NASA Earth and Space Science Education E-Newsletter
May 2009
This monthly broadcast includes upcoming educational programs, events, opportunities and the latest resources from NASA’s Science Mission Directorate.
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Questions or comments? E-mail them to esenewsletter@strategies.org.
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UPCOMING PROGRAMS & EVENTS
NEW IN THIS ISSUE
(1) Top Stars: Web Site Accepting Entries May 1 (1st round of entries due May 30)
(2) Celebrate Space Day at the National Air and Space Museum (May 2)
(3) Training Workshops for Afterschool Astronomy Program for Grades 6-8 (Sign-up deadlines: May 18 and 27)
(4) Stipends Available for K-12 Teachers to Attend Astronomical Society of The Pacific's 120th Anniversary Celebration (Abstracts due May 31)
(5) Middle School Teacher Workshop: Using NASA Observations to Study Changes in Chesapeake Bay (July 7-9)
(6) Teacher Workshop on Using Earth Science Data in Grades 6-12 (July 8-9)
(7) XXII Satellite Educators Conference (Aug. 13-15)
PREVIOUSLY BROADCAST
(8) No Boundaries National Competition For High School Students (Deadline May 15)
(9) The Sunday Experiment at NASA Goddard (May 17)
(10) Family Science Night at NASA Goddard (May 21 and June 27-28)
(11) 2009 Exploring Space Lectures (May 27 and June 18)
(12) Climate Discovery Online Courses for Educators (June 18-Aug. 9)
(13) View Atmosphere from Space Workshop, Middle/High School Teachers (June 23-24)
(14) Summer Science Workshops at Penn State for K-12 Educators (June-July)
(15) Public Library Tour: Visions of the Universe (Jan. 2009-March 2010)
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EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
(16) Sun-Earth Day on Facebook
(17) NASA Earth Observatory Feature Article: Sea Ice
(18) Two New Articles on Ocean Motion Web Site
--Ocean Surface Currents Impact Melting Ice Sheets
--Volvo Ocean Race Boats: How They Navigate the Ocean
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SCIENCE NEWS
(19) New Gamma-Ray Burst Smashes Cosmic Distance Record
(20) ‘Dark Gulping’ Could Explain Black Holes
(21) Double Discovery: Super-Earth and Ocean World
(22) Continent-Sized Radio Telescope Takes Close-Ups of Fermi Active Galaxies
(23) NASA Satellite Data Prepares Forecasters
(24) NASA’s Kepler Captures First Views of Planet-Hunting Territory
(25) The Surprising Shape of Solar Storms
(26) NASA Heads up Mt. Everest
(27) NASA Hunts for Remains of an Ancient Planet Near Earth
(28) Beyond Apollo: Moon Tech Takes a Giant Leap
(29) Satellites Show Arctic Literally on Thin Ice
(30) Mt. Redoubt Gives Alaskans a Taste of the Moon
(31) Deep Solar Minimum
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CALENDAR
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
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NEW IN THIS ISSUE
(1) TOP STARS: WEB SITE ACCEPTING ENTRIES MAY 1
(Entries received by May 29 will be included in the first round of selections)
The Top Stars project invites U.S. formal (K-12, college) and informal educators to submit their best examples of using NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope for STEM education. The Web site is now accepting entries from individuals or teams of up to four educators. Once you register you may begin creating your entry (you can save, return to edit and submit once read). Entries will be accepted from May 2009 through Jan. 2, 2010; May 29 is the deadline for entries to be considered in the first round of selections. For more information or to get started, visit http://topstars.strategies.org.
(2) CELEBRATE SPACE DAY AT THE NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM
May 2, Washington, DC
Celebrate Space Day at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. Space Day is a perennial favorite at the National Air and Space Museum where visitors enjoy hands-on activities, meet astronauts and authors, learn about space from museum experts, and even talk live to an astronaut on the International Space Station. This year’s theme is “Celebrating Human Space Flight: Past, Present and Future.” All of the activities take place amid the awe-inspiring collection of historic aviation and space artifacts in the Museum’s National Mall building. This event is sponsored by Lockheed Martin with additional support by NASA. For information about the events, visit http://www.nasm.si.edu/events/eventDetail.cfm?eventID=1031.
