HR: 0830h
AN: ED51C-1223    [PDF]
TI: Students, Teachers, and Scientists Partner to Explore Mars
AU: Bowman, C D
EM: cbowman@mail.arc.nasa.gov
AF: Raytheon ITSS, NASA Ames Research Center M/S 269-3, Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000 United States
AU: Bebak, M
AF: Nardin Academy High School, 135 Cleveland Ave, Buffalo, NY 14222 United States
AU: Curtis, K
AF: Nardin Academy High School, 135 Cleveland Ave, Buffalo, NY 14222 United States
AU: Daniel, C
AF: Durham Academy Upper School, 3601 Ridge Rd, Durham, NC 27705 United States
AU: Grigsby, B
AF: Shasta County Office of Education, 1644 Magnolia Ave, Redding, CA 96001 United States
AU: Herman, T
AF: West Valley High School, 3805 Happy Valley Rd, Cottonwood, CA 96022 United States
AU: Haynes, E
AF: Centaurus High School, 10300 South Boulder Rd., Lafayette, CO 80026 United States
AU: Lineberger, D H
AF: Durham Academy Upper School, 3601 Ridge Rd, Durham, NC 27705 United States
AU: Pieruccini, S
AF: Milton Hershey School, 820 Spartan Lane, Hershey, PA 17033 United States
AU: Ransom, S
AF: University High School, 11800 Texas Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90025 United States
AU: Reedy, K
AF: Nardin Academy High School, 135 Cleveland Ave, Buffalo, NY 14222 United States
AU: * Spencer, C
AF: West Valley High School, 3805 Happy Valley Rd, Cottonwood, CA 96022 United States
AU: Steege, A
AF: Durham Academy Upper School, 3601 Ridge Rd, Durham, NC 27705 United States
AB: The Mars Exploration Rovers began their journey to the red planet in the summer of 2003 and, in early 2004, will begin an unprecedented level of scientific exploration on Mars, attracting the attention of scientists and the public worldwide. In an effort to engage students and teachers in this exciting endeavor, NASA's Mars Public Engagement Office, partnering with the Athena Science Investigation, coordinates a student-scientist research partnership program called the Athena Student Interns Program. The Athena Student Interns Program \(ASIP\) began in early 1999 as the LAPIS program, a pilot hands-on educational effort associated with the FIDO prototype Mars rover field tests \(Arvidson, 2000\). In ASIP, small groups of students and teachers selected through a national application process are paired with mentors from the mission's Athena Science Team to carry out an aspect of the mission. To prepare for actual operations during the landed rover mission, the students and teachers participate in one of the Science Team's Operational Readiness Tests \(ORTs\) at JPL using a prototype rover in a simulated Mars environment \(Crisp, et al., in press. See also http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/mer/fido/\). Once the rovers have landed, each ASIP group will spend one week at JPL in mission operations, working as part of their mentor's own team to help manage and interpret data coming from Mars. To reach other teachers and students, each group gives school and community presentations, contributes to publications such as web articles and conference abstracts, and participates in NASA webcasts and webchats. Partnering with other groups and organizations, such as NASA's Solar System Ambassadors and the Housing and Urban Development Neighborhood Networks helps reach an even broader audience. ASIP is evaluated through the use of empowerment evaluation, a technique that actively involves participants in program assessment \(Fetterman and Bowman, 2002\). With the knowledge they gain through the ASIP program and their participation in the empowerment evaluation, ASIP members will help refine the current program and provide a model for student-scientist research partnerships associated with future space missions to Mars and beyond. Arvidson, R.E., et al. \(2000\) Students participate in Mars Sample Return Rover field tests. Eos, 81(11). Crisp, J.A., et al. \(in press\) The Mars Exploration Rover Mission. J. Geophys. Research-Planets. Fetterman, D. and C.D. Bowman. \(2002\) Experiential Education and Empowerment Evaluation: Mars Rover Educational Program Case Example. J. Experiential Education, 25(2).
UR: http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/classroom/students/asip.html
DE: 6225 Mars
DE: 6605 Education
SC: Education and Human Resources [ED]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting