Summer Workshops for Teachers in Astrobiology

Every summer, NAI teams and others host hands-on, in-the-field, in-the-lab workshops for educators. The workshops feature cutting edge astrobiology research delivered by astrobiology scientists and education professionals, as well as inquiry- and standards-based activities ready for your classroom. Below is a current list of offerings for Summer 2009:

Earth’s History: Interaction Between Life and the Environment
Produced by: Pennsylvania State University
Workshop Dates: 28 June – 2 July, 2009
Workshop Location: University Park, PA
Application Deadline: 31 May 2009

How did the Earth and its biosphere co-evolve? This workshop will focus
on interactions between life and its environment over the entire span of
Earth’s history with a special emphasis on Proterozoic Snowball Earth
episodes and Phanerozoic mass extinctions. Astrobiology concepts will be
highlighted throughout the workshop.

Astrobiology Laboratory Institute for Instructors
Produced by: University of Hawai’i
Workshop Dates: 6-11 July, 2009
Workshop Location: Oahu, HI
Application Deadline: 27 March 2009

This workshop, designed for secondary science teachers, will emphasize lectures and activities led by scientists, state-of-the-art lab tours, and professional development with the use of learning cycles for concept development. Teachers will review and do activities from the astrobiology curriculum Voyages Through Time. Registration fee is $50. Two University of Hawai’i graduate education credits will be offered for an administrative fee of only $110. A limited number of teachers from the continental US will receive a subsidy for room and board to defray expenses. Accepted teachers from Hawai’i will be fully subsidized.

Astrobiology Summer Science Experience for Teachers
Produced by: SETI Institute
Workshop Dates: 15 – 20 June, 2009
Workshop Location: San Francisco, CA

ASSET is a science and curriculum institute for high school science teachers focused on the 9th grade curriculum, Voyages Through Time (VTT). The ASSET experience will be intense and exciting, interactive and content rich, with presentations by leading astrobiology researchers from the SETI Institute, NASA, and California Academy of Sciences. Participants receive a copy of VTT. All expenses are covered by grant funds. Applications accepted January 5 – February 20, 2009.

The Heat from Within: Earthly Insights into Planetary Volcanism
Produced by: Lunar and Planetary Institute
Workshops Dates: 12-19 July, 2009
Workshop Location: Bend, OR (Crater Lake region)

Spend the week with planetary scientists investigating different types of volcanos in the Bend and Crater Lake regions of Oregon. Contrast these Earth-based analogs with volcanic features on Mars, the Moon, Venus, and even the moons of Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune! From these field experiences and classroom exercises, participants will build an understanding of the planetary processes that produce volcanos, and the patterns of volcanism on planets in our solar system. The experience will be divided between the field and lab, where participants work with classroom-tested, hands-on inquiry based activities and resources that can be used to enhance Earth and space science teaching in the classroom. Participants receive lesson plans, supporting resources, and presentations. A limited number of grants are available to cover registration. Applications are due April 7, 2009. Participants will be notified of their acceptance by April 14, 2009.