Tag: Science Activation

Maine Educators Re-Energized After Gathering

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2 min read Maine Educators Re-Energized After Gathering On February 28-29, 2024, 57 teachers, librarians, and out-of-school educators gathered for a two-day retreat organized and supported by members of the NASA Science Activation Program’s Learning Ecosystems Northeast project team. Based at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI), Learning Ecosystems Northeast (LENE) supports regional peer communities of educators who are working to co-develop data-rich climate learning experiences that span learning contexts. This high-energy leap-day retreat was held on the campus of the University of Maine Orono (a project partner) and…

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Eclipse Ambassadors off the Path: Reaching Underrepresented Audiences

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2 min read Eclipse Ambassadors off the Path: Reaching Underrepresented Audiences The NASA Science Activation Program’s “Eclipse Ambassadors Off the Path” project is a nationwide initiative that set out in September 2022 to prepare 500 communities on and off the central paths of the back-to-back solar eclipses in 2023 and 2024 to enjoy the science and wonder of this natural phenomenon. Led by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, this team partners with libraries, community centers, and more to match college undergraduate students and eclipse enthusiasts of all ages with…

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Eclipse Resources for Learners and Educators: Connecting the Eclipse to Astrophysics

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1 min read Eclipse Resources for Learners and Educators: Connecting the Eclipse to Astrophysics In anticipation of the upcoming total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, NASA’s Universe of Learning has created a webpage of astrophysics-related eclipse resources for learners and educators. The webpage shares information about two topics that align with eclipse science: gravitational lensing and exoplanet transits. The collection of resources includes articles, images, and videos to understand and explain the science. Additional activities allow learners to explore gravitational lensing and exoplanet transit science for themselves. Explore Resources…

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Enhancing Engagement: Strategies for STEM Professionals to Encourage Youth to Consider STEM Careers

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3 min read Enhancing Engagement: Strategies for STEM Professionals to Encourage Youth to Consider STEM Careers Check out the latest from the NASA Inspires Futures for Tomorrow’s Youth (NIFTY) NASA Science Activation project team! Led by Twin Cities PBS in St. Paul, MN, NIFTY is committed to broadening youth participation in STEM studies by providing opportunities for youth to interact with and learn from NASA STEM professionals. Building on initiatives like the SciGirls television series, online resources, and hands-on activities, NIFTY aims to change how young minds perceive science, technology,…

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Northern Maine Educators Prepare for Totality!

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2 min read Northern Maine Educators Prepare for Totality! More than 70 teachers, librarians, and informal educators from Aroostook County, Maine gathered to exchange ideas and make plans in preparation for celebrating the upcoming total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. Sponsored by the NASA Science Activation project Learning Ecosystems Northeast (LENE) and organized/hosted by Francis Malcolm Science Center (FMSC) in Easton, ME, these Trek to Totality events held on January 30 and February 13, 2024 included activity demonstrations by LENE partners, Gulf of Maine Research Institute and University of…

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Former STEM Enhancement in Earth Science Interns Receive Prestigious Awards

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3 min read Former STEM Enhancement in Earth Science Interns Receive Prestigious Awards The STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES) Summer Intern Program is a nationally competitive STEM program for high school students. The program provides selected students with exposure to Earth and Space research. Interns learn how to interpret NASA satellite data while working with scientists and engineers in their chosen area of work. This content knowledge, coupled with hands-on experiences, allows the intern to gain experience in authentic NASA research through field investigation and data analysis. Several former…

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Solar Secrets Unveiled: Planetarium Program Showcases Parker Solar Probe Discoveries

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2 min read Solar Secrets Unveiled: Planetarium Program Showcases Parker Solar Probe Discoveries In January, the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) hosted its monthly planetarium program, offering attendees an insightful journey into the study of our solar system’s star. On January 23, 2024, Dr. Nour Raouafi, project scientist of the Parker Solar Probe and astrophysicist at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), shared how the Parker Solar Probe is changing what we know about the Sun. Dr. Raouafi began by delving into the history of heliophysics, including Eugene…

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NASA SCoPE at AGU: Fueling Curiosity, Fostering Diversity

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2 min read NASA SCoPE at AGU: Fueling Curiosity, Fostering Diversity In December 2023, approximately 24,000 scientists from around the world gathered together in San Francisco, California to attend the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting. During this meeting, the NASA Science Activation team NASA Science Mission Directorate Community of Practice for Education (NASA SCoPE), facilitated key activities with the following goals: Broaden participation and representation of scientists attending the conference through travel grants. Provide science communications training to these early career scientists awarded travel grants. Provide opportunities for scientists…

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Growing Beyond Earth High School Student Wins the American Society of Gravitational Space Research Scholarship

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1 min read Growing Beyond Earth High School Student Wins the American Society of Gravitational Space Research Scholarship Growing Beyond Earth is a 6th-12th grade classroom-based citizen science project developed by Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in partnership with scientists at NASA, designed to advance NASA research on growing plants in space. It includes a series of plant experiments conducted by students in a Fairchild-designed plant habitat similar to the Vegetable Production System (Veggie) on the International Space Station. On November 18th, 2023, South Florida High School student, Leonardo Ravelo, was…

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International Colloquium on Space and Sustainability in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico

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2 min read International Colloquium on Space and Sustainability in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico Members of NASA Science Activation’s NASA Earth Science Education Collaborative (NESEC) were recently invited to present and participate as part of a space and citizen science panel session at the International Colloquium on Space and Sustainability, held at the Ciudad Creativa Digital’s Plataforma Abierta de Innovación in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. The Colloquium, held November 13 to 16, 2023, is a collaboration with NASA to foster discussion in Mexico about the current state of the use of Earth…

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