219th AAS Meeting – Austin, TX “Connecting Scientists with NASA Education and Public Outreach” Splinter Meeting January 12, 2012, 9:30AM-11:00AM Facilitators: NASA Astrophysics Science E/PO Forum

Text of Presentation Slides

Slide 1: Splinter Meeting Plan • Introduction, Who we are, Why we are here • Showcase of NASA Astrophysics E/PO resources and opportunities • Explore resources and opportunities, one-on-one

Slide 2: Who We Are: NASA Science E/PO Forums Presenter: Mangala Sharma (msharma[at]stsci.edu) URL: Smdepo.org The 4 SMD E/PO Forums connect scientists with E/PO information, resources, opportunities, potential partners related to NASA SMD E/PO.

Slide 3: Who We Are (2): NASA SMD E/PO • Part of NASA’s education effort, supports Agency education goals • SMD’s vision for E/PO: To share the story, the science, and the adventure of NASA’s scientific explorations… through stimulating and informative activities and experiences… • Scientists + educators working together!

Slide 4: Why We Are Here Presenter: Mangala Sharma URL: Smdepo.org • To connect scientists, NASA Astrophysics E/PO teams and SMD E/PO program officers • Explore and collect NASA Astrophysics E/PO resources you can use in your own E/PO • Discover how to participate in current and future SMD E/PO opportunities • Connect with other scientists interested in E/PO

Slide 5: NASA SMD E/PO Grant Opportunities Presenter: James Lochner (James.C.Lochner[at].gov) URL: http://tinyurl.com/smd-epo-guides EPOESS: 1 to 4 year grants for projects in Formal and Informal Education, Higher Education, and Outreach. • No funding limit, but previous awards ~ $100K-$200K in first year. • Received ~ 90 per year. Awarded ~20 per year. ROSES Supplements: Education or Outreach supplements to existing ROSES grants. May combine multiple grants to form a collaborative supplement proposal. • Education supplements limited to $15K per year per grant (max. $50K per year) • Outreach supplements limited to $10K per year per grant (max. $50K per year) • 2 proposal opportunities per year. • Received ~30 proposals per opportunity. Awarded ~10 per opportunity. (NOTE: ROSES E/PO Supplement proposals are not solicited from 2012 onward) SMD E/PO Explanatory Guides explain evaluation factors. Astrophysics Forum can provide: • connections with people doing similar E/PO activities, and networking opportunities within SMD E/PO community. • information about partnerships. • information about dissemination opportunities.

Slide 6: Who We Are (3): NASA Astro E/PO Presenter: Hashima Hasan (hhasan[at]nasa.gov) URL: http://Science.NASA.gov E/PO activities are embedded in NASA Astrophysics missions, instruments, archives, programs, grants.

Slide 7: Community Collaboration on Higher Education Resources Presenter: Greg Schultz (gschultz[at]astrosociety.org) The NASA Astrophysics Forum is coordinating a Higher Education Community Collaboration, with input from NASA Astrophysics missions and E/PO programs. This involves: • Resource Guides for Astro 101 instructors, on special topics • Astro Discovery PPT slide packages for Astro 101 instructors We are interested in partnerships with scientists who either: • teach Astro 101 courses, and have either resources to share or needs to share (e.g. re: resources) OR • are interested or involved with E/PO, and would like to provide input re: helpful resources for Astro 101 instructors

Slide 8: Exoplanet Exploration Program – PlanetQuest Education and Public Outreach Program Presenter: Anya Biferno (Anya.a.biferno[at]jpl.nasa.gov) URL: http://planetquest.jpl.nasa.gov/ Our resources / opportunities: • Extensive public-friendly exoplanetary information, news, interactives, and image gallery • Alien vs. Editor exoplanet blog • Stop by our table to learn about outreach networking and lending opportunities. • Professional community quarterly newsletter • Exciting new additions in the coming year!

Slide 9: Center for Education (CAE) Presenters: Gina Brissenden (gbrissenden[at]as.arizona.edu) and Ed Prather (eprather[at]as.arizona.edu) URL: http://astronomy101.jpl.nasa.gov What we do: • Conduct fundamental research on student beliefs and reasoning difficulties related to Earth, Astronomy, and Space Science (EASS) topics, and instructor implementation difficulties related to teaching EASS. • Use the results of our research to inform the development of research-validated curriculum and assessment materials for use in the general education EASS classroom. • We use the above materials to frame our professional development CAE Teaching Excellence Workshops for EASS instructors, postdocs, graduate and undergraduate students. Goals: • increase the pedagogical content knowledge of AESS current and future instructors and improve there implementation of research-validated curricula and assessment materials. • improve our nation’s science literacy • change society!

Slide 10: Black Hole Resources from Fermi Presenter: Lynn Cominsky (lynnc[at]universe.sonoma.edu) URL: http://fermi.sonoma.edu The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has developed many useful resources about black holes: • Black Hole Frequently Asked Questions (English/Spanish) • Active Education Unit (grades 9-14) • Active Pop-up and Educator Guide (grades 3-8) The Fermi E/PO group is interested in partnerships with scientists who: • would like to use our materials in classrooms from grades 3- 14 • would like to join the Global Telescope Network (http://gtn.sonoma.edu) to obtain free time on a small telescope to help obtain lightcurves of blazars (or other objects of personal interest) We can also send you hard copies of our printed materials upon request to: materials[at]universe.sonoma.edu

Slide 11: Resources for Children from Chandra Presenter: Joe DePasquale (depasq[at]head.cfa.harvard.edu) Contact: Kim Kowal Arcand (kkowal[at]cfa.harvard.edu) URL: http://chandra.si.edu/index_kids.html Chandra has developed resources for children ages 6-12+ for out-of-class time at schools and informal education venues (libraries, small science centers, etc.): • STOP for Science – printed posters & activities on basic science concepts • Space Scoop with UNAWE – kid-friendly Chandra releases in multiple languages Chandra E/PO is interested in working with scientists who would like to use our materials in schools or informal venues for grades K-6 We can mail you hard copies of our printed materials upon request to cxcedu[at]cfa.harvard.edu or online at http://chandra.si.edu/edu/request_stop.html

Slide 12: NASA Kepler Mission Education and Public Outreach Program Presenter: Kepler EPO: Edna DeVore (edevore[at]seti.org) and Alan Gould (agould[at]berkeley.edu) URL: http://Kepler.NASA.gov and http://www.nasa.gov/Kepler Our resources / opportunities: The Kepler Mission offers curriculum for grades 3-12, tools for amateur astronomers via the Night Sky Network, a planetarium program, speakers, online simulations, data exploration tools, information on discoveries, and multimedia resources. The Kepler EPO team is interested in scientists who • share exoplanet exploration with children, parents, teachers and the public: materials and activities for outreach can be provided • are engaged in using Kepler data for science and for EPO.

Slide 13: Center for Science Education at the Space Sciences Lab (CSE[at]SSL), University of California, Berkeley Presenter: Mangala Sharma on behalf of Bryan Mendez (bmendez[at]ssl.berkeley.edu) URL: http://cse.ssl.berkeley.edu The CSE team works on a wide range of NASA Missions and E/PO projects. CSE has partnered with scientists across the country to develop K12 classroom lesson plans, present teacher workshops, reach underserved groups, connect with indigenous cultures, build exhibits, and spread the joy of science to the general public. CSE is interested in partnerships with scientists who: • have an interest in helping to develop K12 lessons and activities • have an interest in reviewing products for scientific accuracy • would like to do outreach with indigenous cultures and/or underserved groups • do science related to heliophysics and space weather • would like to participate in events for the public

