Plutopalooza Scheduled for Thursday Night on the Square 7/16/15

Join Dr. Dana Backman, NASA's SOFIA Outreach Director, at "Plutopalooza" on Thursday, 16 July 2015, at Poncitlan Square in Palmdale.  Solar system-themed hands-on activities and a special presentation will be made on "SOFIA:  Chasing Pluto's Shadow."  Presentations are at 6:00pm and 6:45pm.  Poncitlan Square is located at the City of Palmdale Civic Center.  For further information about TNOTS, visit:  Thursday Night On the Square .  For additional information about NASA/AERO Institute programs, go to:  AERO Institute Palmdale .

Call for SOFIA Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors - Applications Due by 12/22/14

Thanks to Sondra Geddes of NASA for this information:

SOFIA Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors Program

The SOFIA program is now accepting applications for the Cycle 3 Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors program, placing educators on SOFIA research flights during 2015. This call for applications will end December 22, 2014. Information regarding application procedures, eligibility, and selection criteria can be found SOFIA Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors .

The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) mission is responsible to NASA for conducting an Education and Public Outreach program that exploits the unique attributes of airborne astronomy to contribute to national goals for the reform of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education, and to the elevation of public scientific and technical literacy.

SOFIA’s Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors (AAA) effort is a professional development program aspiring to improve teaching, inspire students, and inform the community. It builds upon the legacy of NASA’s highly successful FOSTER (Flight Opportunities for Science Teacher EnRicment) program that flew educators aboard the Kuiper Airborne Observatory (KAO) from 1990 – 1995.

SOFIA’s AAA program now enters its Cycle 2 phase: 12 AAA educator teams representing educators from 10 states were selected.

For the Cycle 1 phase of SOFIA’s AAA program, 13 AAA educator teams plus alternates were selected in a highly competitive application process. Selected educators came from a variety of backgrounds, and their institutions included a school for the deaf, an alternative education site (developmentally challenged), highly underserved student populations, rural schools, and a Native American school site.

The Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors “Pilot” program for educator professional development successfully flew six teachers on the observatory during the summer of 2011, representing California, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, and Virginia (Washington DC). Evaluation confirmed the program’s positive impact on the teacher participants, on their students, and in their communities. Teachers not only incorporated content knowledge and specific components of their experience into their curricula, they also have also given dozens of presentations and implemented teacher professional development workshops.  Their efforts to date have impacted thousands of students and teachers.

As part of preparation and training for their flight experience, AAA program participants complete a graduate-level Astronomy for Teachers on-line course administered by Montana State University and National Teacher Enhancement Network. Teams are paired with an astronomer with observatory time, and they work with this astronomer throughout the research, from preparation to data analysis. AAAs optimally fly aboard the observatory twice, will implement classroom lessons based on their experiences, and will complete an outreach plan.

Selection into this prestigious program is truly an honor for the educators and their school, planetarium, or observatory.  

NASA Teacher Activities Available - Apply Now

1.  SETI's Astrobiology Summer Science Experiment for Teachers (ASSET) - science and curriculum institute for high school science teachers will be held 29 July through 3 August in San Franciso.  Presentations will be made by astrobiologists from SETI, NASA, and the California Academy of the Sciences, and participants will receive the Voyages Through Time curriculum.  All expenses are paid through grant funding; three graduate units of credit are available for a fee. 

Applications are due by 30 April 2013; to get more information and to apply, visit NASA/SETI ASSET .

2.  SOFIA Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors (AAA) Cycle 2 science flight applications are due by no later than 3 May 2013.  " Two member educator teams must have at least one grade 6 - 12 science teacher. The second team member may also be a math, science or technology teacher at elementary or secondary level, a community college instructor, or an informal educator."  Flights will take place between January through December 2014, and will generally be during the school year.  For more information and to apply, go to SOFIA Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors

For a list of other teacher opportunities currently available, visit:  http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/current-opps-index.html

SOFIA Teacher Ambassador Blog

Kathleen Fredette from Desert Willow MS in Palmdale is taking part in an airborne astronomy project aboard SOFIA this summer.  Follow her blog at http://web.me.com/kathdette/SOFIA_teach_ambassador/Hi_Guys%21.html.  There are pictures and video, as well as answers to student questions.