Filed under: Higher Education, OMSI, Webcasts | Tags: Anatomy, Art, Lectures, Medicine, Northwest, Oregon Health and Science University, Plastination, Presentations
OHSU and OMSI will proudly present a free Lecture Series in conjunction with the BODY WORLDS 3 Exhibit at OMSI event. Six lectures will be held at 7PM in the OHSU Auditorium in Portland, OR beginning in May with two focusing on bioethics. Over the next four months lectures and panel discussion will focus on biomedicine. Before and after each lecture presentation there will be time for attendees to talk to the experts, visit displays in the lobby and Great Hall of the Auditorium. The resource fair will begin at 6:00 – 7:00 and continue again after the lectures from 8:00 to 9:00. Please visit the following website to register:
http://bodyworlds.ohsu.edu/lectures.php
The lectures are geared to the general public and will feature researchers and practicing clinicians. The goal is to show the latest and best research in biomedicine and how that directly affects the well-being of each and every Oregonian, of all ages.
The Lecture from May 15, “A is for Anatomy: The Art and Science of Human Dissection” by Karmen Schmidt, PhD., OHSU, is currently available online.
Filed under: Best Practice, K-12, NSTA, Professional Development, STEM, Teacher Development
The NSTA New Science Teacher Academy is an initiative designed to encourage and support new middle and secondary school science educators in their first few years of teaching. Co-founded by the Amgen Foundation, this innovative professional development program aims to
- Strengthen quality science teaching
- Enhance teacher confidence and classroom excellence
- Improve teacher content knowledge
The Academy will initially support up to 200 science teachers across the nation this year.
There are two tiers of participation in the New Science Teacher Academy: NSTA Fellows and NSTA Associate Fellows. Both Fellowships include a yearlong immersion in a host of science-related activities and professional development opportunities. A comprehensive NSTA membership package and an NSTA funded trip to attend NSTA’s national conference are among the wide array of learning experiences available to participants. NSTA Fellows will also receive online mentoring with trained mentors who teach in the same discipline. Through the support of the Amgen Foundation, the selected candidates will be named Amgen–NSTA Fellows and Amgen–NSTA Associate Fellows. A selection committee comprised of NSTA leaders will choose the participants for the 2007–2008 Academy.
Promising first- and second-year teachers* can apply to become an Associate Fellow at the New Science Teacher Academy for a yearlong term with access to a wide array of professional development opportunities. *Applicants must be residents of one of the 50 states or four U.S. jurisdictions. The jurisdictions are Washington, DC; Puerto Rico; Department of Defense Schools; and the U.S. territories as a group (American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands).
The NSTA New Science Teacher Academy has a limited number of Fellowships available. Applications will be considered until all positions are allocated, no later than September 30, 2007.
Visit the NSTA Academy website to learn more and apply to become an Associate Fellow. Qualified educators from specific states may also apply for full Fellowship status:
http://www.nsta.org/academy/
Filed under: Higher Education, STEM, Scholarship, Student Opportunities, Workforce Development | Tags: Career Exploration, Diversity, Earth System Science
The MS PHD’S in Earth System Science Initiative provides minority undergraduate and graduate students with opportunities for increased exposure to, interaction with and participation in the Earth system science community. The Professional Development Program was carefully crafted utilizing community input, insight gained from the 2003 Ocean Sciences Program, as well as other efforts designed to engage minority students in science and engineering fields.
The Professional Development Program will engage 30 minority undergraduate and graduate student participants in a series of activities (conducted in three phases) designed to:
- Increase exposure to the Earth system science community, via participation in scientific conferences, mentoring relationships, virtual activities, and fieldtrips
- Enhance professional skills, grantmanship, oral and written communication
- Provide resources regarding future funding, education and career opportunities
- Facilitate networking opportunities with established researchers and educators
- Provide on-going interaction, communication and support via membership within a virtual community comprised of peers, junior- and senior-level researchers, and educators committed to facilitating the full participation of minorities in Earth system science.
Applications for 2007 are currently being accepted. Phase I of the 2007-2008 MS PHD’S Professional Development Program will occur December 8-14, 2007, in San Francisco. The deadline for completed student participant application packages is September 2, 2007.
Find out more and submit your application here:
http://www.msphds.usf.edu/app-opp.html
Filed under: Astronomy, Links to Other Resources, OMSI, STEM, Science | Tags: Blue Moon, Vesta
Blue Moon (courtesy of the OMSI Kendall Planetarium)
A blue moon is usually explained as a full moon, which occurs twice in the same month. In May 2007, it is on the 2nd (3:09 am) and 31st (6:04 pm). A blue moon occurs every 3 to 4 years, when the date for one full moon falls on or near the beginning of a calendar month so that the following full moon comes before the end of the same month.