Slide 14: CosmoQuest: A community learning & doing science Presenter: Nicole on behalf of Pamela Gay (starstryder[at]gmail.com) URL: http://www.cosmoquest.com CosmoQuest is developing Citizen Science projects for Dawm, LRO, MESSENGER, & STScI that are embedded within an educational environment that includes virtual classes, seminars, educator workshops & social media. We are interested in partnerships with scientists who: • Want to develop new citizen science projects in a uniform environment that provides easy tools for data upload, download, and validation; • Want to share their current research with large public audiences through online live- to-web discussions; • Want to help us build a wiki on reduction of NASA mission data for use by students K-PhD & the public

Slide 15: SOFIA E/PO Program Presenters: Coral Clark (cclark[at]usra.edu) and Pamela Harman (pharman[at]seti.org) URL: http:// www.sofia.usra.edu SOFIA Images, Technical Information, PDF files, PPT files available Multimedia Gallery • Scientific Observatory Gallery • Aircraft images • Telescope and Instruments • Videos /Animations Education & Public Outreach • Slide sets • PDFs • Educational Materials • Learning Activities

Slide 16: StarDate Radio Program Presenter: Sandra Preston and Dr. Mary Kay Hemenway (sandi[at]stardate.org, marykay[at]astro.as.utexas.edu) URL: http://stardate.org Our resources / opportunities: The StarDate Radio Program offers wide dissemination about your research to a vast U.S. audience. McDonald Observatory is interested in partnering with scientists: • to create new StarDate radio programs about their research for the general public, students, and teachers • to develop and deliver teacher workshops about their research at the McDonald Observatory in Fort Davis TX using NASA EPO supplements

Slide 17: Virtual Astronomical Observatory Education and Public Outreach Program Presenter: Brandon Lawton (lawton[at]stsci.edu) URL: http://www.virtualobservatory.org The Virtual Astronomical Observatory (VAO) is developing formal education materials at the high school and community college levels that meet national standards. The VAO is interested in partnerships with scientists who: • have interesting astronomical data they believe might be useful in teaching a specific STEM-based concept, and/or • have an interest in helping us develop products (software, lessons, etc) for formal education that use real astronomical data.

Slide 18: Multi-Mission Archive at Space Telescope Education and Public Outreach Program Presenter: Denise Smith on behalf of Dr. Carol Christian (carolc[at]stsci.edu) and the STScI Team: Lisa Frattare, Karen Levay, Jessica Harris, Shui-Ay Tseng, Randy Thompson, Zolt Levay A Resource of Press Release Images • Tags on images allow topical search, etc. • Also search by object name, sky position • Link to science data Search through multiple outlets (interfaces) • MAST http://archive.stsci.edu/stpr/search.php • VAO http://www.usvao.org/tools/discover/ • Astropix http://astropix.ipac.caltech.edu/ Coordinating across NASA missions and ground-based observatories

Slide 19: Astronomy Activities and Science Content: A Girl Scout and NIRCam Collaboration Presenter: Larry Lebofsky (lebofsky[at]lpl.arizona.edu) Contact: Astronomy Camp (Don McCarthy): dwmccarthy[at]gmail.com URL: www.astronomycamp.org Our resources / opportunities: The James Webb Space Telescope’s NIRCam E/PO team and the Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona are working together to bring STEM to adult Girl Scout volunteers and staff. Our network of over 200 GSUSA adults, scientists, and graduate students maintain a STEM pipeline for girls of all ages. We are interested in dissemination to scientists who will: • use these activities in school programs, family astronomy nights, or camps for K-12 students, or for training others • work with Girl Scout staff and volunteers and encourage others to attend one of our 3-day astronomy camps, or have an interest in attending a camp themselves • become part of our network, active since 2003 when today’s college students were in middle school

Slide 20: Astronomy Picture of the Day from ASD at NASA’s GSFC Presenter: Robert Nemiroff (nemiroff[at]mtu.edu) URL: http://apod.nasa.gov/ The Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) serves a new picture of our universe every day. APOD … • houses the largest collection of annotated astronomy images on the web. • typically is accessed by every major university domain every day. • averages about 106 page views a day. All APODs are chosen and written up by either Jerry Bonnell or myself. APOD is always searching for inspiring images: please include us in your press email list. At this AAS meeting, APOD’s Advisory and Assessment committee will meet for the third time.