(3) TRAINING WORKSHOPS FOR AFTERSCHOOL 6-8 Grade astronomy program
May 27-28, Tucson, Ariz. (Sign-up Deadline May 18)
June 3-4, Goddard Space Flight Center; Greenbelt, Md. (Sign-up Deadline May 27)
Afterschool Universe is an astronomy program targeting kids in out-of-school-time programs for grades 6-8. Two upcoming workshops provide free, comprehensive training that prepares participants to lead the program or train others to do so. All attendees who complete the training will receive a manual. Most materials needed to run the program are available at grocery stores and craft supplies stores. A free kit of materials that need to be ordered from specialized retailers is given to those who commit to run the program for the target audience (approximately $50 value). In addition to the kit, participants receive password access to a Web site with additional resources to help implement the program. For more information: http://universe.nasa.gov/afterschool.
(4) STIPENDS AVAILABLE FOR K-12 TEACHERS TO ATTEND ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF THE PACIFIC'S 120TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Abstracts due May 31; Sept. 12-16, San Francisco, Calif.
The 2009 ASP meeting will feature "Science Education and Outreach: Forging a Path to the Future." Hands-on workshops for formal and informal educators will be provided Sept. 12-13. The meeting proper will be held Sept. 14-16. Registration is now open and abstracts for presentations and sessions are due May 31.
Thanks to the generosity of the Spitzer Science Center, a limited number of $300 stipends will be available to K-12 educators who need additional support to attend. Instructions will be posted soon at: http://www.astrosociety.org/events/meeting.html.
(5) MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHER WORKSHOP: USING NASA OBSERVATIONS TO STUDY CHANGES IN CHESAPEAKE BAY
July 7-9, 2009; NASA Goddard, Greenbelt, MD
Aided by NASA’s remote sensing missions, scientists studying the Chesapeake Bay have made fascinating discoveries that have unlocked the unique history of the Bay and that can inform strategic plans for improving its future.
Cutting edge science observations from space will be integrated with classroom-ready lessons in this three-day workshop for middle school teachers. An overarching theme of the Bay’s place in space, time, and the Earth system will tie together lessons in geology (impact craters), land use change, air quality, and water cycle while looking at the long-ago past and into the future. Education specialists with NASA missions will provide a rich experience and a multitude of resources for learning more.
Limit 30 participants. No cost for participating in the workshop itself, but all must cover own expenses for travel, meals, and hotel. 10 rooms are being held until June 10 at Holiday Inn, Greenbelt.
Please register at this URL: http://education.gsfc.nasa.gov/bay
With other issues please send e-mail message with "Chesapeake Bay" in Subject Field to: Trena.M.Ferrell@nasa.gov
(6) TEACHER WORKSHOP ON USING EARTH SCIENCE DATA IN GRADES 6-12
July 8-9, University of California, Santa Barbara
The Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) is organizing a teacher workshop at the July 8-9 Federation for Earth Science Information Partners (ESIP) meeting in Santa Barbara. Participating teachers will attend the ESIP introductory plenary for one morning followed by an afternoon and second full day of workshop sessions featuring hands-on computer activities that demonstrate ways that Earth Science tools and data can be used in science classrooms. The sessions will be led by ESIP members from NASA, NOAA, EPA, USGS and CIMSS
To apply and reserve a $200 participation stipend, please send a short e-mail to Margaret Mooney at margaret.mooney@ssec.wisc.edu. For more information, visit http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/teacherworkshop/esip.
(7) XXII SATELLITE EDUCATORS CONFERENCE
Aug. 13 - 15, 2009; Los Angeles, Calif.
This annual conference is for educators interested in discovering ways to use satellites and related technologies as a vehicle for helping students appreciate and understand the complex interrelationships among science, technology, individuals, societies and the environment while developing and applying inquiry and technology skills to study authentic questions and problems. The conference is sponsored by NASA, NOAA and aerospace corporations. For more information, visit: http://www.SatED.org.
PREVIOUSLY BROADCAST
(8) NO BOUNDARIES NATIONAL COMPETITION FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS (Entry Deadline: May 15, 2009) - Students research and develop projects marketing NASA STEM careers to teens and are encouraged to enter their projects in the No Boundaries National Competition. For more information: http://www.noboundaries-stemcareers.com/.
(9) THE SUNDAY EXPERIMENT AT NASA GODDARD (MAY 17) – A two-hour open house is held the 3rd Sunday of each month from 1 to 3 pm for kids, families and teachers in the Washington, DC, area. Families participate in hands-on activities, demos and explore the Goddard Visitor Center. The May 17 event features Hubble Servicing Mission 4. For more information: http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/epo/families/sunday.php.
(10) FAMILY SCIENCE NIGHT AT NASA GODDARD (MAY 21) - REGISTRATION REQUIRED for this monthly program open to the DC metro area middle school kids and their families. May 21: Searching for Other Worlds and June 27-28: Family Science Night Overnight. For more information: http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/epo/families/fsn.php.
(11) 2009 EXPLORING SPACE LECTURES (MAY 27 AND JUNE 18) at the National Air and Space Museum, Washington, DC. These free lectures feature world-class scholars and include May 27 - Are We Alone? Searching for an Exoplanet Like Home http://www.nasm.si.edu/events/eventDetail.cfm?eventID=1218 and June 18 - Our Sun: is it a Steady Performer? http://www.nasm.si.edu/events/eventDetail.cfm?eventID=1219. Tickets are required. The lectures are also Webcast live and will also archived online.
(12) CLIMATE DISCOVERY ONLINE COURSES FOR EDUCATORS (June 18-August 9; Early registration by May 31) - The National Center for Atmospheric Research offers a series of seven-week online courses for middle and high school teachers that combine geoscience content, information about current climate research, hands-on activities and group discussion. The course fee is $225/course (register by May 31 and save $25). For more information: http://ecourses.ncar.ucar.edu.
(13) VIEW ATMOSPHERE FROM SPACE—WORKSHOP FOR MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS (June 23-24; May 1 registration deadline) – This University of Nebraska, Lincoln, workshop will provide an introduction to NASA’s satellite view of weather and climate to middle/high-school teachers. Each participant will receive free lunch, lodging and $100/day stipend to cover travel. For more information: Dr. Jun Wang, jwang7@unl.edu.
(14) SUMMER SCIENCE WORKSHOPS FOR K-12 EDUCATORS (June-July 2009) - Penn State University is offering summer workshops for K-12 educators on topics including: Earth’s history, renewable energy technologies, calculator-controlled robots, lunar exploration, extreme cosmic messengers and black holes. Participants earn 2 graduate credits and PA ACT 48 hours; free lodging, meals and partial travel support; and can apply for tuition subsidies. For more information: http://teachscience.psu.edu
(15) PUBLIC LIBRARY TOUR: VISIONS OF THE UNIVERSE - From Jan. 2009-March 2010, 40 public libraries are hosting “Visions of the Universe: Four Centuries of Discovery,” a traveling exhibition to mark the 2009 International Year of Astronomy. For more information: http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/visions/ or http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/ppo/programming/visions/visionsuniverse.cfm.
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EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
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(16) SUN-EARTH DAY ON FACEBOOK
Stay up to date on the latest developments, events, Web site additions, activities, podcasts and ideas related to Sun-Earth Day! It's a great place to share your ideas, thoughts and feedback with the Sun-Earth Day team. Access the NASA Sun-Earth Day Facebook page from the Sun-Earth Day Web site, http://sunearthday.nasa.gov, or by going to http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1529822880
(17) NASA EARTH OBSERVATORY FEATURE ARTICLE: SEA ICE
Polar sea ice grows and shrinks dramatically each year, driven by seasonal cycles. Habitat for wildlife and harbinger of changing climate, sea ice offers scientists important clues about the state of our planet. http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/SeaIce/
(18) NEW ARTICLES ON OCEAN MOTION WEB SITE
Ocean Surface Currents Impact Melting Ice Sheets
Dr. Robert Bindschadler, of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, has been monitoring the world’s great ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland for over 25 years. He and other scientists have been “awestruck” by what they have been witnessing over the past decade. Ice has been disappearing at an alarming rate. Read about the mechanisms that trigger the rapid loss of ice. Find out about the complex interplay between the atmosphere and the ocean that set these mechanisms into motion.
http://www.oceanmotion.org/html/impact/ice-sheets.htm
The Volvo Ocean Race Boats: How They Navigate the Ocean
he Race began on October 9, 2008 in Alcante, Spain with 8 sailboats and international crews of sailors. Next stop, Cape Town, South Africa with a finish after 9 legs, in Stockholm, Sweden. The sailors have encountered or avoided many of the major surface currents in the wold ocean. Learn about the challenges of Agulhas and the Japan current. Read about how the teams prepared for the race with specially designed boats and the weather forecast based on a carefully considered algorithm used to manage this around the world adventure.
http://www.oceanmotion.org/html/impact/volvo-interview.htm
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SCIENCE NEWS
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(19) NEW GAMMA-RAY BURST SMASHES COSMIC DISTANCE RECORD
April 28 – A gamma-ray burst detected by NASA's Swift satellite has smashed the previous distance record for the most powerful explosions in the Universe. Researchers are calling it "an incredible find" and a "true blast from the past."
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/28apr_grbsmash.htm?list1110881
(20) ‘DARK GULPING’ COULD EXPLAIN BLACK HOLES
April 23 – "Dark gulping" is a new hypothesis about how giant black holes might have formed from collapsing dark matter.
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/090422-dark-gulping.html
(21) DOUBLE DISCOVERY: SUPER –EARTH AND OCEAN WORLD
April 23 – Astronomers have made two amazing discoveries regarding the Gliese 581 solar system that indicate they may have found a solar system where alien life is possible.
http://astrobio.net/news/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=3110&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0
(22) CONTINENT-SIZED RADIO TELESCOPE TAKES CLOSE-UPS OF FERMI ACTIVE GALAXIES
April 23 – An international team of astronomers has used the world’s biggest radio telescope to look deep into the brightest galaxies that NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope can see. The study solidifies the link between an active galaxy’s gamma-ray emissions and its powerful radio-emitting jets.
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/GLAST/news/radio_telescope.html
(23) NASA SATELLITE DATA PREPARES FORECASTERS
April 22 – NASA’s SPoRT (Short-term Prediction Research and Transition) program brings data to life by putting it in the hands of people who can use it best--the National Weather Service forecasters who send us scurrying for cover when severe weather looms.
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/22apr_severeweather.htm?list1110881
(24) NASA’S KEPLER CAPTURES FIRST VIEWS OF PLANET-HUNTING TERRITORY
April 16 – NASA’S Kepler mission has taken its first images of the star-rich sky where it will soon begin hunting for planets like Earth.
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/kepler/multimedia/20090416.html
(25) THE SURPRISING SHAPE OF SOLAR STORMS
April 14 – For the first time, NASA spacecraft have traced the 3D shape of solar storms known as coronal mass ejections.
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/14apr_3dcme.htm?list1110881
(26) NASA HEADS UP MT. EVEREST
April 10 – NASA researchers are about to climb the slopes of the Earth’s tallest mountain to test exploration technologies they’ll need on the Moon and Mars.
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/10apr_because.htm?list1110881
(27) NASA HUNTS FOR REMAINS OF AN ANCIENT PLANET NEAR EARTH
April 9 – NASA’s twin STEREO probes are entering a mysterious region of space to look for remains of an ancient planet which might have orbited the Sun not far from Earth. If they find anything, it could solve a major puzzle—the origin of the Moon.
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/09apr_theia.htm?list1110881
(28) BEYOND APOLLO: MOON TECH TAKES A GIANT LEAP
April 8 –Next-generation lunar explorers are going to need new and improved tools for NASA’s return to the Moon.
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/08apr_apolloupgrade.htm?list1110881
(29) SATELLITES SHOW ARCTIC LITERALLY ON THIN ICE
April 6 – The latest Arctic sea ice data from NASA and the National Snow and Ice Data Center show that the decade-long trend of shrinking sea ice cover is continuing. New evidence from satellite observations also shows the ice cap is thinning as well.
http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/arctic_thinice.html
(30) MT. REDOUBT GIVES ALASKANS A TASTE OF THE MOON
April 3 – By coating the countryside with gritty, abrasive, electrostatically-charged volcanic ash, Mt. Redoubt is providing an unexpected taste of what it’s like to live on the moon. http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/03apr_lunarlifestyle.htm?list1110881
(31) DEEP SOLAR MINIMUM
April 1 –The Sun is plunging into the deepest solar minimum in nearly a century.
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/01apr_deepsolarminimum.htm?list1110881
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CALENDAR
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May 1 – Deadline for YouTube Astrophysics Video Contest, http://universeadventure.org/index/videocontest.htm - eligibility
May 1 – Registration deadline for View Atmosphere from Space Teacher Workshop, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, jwang7@unl.edu.
May 2 – Celebrate Space Day the National Air and Space Museum, http://www.nasm.si.edu/events/eventDetail.cfm?eventID=1031.
May 15 – No Boundaries Competition entries due, http://www.noboundaries-stemcareers.com/.
May 17 – The Sunday Experiment at GSFC, http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/epo/families/sunday.php.
May 21 – Family Science Night at GSFC, Searching for Other Worlds, http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/epo/families/fsn.php.
May 27 – Videoconference – NASA Explores Virtual Worlds, http://dln.nasa.gov/dln/content/webcast.
May 27 – Exploring Space Lecture—Are We Alone? http://www.nasm.si.edu/events/eventDetail.cfm?eventID=1218.
May 27-28 – Training Workshops for Afterschool Astronomy Program, http://universe.nasa.gov/afterschool.
May 30 – Top Stars, first round of entries due, http://topstars.strategies.org.
May 31 – Early registration deadline for Climate Discovery Online Courses, http://ecourses.ncar.ucar.edu
June 1-12 – 2009 Summer Institute on Climate Information for Public Health, http://iri.columbia.edu/education/summerinstitute09.
June 2 – NASA Public Lecture: Astrobiology: Life in Space, http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/events/events.html
June 3-4 – Training Workshops for Afterschool Astronomy Program, http://universe.nasa.gov/afterschool/
June 18 – Professional Development Webcast (teachers grades 3-8): The Story of Ocean Heat Storage, http://dln.nasa.gov/dln/
June 18 – Exploring Space Lecture, Our Sun: is it a Steady Performer? http://www.nasm.si.edu/events/eventDetail.cfm?eventID=1219.
June 23-24 – View Atmosphere From Space, middle/high school teacher workshop, jwang7@unl.edu.
July 7-9 – Middle School Teacher Workshop: Using NASA Observations to Study Changes in Chesapeake Bay, http://education.gsfc.nasa.gov/bay
July 8-9 – Teacher Workshop on Using Earth Science Data in Grades 6-12, http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/teacherworkshop/esip/
July 20-24 – NASA Planetary Science Summer School, http://pscischool.jpl.nasa.gov.
Aug. 3-7 – NASA Planetary Science Summer School, http://pscischool.jpl.nasa.gov.
Aug 13-15 – Satellite Educators Conference, www.SatED.org.
Sept. 12-16 – Astronomical Society of the Pacific’s 120th Anniversary Celebration, http://m1e.net/c?75116197-W8ceafm7URt2k%404112591-aRmfbHA4MuBmM
Sept. 16 – NASA Public Lecture: Tracking Severe Storms, http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/events/events.html
Oct. 13 – NASA Public Lecture: Dark Matter, http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/events/events.html
Nov. 17 – NASA Public Lecture: Update on Polar Ice, http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/events/events.html
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
NASA Science Mission Directorate: Larry Cooper, Stephanie Stockman and Ming-Ying Wei.
Editor: Theresa Schwerin, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), theresa_schwerin@strategies.org.
Writer: Catherine Fahey, IGES, catherine_fahey@strategies.org.
Contributions from: Jeannie Allen, NASA GSFC; Paula Arvedson, California State University; Emilie Drobnes, NASA GSFC; Andrew Fraknoi, Foothill College; Katie Hecker, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Sandra Henderson, UCAR; Anita Krishnamurthi, NASA GSFC; Elaine Lewis, NASA GSFC; Kirsten Meymaris, UCAR; Margaret Mooney, University of Wisconsin/SSEC; Heather Nelson, Pennsylvania State University; and Sara Tweedie, NASA HQ.