There are several different meanings for the term ‘blue moon. ‘ The phrase ‘blue moon’ has been around over 400 years, but during that time its meaning has shifted around a lot. The earliest reference was cited in The Maine Farmers’ Almanac, 1937. The almanac states that when there were two full moons in a calendar month, calendars would put the first in red, the second in blue.”
In astronomy, as stated above, a ‘blue moon’ is the second full moon to appear in a single month. However, in meteorology, the correct definition of a blue moon is the physical explanation of why, on rare occasions, the moon appears blue. The scattering of moonlight causes a “blue moon” by smoke particulate. The red end of the spectrum is scattered more than the blue end of the spectrum, which causes light seen from the moon to look more blue: hence, a blue moon.
Despite the differences in meaning, in general terms, the rarity of seeing a moon that looks blue and/or the rarity of two full moons appearing in one month prompted the well-known saying “once in a blue moon,” which means something that happens very rarely.
Asteroid Vesta at its Best
On May 31, the brightest of all asteroids, 4 Vesta, will be at its brightest. As an added bonus, it will be at opposition with a distance of 1.14 A.U. or 105,969,712 miles. During late May, 4 Vesta peaks at an unusually bright magnitude 5.4, making it easy to spot with binoculars from the city, and an easy naked-eye object from fairly dark suburban skies. (The magnitude of the stars in Ursa Major, the Big Dipper, are about 1 to 3 and M13 Hercules Star Cluster is 7) The asteroid will be brighter than any time in the past 7 years and it won’t be this bright again until 2018.
Discovered by a German astronomer Heinrich Olbers in 1807, 4 Vesta is the third largest of all asteroids after Ceres and Pallas. In Roman mythology, Vesta was the goddess of hearth, home, and family. Although only 318 miles in diameter (about the size of Oregon) its high albedo makes it the easiest asteroid to spot. In the past 10 years, the Hubble Space Telescope has shown 4 Vesta to have a geologically diverse surface. 4 Vesta orbits the Sun once every 3.63 years.
On May 31, 4 Vesta will rise at 7:55 PM at 108 degrees azimuth (SE) and will reach transit (S) at 1:04 AM at altitude of 30 degrees. A bright full moon will be just 14 degrees away from the asteriod that same evening. Throughout the month of May and June, 4 Vesta will be about 9° northeast of Jupiter. Two days before opposition, May 29th, 4 Vesta will pass only 1° from globular cluster M 107 (telescope required).
Currently there are plans to visit 4 Vesta, as well as Ceres, using the unmanned mission known as DAWN. With a checkered history of cancellations and reinstatements – the most recent being in March 2006 – the spacecraft is now expected to be launched in June 2007. Using gravity assistance, the journey is expected to fly by Mars in March 2009, then onto 4 Vesta in October 2011. DAWN will the orbit 4 Vesta until April 2012, before breaking orbit and heading off to Ceres. The encounter with Ceres will start in February 2015 and continue its exploration for several months. This DAWN mission is expected to add much to our knowledge of the inner Solar System and towards some better understanding of the formation and origin of all asteroids.
Where is 4 Vesta? : http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=Vesta;orb=1
Hubble: http://hubblesite.org/gallery/album/entire_collection/pr1997027f/
OMSI: Check out the location of 4 Vesta in Pacific NW Skies in OMSI’s Planetarium.: http://www.omsi.edu/visit/planetarium/
Filed under: Best Practice, Educational Materials, Educator Institute, K-12, NASA, Professional Development, STEM, Teacher Development, Workshop | Tags: Educator Astronaut, Sally Ride Science, STS-118
Sally Ride Science, in partnership with Northrop Grumman and NASA, is offering an Educator Institute on June 12, 2007, at the Christa Corrigan McAuliffe Center at Framingham State College in Framingham, Mass. This one-day professional development program for upper elementary and middle school science teachers will focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM. The institute will include presentations about the STS-118 mission and first Educator Astronaut Barbara Morgan, hands-on workshops, and a keynote address by a NASA astronaut.
For more information and to register online, visit:
http://www.sallyrideeducators.com/
Filed under: Educational Materials, K-12, Lesson Plans, NASA, Professional Development, STEM, Teacher Development, Workshop | Tags: ITEA, STS-118
Elementary, middle and high school teachers are invited to join NASA and the International Technology Education Association’s one-day professional development workshops. Attendees will receive standards-based units complete with assessments and teacher resources that align with the upcoming STS-118 mission. Five workshops are being held across the U.S. during July and August 2007.
