sofia’s airborne astronomy ambassadors: partnerships at 43,000 feet

1Universities Space Research Association

SOFIA’s Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors:Partnerships at 43,000 Feet

D. Backman, P. Harman, C. Clark


It’s 3 AM onboard the KAO ...ScientistsTeachersReporterMission DirectorFOSTER Flight Staff

AAA = Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors

GOALS:

(1)Educators achieve better understanding of scientific research processes;

(2)Pass understanding along to their students, colleagues, and fellow citizens.

• Teams of 2 educators selected to fly on SOFIA

(One team member must be an in-service grade 7-12 science teacher.)

• National annual calls for applications

• Applications must describe post-flight plans; peer reviewed

• Ambassadors trained to understand flight research project

• Ambassadors supported afterward by SOFIA E/PO to fulfill proposals

• Ambassadors become a growing on-line support community.


Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors2011 “Pilot” Program

May 26, 2011 June 1, 2011June 1, 2011 June 3, 2011

• Six educators from across the U.S. were chosen in May 2011 to serve as the first class of SOFIA Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors (AAAs).

• Each AAA proposed specific plans for using their SOFIA experiences to inform their teaching and to share their knowledge with other educators.

• We provided a DVD with AAA program information video & slide files to NASA Administrator Charles Bolden at his request.


U.S. AAA flights – May 26, June 1, June 3, 2011

M. BeardSan Jose, CA

M. BlessingHerdon, VA

C. DeWolfRemus, MI

K. J. FredettePalmdale,CA

T. PaulsenMellen, WI

M. PiperFrankfort, IL

German AAA flight -- July 14

Jörg TrebsThomas Mann Oberschule - Berlin ReinickendorfDr. Wolfgang Vieser

Christoph-Probst-Gymnasium, Gilching @ Munich

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Some results from WestEdPost-AAA pilot program evaluation report

• All six teachers felt highly engaged throughout

• All six received important science content knowledge

• All six felt strong enthusiasm & and empowerment to:– Be ambassadors of the SOFIA mission and NASA– Develop revised/additional curricula

• Teachers were surprised by diverse range of personnel and career paths involved in “big mission” science


Airborne Astronomy AmbassadorsCycle 1 Schedule & Plans

• January, 2012: AAA 2012-13 educator teams selection were publicly announced (NASA news release)

• February-May 2012: AAA educators received on-line course instruction

• August 2012: AAA educators begin communicating with their astronomer partners (Guest Investigators = GIs)

• December 2012 – December 2013: Cycle 1 GI & AAA flights

SOFIA E/PO Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors

Cycle 1 cohort selections announced Jan. 2012 (to fly in 2012-13):

Melvin Gorman & Gordon Serkis, Chinle JHS, Chinle, Ariz.Ira Harden & Vincente Washington, City Honors CS, Inglewood, Calif.Clifford Gerstman & Susan Groff, Middle College HS, Santa Ana, Calif.Mike Cimino (Heritage MS) & John Clark (Deltona HS), Deltona, Fla.Randi Brennon (Hawaii Acad. of Arts & Sci., Pahoa, Hawaii) &

James Johnson (Children’s Center for Treatment & Education, Custer City, Penn.).Jo Dodds (Twin Falls HS, Twin Falls, Idaho) & Ralph Peterson (North Gem HS, Bancroft, Idaho).Jennifer Carter & Claudett Edie, Rowan County HS, Morehead, Ky.Chelen Johnson (Breck School, Golden Valley, Minn.) &

Constance Gartner (Wisconsin School for the Deaf, Delavan, Wisc.).Matt Oates (Dilworth STEM Academy, Sparks, Nev.) &

Dan Ruby (Fleischmann Planetarium & Science Center, Reno, Nev.).Ryan Munkwitz & John Walsh, Southampton MS & HS, Southampton, N.Y.Adriana Alvarez & Mariela Aguirre, Alicia R. Chacon International School, El Paso, Texas.Sarah Scoles (National Radio Astronomy Observatory) &

Anne Smith (Green Bank MS), Green Bank, W.V.David V. Black (Walden School of Liberal Arts, Provo, Utah) &

Carolyn Bushman (Wendover Jr./Sr. HS, Wendover, Utah).

Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors – Cycle 1 cohort


SOFIA’s Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors:Opportunities for Informal Educators

and Amateur Astronomers

C. Clark, P. Harman, D. Backman


Recognizing the Informal Educator Contribution &Opportunities for Unique Partnerships


Kuiper Airborne Observatory:Building on an E/PO Prototype

C. Clark, P. Harman, D. Backman

• September, 1995• First live link from plane in flight to ground• Tested equipment for Live From the

Stratosphere• Over 250 students participated in event at

the Exploratorium

• September, 1995• First live link from plane in flight to ground• Tested equipment for Live From the

Stratosphere• Over 250 students participated in event at

the Exploratorium


AAA = Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors

Goal: Educators to better understand scientific research processes and pass that understanding along to their students, colleagues, and fellow citizens

• Teams of 2 educators: formal (classroom) educators, informal (museum, etc.) educators, and public outreach specialists (e.g. amateur astronomers) selected to fly and work on SOFIA as partners with teams of researchers.

• Chosen via national call for proposals, aligned with GI calls

• Criteria in peer review of AAA proposals:

– Quality of plans for post-flight impact back home

– Geographic and demographic diversity

• Ambassadors trained to understand flight research project, involved in SOFIA flight series w/ research partners.

• Ambassadors supported by SOFIA Outreach after flights to fulfill their proposed STEM education initiatives back in their home communities.

• Ambassadors become a growing on-line support community.


Goals of Including Informal Educators in AAA Program

• Recognize the Significant Contribution of the Informal Educator

• Foster the Ability for Innovative Partnerships with Spectrum of Educators

• Increase Potential Educational Impact on Participants/Students

• Utilize existing infrastructure/networks


Who is Eligible for AAA?

Engineer volunteers once a year with a local rocket club

Amateur Astronomer views skies once a week in their backyard

Amateur Astronomer active with local club, volunteering with public events and in classrooms

NO

NO


SOFIA E/PO Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors

Cycle 1 Cohort Teams with Informal Educators

Matt Oates (Dilworth STEM Academy, Sparks, Nev.)

Dan Ruby (Fleischmann Planetarium & Science Center, Reno, Nev.).

Sarah Scoles (National Radio Astronomy Observatory)

Anne Smith (Green Bank MS), Green Bank, W.V.


SOFIA Needs YOU!

• Spreading the News

• Informing of deadlines

• Empowering innovative partnerships

• Encouraging applications


>> Airborne Astronomy AmbassadorsAirborne Astronomy Ambassadors

- About 60 educators per year- About 60 educators per year will fly on SOFIA in full-scale program will fly on SOFIA in full-scale program - Classroom teachers - Classroom teachers - Planetarium & science center staff - Planetarium & science center staff - Community college faculty - Community college faculty - Amateur astronomers with robust public - Amateur astronomers with robust public

outreach programsoutreach programs

>> Next application opportunity: spring 2013 Next application opportunity: spring 2013

(to be announced via SOFIA website, e-mail (to be announced via SOFIA website, e-mail newsletter, and other media)newsletter, and other media)

> Apply as teams of 2; one member of the team > Apply as teams of 2; one member of the team must be a currently active middle- or high must be a currently active middle- or high school science teacher.school science teacher.


Further information:

SOFIA Science Center home page

– http://www.sofia.usra.edu

SETI Institute

– http://www.seti.org

Astronomical Society of the Pacific

– http://www.astrosociety.org

sofia’s airborne astronomy ambassadors: partnerships at 43,000 feet

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