Slide 21: From IPAC (Caltech): Teacher Research Program & Astropix Presenter: Gordon Squires (squires[at]ipac.caltech.edu) URL: http://nitarp.ipac.caltech.edu, http://astropix.ipac.caltech.edu Teacher Research Program (NITARP) Opportunity for scientist participation in E/PO: • Partner mentor scientist + teachers for authentic, 1yr, research experience • Needs/Opportunities: • Mentor scientists & research projects • E/PO funds (you can support a team for $20k) Astropix Opportunity: share & find astronomical images • Online, one-stop registry for astronomical images • Images have full contextual info (WCS, caption, telescope, instruments, color mapping, etc.) • Needs/Opportunities: • Add your images to the collection • Use Astropix in classrooms, museums, apps, etc.

Slide 22: RealWorld/InWorld Engineering Design Challenge (JWST) Presenter: Amber Straughn (amber.n.straughn[at]nasa.gov) URL: www.nasarealworldinworld.org, http://jwst.nasa.gov/realworld.html The NASA RealWorld/InWorld Engineering Design Challenge connects 7-12th grade students to college mentors and science and engineering professionals through a two-phase challenge. NASA RWIW is interested in partnerships with scientists who: • are involved with space missions that have a formal or informal E/PO requirement; this program is fully developed and looking for other missions to partner with • have an interest in presenting “In World” (virtual reality setting; as an avatar) about space telescopes or astronomy in general to registered students

Slide 23: NASA Goddard Astrophysics Science Division’s EPO Resources Presenter: Amber Straughn (amber.n.straughn[at]nasa.gov) URL: http://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/660/outreach The NASA Goddard Space Flight Center’s Astrophysics Science Division EPO group has several opportunities, and lots of resources: NASA ASD EPO is interested in partnerships with scientists who: • have a connection with Girl Scouts and would like to implement our “Big Explosions and Strong Gravity” program • want to share their NASA-related experiences by writing journal-style blog entries or do interviews for the popular Blueshift blog or our upcoming Collaboration Across Cultures blog • would like education resources for classroom visits, public speaking events, workshops, etc.

Slide 24: The HST & JWST Education and Public Outreach Program Presenter: Denise Smith on behalf of Frank Summers (summers[at]stsci.edu) URL: http://amazing-space.stsci.edu We develop programs and resources that utilize mission data to bring the universe to the education community, and engage educators and students in the adventure of scientific discovery. We are interested in working with scientists who: • have an interest in helping us bring the JWST STEM Innovation Project to schools in other states. (See poster at 350.05) • have an interest in helping us bring HST and JWST programs/resources to community college audiences.

Slide 25: Multiwavelength Astronomy Online Modules for High School Students Presenter: Christie Thomas (clthomas[at]uchicago.edu); Julia Brazas (julia[at]uchicago.edu) URL: http://ecuip.lib.uchicago.edu/mwastronomy/home.html A University of Chicago E/PO team led by Professor Donald York is developing 20 standards-based lessons on the history, science, tools and impact of multiwavelength astronomy on our understanding of the Universe, as “told” by leaders in the field. We are interested in partnerships with scientists who: • want to share their story through a short interview about their early interest in science, career highlights and current research to inspire students and raise awareness of the many pathways to STEM education and careers; • have a background in radio and submillimeter astronomy, to collect their stories.

Slide 26: What Now? Presenter: Mangala Sharma And Now For Something Completely Fun! Please do … Mingle -- Get connected with the NASA SMD E/PO program officers and Astro E/PO teams Explore – find resources you can use in your education/outreach find specific opportunities to participate in NASA Astro E/PO learn more about SMD E/PO funding opportunities Questions? Contact us at: AstroForum[at]stsci.edu

Slide presentation was followed by about an hour of one-on-one discussions and exploration of NASA Astrophysics-related E/PO resources.