HR: 0800h
AN: ED31A-0099    [Abstracts]
TI: Cassini Scientist for a Day -- Bringing the Excitement of a Real Mission into the Classroom
AU: * Piazza, E
EM: Enrico.Piazza@jpl.nasa.gov
AU: McConnell, S
EM: Shannon.L.McConnell@jpl.nasa.gov
AU: Zimmerman-Brachman, R
EM: Rachel.Zimmerman-Brachman@jpl.nasa.gov
AB: The Cassini Mission's "Scientist for a Day" program allows students the opportunity to be in scientists' shoes, evaluate various options and learn how to make decisions based on scientific value. Students are given three or more possible imaging targets of Saturn, its rings and its moons. They research these targets and decide which one will bring the best scientific results. They then defend their choice in a 500- word essay. The essay with the best scientific argument for a chosen target wins the contest. In this last edition, Cassini took the images on Nov. 30, 2007. A few days later, winners (and as many other students as possible) were invited to discuss the results with Cassini scientists via videoconferences. Entries were judged by a committee composed of Cassini scientists, Cassini mission planners, Cassini Outreach and JPL Education Specialists. The contest has been held on a smaller scale three times. The last edition was open to all U.S. schools. Students were divided in two groups, grades 5 to 8 and grades 9 to 12. The next edition of the contest will be held in May 2008.
UR: http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/education/edu-scientist.cfm
DE: 0805 Elementary and secondary education
SC: Education and Human Resources [ED]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting