The Broader Impact of NRAOThe Broader Impact of NRAO•Enlarge the pipeline of students ready to enter Enlarge the pipeline of students ready to enter college and graduate with a degree in STEM college and graduate with a degree in STEM (NAS, 2007).(NAS, 2007).

•Increase the number of well-qualified and highly Increase the number of well-qualified and highly effective STEM teachers in the classroomeffective STEM teachers in the classroom (NSB, (NSB, 2007).2007).

•Involve students in research/inquiry-based Involve students in research/inquiry-based science.science.

•IIncrease appreciation for Radio Astronomy, and ncrease appreciation for Radio Astronomy, and the NRAO locally, regionally, nationally.the NRAO locally, regionally, nationally.

Who What Funding Impact

Students WV Governor's School WV EPSCoR (2005-present) 60 students/year

Field Trips, Institutes free 3500 in 2008, 2400 used the 40 Foot

High School Mentorship free ~40 high school students

REU NSF 25 undergrads since 1991, many more!

PSC NSF 90 students in summer, 1800 total impact

Public Tour Program marketing funds WV Tourism ~48,000 in 2008

StarQuest Star Party Fees ~150/year (2004-present)

Society of Amateur Radio Ast. Space is Free ~60/year (1985-present)

Outreach Mountain Radio Astronomy show produced by NRAO ( 2004-2007) reaches 10,000 people, plus podcast

Quiet Skies NASA IDEAS grant 600+ students per year

NRAO Ambassadors-IBT SARA, NRAO (2006-present) 1400+/year

Cosmic Radio Show Corp. of Public Broadcasting ? offered nationally, NRAO website

GBT control room webcasts 400 kids/year

IYA 365 Days of Astronomy podcasts shooting for >1 million downloads

Around the World in 80 webcast 2-3 K simultaneous vewers, >100K total

NEW

pending.. Radio Skynet NSF (UNC led) MRI proposal public use of 20 meter telescope

Overview of EPO Programs at NRAO-Green Bank

Teacher ProgramsTeacher Programs

• Core Core experience:experience: Scientific Research on the 40 Ft. Scientific Research on the 40 Ft. telescope.telescope.

• Team research/NRAO scientist mentorsTeam research/NRAO scientist mentors

• Astronomy contentAstronomy content

• Research talksResearch talks

• In-depth toursIn-depth tours

• Classroom applicationClassroom application

• Proven to change teacher practices in the classroomProven to change teacher practices in the classroom..

Pulsar Search CollaboratoryPulsar Search CollaboratoryNSF ITEST:

“…increase the opportunities for students and teachers to learn about, experience, and use information technologies within the context of STEM courses.”

• involves teachers and students in the search for new involves teachers and students in the search for new pulsars.pulsars.

• ““Distributed community of researchers”.Distributed community of researchers”.

• Partnership between WVU physics, computer science, Partnership between WVU physics, computer science, and education d departments, WV EPSCoR, and and education d departments, WV EPSCoR, and NRAO.NRAO.

• 60 teachers, 1800 students60 teachers, 1800 students

Program ElementsProgram Elements

– Summer residential program at NRAO: PSC LeadersSummer residential program at NRAO: PSC Leaders• 10 day teacher institute (20)• 6 day experience for teachers and students (30)

– Academic Year ActivitiesAcademic Year Activities• Whole class activities• School based Collaboratory Team (~5-10 students)

– Capstone PSC seminar at WVUCapstone PSC seminar at WVU• Poster presentations, student and professional talks.• Tours and activities of WVU STEM schools.

– Students can remain in PSC throughout high school career. Students can remain in PSC throughout high school career. Undergraduate credit Undergraduate credit available!!!available!!!

Student ProgramsStudent Programs• Overnight (or longer) field trips• Extended tours• 2000 students have used the 40 Foot telescope over

the past 12 months.• Grade School to Grad School

West Virginia Governor’s SchoolWest Virginia Governor’s School

Goal: to encourage students’ interest in STEM careersbefore they enter high school.

60 rising freshman/year.

Public Public ProgramsPrograms

•Tour ProgramTour Program•Star Quest Star PartyStar Quest Star Party•SARA ConferenceSARA Conference

2008: $41,000 matching 2008: $41,000 matching grant from WV Division of grant from WV Division of Tourism to market the Green Tourism to market the Green Bank Science Center.Bank Science Center.

•Web ads on online news Web ads on online news outlets;outlets;•Brochures;Brochures;•Trade shows;Trade shows;•Direct mail.Direct mail.

•Open Year RoundOpen Year Round•Free Public ToursFree Public Tours•Green Bank Science CenterGreen Bank Science Center•Special Events every monthSpecial Events every month

Tour ProgramTour Program

… good to the last drop

Virginia…

… I can’t believe I ate the whole thing.

Brylcream…

…NRAO???

Outreach—fill in the blanksOutreach—fill in the blanks

Quiet SkiesQuiet Skies

Students will:

• Measure interference levels at schools and in communities;

• Reduce and transmit data to an NRAO data base;

• Debate how the spectrum should be allocated.

Goal: to promote student aware-Goal: to promote student aware-ness of radio astronomy and radio ness of radio astronomy and radio frequency interference through an frequency interference through an inquiry-based research project. inquiry-based research project.

Quiet Skies Detector

North America at Night

NRAO NavigatorsNRAO NavigatorsGoal: to train outreach volunteers to spread Goal: to train outreach volunteers to spread the word about radio astronomy and NRAO.the word about radio astronomy and NRAO.

Navigator David Fields with youth group in Tennessee

November 2008:-- 44 Night Sky Network clubs and a record 102 participants, tuned in for a training telecon.

Tune Into the Universe Tune Into the Universe Cosmic Radio Cosmic Radio

• Funded by the Corporation for Funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, though a Public Broadcasting, though a local station. (~$10,000 plus in-local station. (~$10,000 plus in-kind)kind)

• 26 3-minute shows26 3-minute shows• Aired 2008.Aired 2008.• Also available at www.nrao.eduAlso available at www.nrao.edu

CD marketed to ~500 NPR affiliated radio stations