EVE Calibration for Education and Public Outreach

Mark McCaffrey, CIRES Outreach Program

Overview

Educational Partners Introduction Goals of EVE EPO-based upon NASA EPO documents and SDO review criteriaActivities Overview Key ConceptsKey ChallengesRoles of Science Team members Summary

EVE EPO PartnersFrank Eparvier (EVE Science Team)Susan Buhr and Mark McCaffrey(CIRES Outreach Program) Project management, coordination with NASA EPO, K-12 and after school educationDenver Zoo Win/Win (Wonder in Nature-Wonders in Neighborhoods)Karen Hunter (St. Vrain Valley School District) Integration with formal curriculum, after school program coordinator

International Science Years

POLAR-EQUATORIAL IONOSPHERIC AND MAGNETIC STORMS CHARACTERIZATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SPACE WEATHER PREDICTION- National University of Malaysia

NASA Goddard

Goals of EVE EPOExcitement: Communicate the excitement and importance of

this mission to education (formal K-12, informal, public);

Scientific Content: Integrate the scientific content areas of this mission —solar variability in EUV and other wavelengths, effect of solar variability on climate and technology, engineering innovations and satellite design—into educational venues;

Diversity: To contribute to the space science education and career awareness of educationally disadvantaged students;

Scientists: To engage EVE space scientists in education;

Coordinate: To coordinate with E/PO for Living with a Star and the Sun-Earth Connections Forum;

Evaluate and Disseminate: To peer-review and evaluate our products, and to disseminate to the widest possible audience.

The unique contributions of research scientists

Understanding of scientific inquirySubject expertiseReferences and supportConnections to other scientistsIntegration of research and education (2 way street)

“Just found out on Friday that I received a grant from McDonald's tocontinue my study of storm water which originated from discussions andreflect time last summer at Earthworks. This summer Frank (an Earthworks scientist volunteer) helped me with some ideas for this year's proposal and success.” CIRES Workshop participant

“My students couldn’t believe a real scientist had contacted their teacher, and then an even more important scientist contacted me. They would say ‘Shouldn’t we be doing our project? Isn’t that guy going to want our results?’” [7th grade teacher, EW 2000]

Activities OverviewCoordination (CIRES)/ collaboration with NASA EPOContributions to Denver Zoo and their education programsIntegration with formal K-12 curriculum (St. Vrain Valley School District)Mathematics, Science and Engineering Achievement (MESA) after school program Engagement of research scientists and engineersEvaluation and dissemination

Integration with K-12 education

Focus on solar science topics within on-going district systemic work (Buhr, McCaffrey).Define and link relevant content standards throughout St. Vrain Valley School District curriculum (K Hunter). Develop classroom kits for use by scientists at all EVE sites.Provide professional development for teachers/scientists.Disseminate as a model to other school districts

St. Vrain Valley School District students studying the physics of

motion.

Mathematics, Science and Engineering Achievement (MESA)

Karen Hunter, MESA coordinator for four local districtsMESA is a nation-wide program.Academic after-school program for educationally-disadvantaged students (grades 6-12)Develop engineering and solar science curriculum Researchers visit sites.Disseminate to national MESA..

MESA students doing rocketry activities with Space Grant.

“I am still having a hard time coming up with ideas of what to do during the meetings. I do not have any lab equipment to use, which makes things hard. I want to make it fun and informational at the same time if possible. Any ideas?” (MESA advisor, 2001)

Overall CoordinationPhase A PlanningOversight and coordination, integrating programs.Initiate project evaluation and prepare reports.Engage and communicate with science team members.Coordinate with national Living With a Star EPO efforts.Take part in Sun-Earth Connections Forum activities and meetings.Subject products to peer review, disseminate to broad audiences.

Key Concepts (?)

Magnetosphere Radiation Belts (Van Allen and tie-in with IGY)ThermosphereIonospherePlasmaOzone layer (and holes)Schumann Resonance Sputnik- 50 years (Where will you be Oct 7, 2007?)RocketryEM Spectrum (and spectrographs)Global Electric CircuitCalibrationUncertainty (Living With…)

Electromagnetic Spectrum

Key ChallengesScientists Journalism/Education

Human drama and experience

Narrative and Metaphor rule

Cause/effect?

Use of vernacular terms (emotional)

Seek certainty and closure

Inquiry (doubt/skepticism)

Probability/Statistics rule

Limits of causality

Use of Latin terms (exact)

Uncertainty OK

Standards & Testing Drive K12 Science Education

STORY

CONCEPT

SUBJECTIVE OBJECTIVE

Data/Observations

First Person Narrative Journalistic Story

Personal Opinion

Role of Science TeamFit in where strengths and interests lead.Can include everyone: engineers, graduate students, post-docs.Work with EVE EPO team in preparation for education work (workshop, communication).Provide scientific accuracy oversight.Provide data and/or graphics.Visit classrooms and/or MESA sites.Contribute to career awareness-stories, photosTake part in professional development workshops Contribute ideas for hands-on activities and professional development.

Voice opinions and ideas

SummaryThe project plan meets all NASA EPO criteria.EVE EPO impacts all educational sectors in an integrated and cohesive way.EVE science content is relevant to the needs and interests of varied educational audiences.Researcher input is essential throughout the project.

http://cires.colorado.edu/~k12