Bringing the Sun to Earth: Solar and Sun-Earth Science Education and Public Outreach Efforts II
Presiding: N Craig, University of California, Berkeley; D Alexander, Rice University
SH13D-01 INVITED 13:30h
Bringing Space Weather Down to Earth
Most of the public has no idea what Space Weather is, but a number of innovative programs, web sites, magazine articles, TV shows and planetarium shows have taken space weather from an unknown quantity to a much more visible field. This paper reviews new developments, including the new Space Weather journal, the very popular spaceweather.com website, new immersive planetarium shows that can go "on the road", and well-publicized Sun-Earth Day activities. Real-time data and reasonably accurate spaceweather forecasts are available from several websites, with many subscribers. Even the renaissance of amateur radio because of Homeland Security brings a new generation of learners to wonder what is going on in the Sun today. The NSF Center for Integrated Space Weather Modeling has a dedicated team to reach both the public and a greater diversity of new scientists.
http://space.rice.edu/ISTP/dials.htm
SH13D-02 INVITED 13:50h
Their Classroom - Your Data: Effective Classroom Inquiry Using Professional Science Data
A partnership of professional educators and scientists is required to develop educational programs that teachers can really use. One model, the Student Observation Network SON), was developed by educators in collaboration with dozens of scientists. SON provides on-line, inquiry-based learning modules that help teachers to integrate science data into the school curriculum to meet educational goals. Each SON module provides a theme that promotes inquiry. Each module is organized around an essential question tied to critical NASA research and national educational standards. "How can we predict solar storms to protect satellites and astronauts?" "How can falling snow, snowpacks, and ice cores help us decode climate and climate change?" "Where are we in the Universe?" "Are there places in our Solar System, other than Earth, that may harbor life?" Each essential question is sub-divided into several sub-questions to guide inquiry. Students will develop their own questions as they proceed with the investigation. Each SON module provides a theme that unites many classroom objectives that are often taught in isolation. (Research shows that students learn concepts better when the concepts are taught in a context.) Concepts that are essential to understanding the content of the essential question are linked to the central curriculum. Each module shows students how to make their own observations and compare it with professional science data. The modules provide tutorials to help students and teachers to understand the scientific data and step-by-step guides to using the data. In addition, there is background information to help students and teachers understand these essential scientific questions. SON is supported by NASA Explorer Schools as an effective way to bring NASA mission science to middle schools. During this session we will explore the structure of one SON module, "Tracking a Solar Storm", to understand why this is a very successful design to bring NASA data into the classroom.
http://son.nasa.gov
SH13D-03 14:10h
Education & Public Outreach in Montana, Supporting the Solar Dynamics Observatory
In the Space Public Outreach Team (SPOT) program at Montana State University (MSU), currently a major component of SDO Education and Public Outreach at MSU, the hallmark of the program has been the presentation of cutting-edge science regarding topics of current interest. The program, under the management of Montana Space Grant Consortium since 1996, is a proven way to bring the excitement of NASA space science investigations to primary and secondary schools, while simultaneously involving university students in E/PO. The program is remarkably cost-effective, useful as a service-learning device, and extremely popular. We will outline the mechanisms of the SPOT program, including the involvement of a diverse group of undergraduates, and its recent expansion to reach more of Montana's students.
SH13D-04 14:25h
SAO/MCLC Solar Dynamics Observatory Partnership
The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) and Christa McAuliffe Challenger Learning Center (MCLC) at Framingham State College have partnered to design and develop a Sun-Earth mission scenario for use at Challenger Learning Center simulators nation wide. The simulation experience, and the solar science embedded within, will be accessible to students of all capabilities and from every setting, and to general audiences. We will present the current status of this project, our educational approach and our plans for the future.
SH13D-05 14:40h
The Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO): A New Generation of Solar Science Education
The next generation of Solar observing missions will provide a unique opportunity to educate the public on the Sun, its influence in the Solar System and the importance of being able to predict Space Weather. SDO, with its large amounts of data, high resolution images and cool movies are the ideal tools to help enhance any Sun-Earth System and Solar System related education and public Outreach. Each of the instruments on-board SDO are deeply involved in E/PO programs as is the program office. We will describe E/PO programs being initiated at the mission level out of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. Projects include an interactive module designed in partnership with the Phoenix Mars mission on the perils posed by the Sun while going to Mars, creation of education panels for a planet walk Sun station, and building successful partnerships with museums and science centers.
http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov