Accepted Education and Public Outreach Proposals For Cycle 4

The Cycle 4 Chandra EPO Peer Review, conducted jointly by NASA and CXC, was held in Cambridge MA on Oct. 23-24, 2002. A seven member panel representing science, education, museum, Forum, NASA mission and NASA management perspectives reviewed 19 proposals. Twelve individual PI proposals and 7 institutional proposals had been submitted, a record for Chandra EPO submissions. The overall quality of the proposals was high, which made the selection process quite competitive. Four individual proposals and three institutional proposals were selected for funding. An overview of the selected proposals follows.

Individual PI Proposals

1. Bright Lights Big City: Massive Galaxies & Supermassive Black Holes
   
   Science PI: Dr. Wil van Breugel, Lawrence Livermore Lab
   Education PI: Stan Hitomi, Exec. Dir., Edward Teller Education Center
   Education Partners:
   

   Edward Teller Education Center

   Science & Technology Education Program (STEP)

   
   Summary:

   Addresses the needs of rural and underserved communities within the Central Valley and Tri-Valley areas of California through teacher professional development and enrichment activities delivered through "Science on Saturdays" public presentations and "Hot Topics in Science" professional enrichment workshops. Materials will be aligned to national and state science teaching standards.

• For information, contact Stan Hitomi at (hitomi@llnl.gov)



2. A Star in Our Neighborhood
   
   Science PI: Prof. Joseph P. Cassinelli, Univ. of Wisconsin
   Education Co-I: Dr. Jim Lattis, U. Wisconsin Space Place
   Education Partner:
   

   U. Wisconsin Space Place

   
   Summary:

   Will create a solar observing outreach activity for school children and the public in 8 Wisconsin state parks utilizing UW-Eau Claire students interested in science education careers as presenters and facilitators. The solar observation experience will be used as the entry point to learning about the electromagnetic spectrum and stars. UW Space Place in Madison will develop a related exhibit and a teacher in-service module.

• For information, contact: James Lattis at (lattis@sal.wisc.edu)



3. The Chandra Student Research Program at the Pisgah Astronomical Instititue
   
   Science Co-I/EPO PI: Dr. Jonathan Keohane, North Carolina School of Science & Mathematics (NCSSM)
   Education Partner:
   

   Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute

   
   Summary:

   Initiate a 2-week, in-residence research program in multi-wavelength astronomy, with an emphasis on the X-ray band, at the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI), for 10 high school students. Non-resident opportunities introducing students to analysis with both radio and X-ray data have been conducted at both NCSSM and PARI. This program will combine the most successful aspects of prior initiatives.

• For information, contact Jonathan Keohane at (keohane@ncssm.edu)



4. Black Holes, Seeing the unseeable: A Planetarium Show at the Science Museum of Virginia
   
   Science PI: Prof. Craig Sarazin, University of Virginia
   Education Co-I: Dr. Edward Murphy
   Education Partner:
   

   Science Museum of Virginia

   
   Summary:

   Introduce science museum visitors to black holes through the development and production of a planetarium show at the Science Museum of Virgina.The show will discuss the properties of black holes, their origins, and the evidence from X-ray observations that black holes exist. In addition to the planetarium show, the staff will develop a study guide and classroom exercises that link the show to the Virginia Standards of Learning.

• For information, contact Edward Murphy at (emurphy@virginia.edu)

Institutional Proposals

1. Gear Up and Look with Chandra
   
   Institutional PI: Prof. Deepto Chakbaraty, MIT
   EPO Co-I: Dr. Thomas Pannutti
   Education Partners:
   

   GEAR UP in Boston

   Boston Museum of Science

   
   Summary:

   A partnership with the GEAR Up Boston initiative and the Boston Museum of Science to offer a two-week summer program to 100 rising 10th graders from the Boston Public Schools. The program will use the excitement of space science to boost urban teens interest in a variety of career and college opportunities. Chandra scientists will directly contribute to a series of science projects and activities designed to encourage curiosity, questioning and exploration.

• For information, contact Irene Porro at (iporro@space.mit.edu)



2. Creating Agents for Science
   
   Institutional PI: Dr. Ronald Elsner, NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center
   EPO Co-I: Mizi Adams, MSFC
   Education Partners:
   

   U. of AL, Huntsville, Institute of Science Education (ISEd)

   Huntsville Housing Authority Cultural Arts Conservancy

   Huntsville Weed and Seed (US Dept. of Justice)

   Chandra X-ray Center (CXC)

   Wright Center for Science Education (Tufts Univ.)

   
   Summary:

   In partnership with ISEd, and in coordination with an introductory Chandra workshop held by the CXC/Wright Center, train teams of scientists and teacher/facilitators in effective instruction techniques and astrophysical topics. Teams will present follow-on in-service workshop, and will work for 29 weeks during the coming school year with up to 15 students from economically underpriviledged areas. Students are referred through existing programs sponsored by the HHA Cultural Conservancy and the Justice Dept's Weed and Seed program.

• For information, contact Mitzi Adams at (mitzi.adams@msfc.nasa.gov)



3. New and Improved: the Future of the Penn State Inservice Workshops in Astronomy
   
   Institutional PI: Dr. Eric Feigelson, Pennsylvania State University
   EPO CO-I: Dr. Christopher Palma
   Summary:

   Expand Penn State Inservice Workshops in Astronomy to offer three, one-week courses for graduate credit . To the current 2 offerings, an additional course entitiled "Space Astronomy for Science Teachers will be added, focussing on the Chandra and Swift missions. At least partial funding will be provided to all participants. The application process furthers astronomy education by requiring that the applicant's school administrator submit a letter stating support for astronomy education in the school’s curriculum.

• For information, contact Christopher Palma at (cpalma@astro.psu.edu)