U of AZ Astronomy Camp Sessions
Do you know someone who would like to experience visible and infrared astronomy first hand in a fun and informative setting? The University of Arizona runs a highly successful decade-old Astronomy Camp program for teenagers and adults. Participants spend several nights observing with telescopes ranging in size up to 61" at two observatories in the Catalina mountains near Tucson, Arizona. The Camps emphasize hands-on learning. Guests control the telescopes and use instruments such as CCDs and IR imagers plus a spectrograph, and reduce data using IRAF, all with the constant guidance of an experienced staff of professional and amateur astronomers.
Two levels of Astronomy Camp are offered: beginning camp is designed for novices or those who particularly enjoy eyepiece observing; advanced camps concentrate on more quantitative investigations utilizing modern electronic imaging equipment. Please see the Astronomy Camp web page (ethel.as.arizona.edu/astro_camp/) for more information or contact one of the former staffers now at CfA (Kim Dow, Todd Henry, Eric Hooper). The 1998 dates for the Camps are: 4/3 - 4/5 and 10/17 - 10/19 for beginning adult; 6/9 - 6/16 for beginning teen; 6/19 - 6/27 for advanced teen; and 6/29 - 7/2 for teachers.
Science Education Department Series
Mark your calendars for Thursday, February 12, 11:00-12:15, Philips Auditorium. The Science Education Department will set up the Astronomy Department's portable STARLAB and take you on a tour of its potential for doing the same things a fixed planetarium can do. The portable STARLAB is an inflatable mylar igloo, with the capacity to hold approximately 25 students. There are several different projection cylinders, one of which will be selected for the presentation - the Starfield, Celestial Coordinates, Ocean Currents, Ancient Egyptians Legends, Ancient Chinese Legends, Weather, and others.
STARLAB's inventor, Phil Sadler, will give instructions for planetarium set up, suggestions for small group program presentations, and most importantly, how to get the monster back into the duffel bag!
If you plan to attend the SED discussion and luncheon afterwards, please notify Bruce Ward (495-5434; bward@cfa.harvard.edu).
Fourth Annual Pre-College Education Workshop for Scientists and Engineers
Please join the Space Science Institute April 5-8 as they host their 4th annual workshop on pre-college and informal science education in Boulder, Colorado.
The Workshop includes discussions and activities led by presenters who are experts on topics such as the current state of pre-college science education, cognitive development in children, elements of an effective science education program, and effective collaboration with schools. Presenters will be primarily professionals from the education community, but also will include two to three individuals from the scientific research and engineering communities.
For an application form or more information, please contact the Space Science Institute(www-ssi.colorado.edu/Education/ResourcesForScientists/ Workshops/1.html; 303/492-5184).
Summer Intern Program Reminder
Applications for the SAO Summer Intern program are due February 16th. See hea-www.harvard.edu/REU/REU.html for more information about required application materials. Call Kim Dow (496-7586) if you are interested in finding out about being an advisor or mentor for a student in the program. The SAO Summer Intern Program begins Monday, June 8th.
Spotlight on Project SPICA
Beginning in 1989, and continuing for six years, the Science Education Department held three-week summer institutes at the CfA, bringing together approximately 30 experienced astronomy educators from across the country. The participants presented their favorite astronomy activities for peer evaluation and inclusion as outreach resources. New classroom astronomy activities also were developed. The activities were selected based on ease of use, cost of materials, and the ability to accurately convey scientific concepts.
The teachers (with support of their schools) committed to serve as SPICA agents in their local area, presenting astronomy education workshops for their colleagues. There are currently 182 agents in 41 states prepared to provide support for astronomy education at the K-12 level. Over 700 workshops have been conducted, reaching over 13,000 teachers.
As a result of these efforts, a teachers' manual containing 37 of the best astronomy activities for grades 2-12 has been published. "Project SPICA: A Teacher Resource to Enhance Astronomy Education" is available from Kendall/Hunt Publishing, Dubuque IA (1-800-770-3544) ($19.95). The Science Education Department has some copies of the manual for review. An examination copy can also be obtained directly from the publishers (1-800-542-6657).
Volunteers Needed to Write for ASP's "Universe" Newsletter
For 10 years, the ASP's teachers' newsletter, "The Universe in the Classroom," has provided educators with easy-to-read primers on astronomical topics. It is sent free-of-charge to 14,000 teachers in 70 countries, and volunteers have translated it into 16 other languages. The demand for newsletters has outstripped our ability to write them and we need volunteers to write about 2,500 words on an astronomical topic for teachers. If you can help, please contact the Editor, "The Universe in the Classroom," at editor@aspky.org. The text of many past newsletters is available on the ASP web server at www.aspsky.org.
Interactive Workshops on the Annenberg/CPB Channel
The Science Media Group (SMG) has just completed a live interactive series of workshops called Mathematics: What's the Big Idea? Beginning on February 24, the SMG will be producing another live, interactive workshop series: Assessment in Math and Science: What's the Point? Using video clips from the Annenberg/CPB Math and Science Collection, participants will examine current assessment issues and explore strategies for assessment reform in their classrooms. Telephone, fax, email, and the Internet will enable live communication between in-studio guides and guests, and workshop participants nationwide. For more information, contact Nicole Stark (252-5700 ext. 753.)
Boston ATMs
The Amateur Telescope Makers of Boston (ATMs) will meet in Phillips Auditorium at 8:00 PM on February 12, 1998. Rick Sprenkle, author of NGCVIEW, will speak on the 'Techniques, Accuracy and Tradeoffs in Astronomical Software.' Rick will focus on the tradeoffs made between speed and accuracy in commercially available software.
Heads Up: Solar Eclipse
On February 26, 1998 the Western Hemisphere will be treated to a solar eclipse. The eclipse will be viewable from more than half of the United States (where it will be a partial eclipse), all of Central America, and most of South America (Colombian and Venezuelan viewers will see a total eclipse). For information on eclipses, safe viewing, and ideas for K-12 lessons, consult www.aspsky.org/html/tnl/17/17.html.
Upcoming Observatory Night
The next Observatory Night is Thursday, February 19. The
speaker will be Rudy Schild of the OIR Division who will give a talk entitled
"Rogue Planets and the Missing Mass." Doors open at 7:30 PM and the lecture
begins at 8:00 PM. Observatory Nights are free, but seating is on a first-come,
first served basis.