For more details and information on workshop registration, visit:
http://www.iteaconnect.org/EbD/HE/workshops.htm
Filed under: K-12, STEM, Science, Student Opportunities | Tags: Northwest, Saturday Academy, Summer Camp
Saturday Academy classes are for students in grades 2 – 12. The program provides adventures for the curious and the classes are for anyone who wants to explore new topics and likes to learn by doing. The classes are small, informal and project-oriented.
Students can explore a multitude of topics from science, engineering and technology to humanities and the arts. There are no tests or grades at Saturday Academy, and only occassionally are there prerequisites.
Classes are held throughout the Portland Metro area and are taught by professionals from many different fields. Instructors bring expertise in the subjects they’ve chosen to teach and excitement for helping students discover new ideas.
Visit the Portland Metro Saturday Academy Webiste at:
http://www.saturdayacademy.org/default.aspx
Filed under: Engineering, K-12, Oregon State University, Robots, STEM, Science, Student Opportunities | Tags: Computer Science, Lego, Math, Northwest, Saturday Academy, Summer Camp
Registration is now open for Saturday Academy classes at Oregon State University. Middle and high school students may choose a variety of workshops focusing on science, technology, engineering, and math skills in a fun and challenging environment. Courses offered this year include:
Harry Potter’s Secret Magic for Unfogging Future Challenges
Engineering Camp
Lego Robots for Everyone, Beginners (afternoon session)
Lego Robots for Everyone, Intermediate (morning session)
Summer Science Camp
Computer Comfort
Web Page & Animation
Algebra Prep
Calculus Prep
Saturday Academy is a non-profit, extracurricular, pre-college education program hosted by the College of Engineering at Oregon State University. The program enlists community professionals to share their facilities, equipment, and expertise through hands on classes, workshops and apprenticeships. Special emphasis is placed on the sciences, math and technology. Scholarship assistance is available.
Please visit the OSU Saturday Academy website for more information:
http://academy.engr.oregonstate.edu/
Filed under: Competitions, Environmental Science, Funding, K-12, Research, STEM, Scholarship, Student Opportunities | Tags: Climate Change
The Global Challenge – should you choose to accept it – is to create new science, technology, engineering, mathematics and business solutions that address Global Climate Change and the Future of Energy. In the Global Challenge, teams of US high school students collaborate with international counterparts from October to May to address global climate change.
Pre-registration for 2007-2008 is now open! Over 2600 students from 50 countries signed up and formed teams last year. Do you have what it takes?
“This is the toughest assignment you’ll ever give yourself in high school!” says a 2007 participant.
Students strengthen skills in math, science, engineering, and critical thinking, while learning about global business practices. All participating students ages 14-17 have the opportunity to receive assistance in admissions to boarding schools, colleges and universities and win significant college scholarships, awards and recognition.
Please visit the Global Challenge website for more information.
http://www.globalchallengeaward.org/
Filed under: Funding, K-12, Oregon State University, STEM, Scholarship | Tags: 4-H, Summer Camp
Oregon State University has been awarded a grant by the ExxonMobil Foundation and Harris Foundation to host a summer camp for middle school (entering grades 6- 8 ) students to attend a Summer Science Camp on the OSU campus on Corvallis, Oregon.
OSU is seeking 48 exceptional future scientists to begin the learning adventure this summer! Students are invited to apply for this two-week residential camp, to be held Aug. 5-17, 2007. The application deadline is May 25, 2007. All youth selected will receive full scholarships to attend. The estimated value is $1600.00 per young person.
OSU will offer innovative programs to enhance middle school students’ knowledge in all areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Work in labs, visit researchers and teaching professors, travel to the Oregon coast and the Cascade Mountains and enjoy a wide range of recreational options as well. While teaching subject matter skills, OSU is also encouraging students to stay in school and fostering leadership and citizenship. Students will live in the dorms with their assigned “camp family” including high school, college and adult staff.
The Summer Science camp will be conducted as a joint effort of the Department of 4-H Youth Development Education, the Science and Math Investigative Learning Experiences (SMILE) program, Science Math Education Department and the College of Engineering.
Selection will be based on academic commitment (not necessarily performance) and teacher recommendations. OSU hopes to receive applications from female students and students who belong to populations who are traditionally underrepresented in the fields of science and math.
The application process is simple, just print the application form and mail it to OSU by the May 25, 2007 deadline. Application information is available in English and Spanish.
For further information and counselor applications, please visit:
http://oregon.4h.oregonstate.edu/programs/events/techcamp.htm
