HR: 14:25h
AN: ED33C-04    [Abstracts]
TI: Southeast Regional Clearinghouse(SERCH)Mini-grants:Big Impacts on Future Explorers
AU: * Runyon, C
EM: runyonc@cofc.edu
AF: SERCH /College of Charleston, 66 George Street , Charleston, SC 29424 United States
AU: Guimond, K
EM: guimondk@cofc.edu
AF: SERCH /College of Charleston, 66 George Street , Charleston, SC 29424 United States
AB: SERCH is one of seven regional Broker/Facilitator programs funded by NASA's Space Science Mission Directorate. Our purpose is to promote space science awareness and to enhance interest in science, math, and technology through the use of NASA's mission data, information, and educational products. We work closely with educators and NASA-funded scientists in 14 states (AL, AR, DC, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, PR, SC/VI, TN, and VA) throughout the southeastern U.S. to share what NASA is doing in space science. Every year SERCH dedicates money from its budget to support education/outreach initiatives that increase the awareness and understanding of the four major scientific themes, or forums from NASA's space science program: 1) Sun-Earth Connection, 2) Solar System Exploration, 3) Structure and Evolution of the Universe, and 4) Astronomical Search for Origins and Planetary Systems. SERCH is particularly interested in proposals for education/outreach efforts that establish strong and lasting partnerships between the space science and education communities and that support the NASA's education mission. We encourage innovative, inter-disciplinary teams involving both scientists and educators to apply. These peer-reviewed grants are awarded for a period of one year in amounts usually ranging from $5,000 to $10,000. Three examples of highly successful previous grant awards include: 1) Teaching Astronomy and Space Science in Kentucky (KY): Designed to improve knowledge of science core concepts and teaching skills in astronomy and space science and increased expertise in achieving current Kentucky academic expectations; 2) Development of Multi-media Space Science Education/Tutorial Modules (MD): The objective is the production of three "turn-key" internet-based multi-media student tutorial modules to enable the mostly part-time professors/instructors teaching introductory astronomy in community colleges to add exciting and cutting-edge topics to their existing astronomy courses; and 3) Space Science the Special Way (SSS Way) (VA): This conference focused on solutions to the challenges faced when accommodating inclusive earth/space science instruction to students from the following special needs groups: blind and visually impaired, deaf and hard of hearing and the learning disabled.
UR: http://serch.cofc.edu/serch
DE: 0800 EDUCATION
SC: Education and Human Resourcese [ED]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting