OSGC Educational Resources Blog

Scientists and Engineers for America (SEA) has a new website at: http://www.SHARP.SEforA.org  , which is an interactive wiki that tracks the science, engineering, and health policy stances of Congress as well as the presidential and congressional candidates.

Students can add information to the SHARP Network and call attention to the science issues that they consider important.  The site is free to use and edit, but one needs to register.  Students are invited to join SEA’s telephone conference on February 26 at 3pm at 1-866-228-9900, call in code: 640405.

Cornell University will be hosting a university-industry workshop on the integration of simulation technology into the engineering curriculum, July 25-26, 2008. This workshop should be of interest to all engineering faculty who use or would like to use simulation technology in their courses and projects. Participation from industry will include major engineering software vendors.

More information about the workshop is available at:
http://www.mae.cornell.edu/swanson/workshop2008/

The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. This program is open to US citizens and legal permanent residents and offers a competitive stipend as well as insurance, relocation, and travel allowances. This program offers one to three year postdoctoral fellowships designed to increase the involvement of scientists and engineers from academia and industry to scientific and technical areas of interest and relevance to the Navy.

This program has a rolling admission. Go to the ASEE Naval Research Laboratory Lab for details: http://www.asee.org/nrl/

Join NASA and NSTA for three free Web seminars developed in collaboration with Arizona State University. The seminars will focus on NASA’s Mars Exploration program and will target educators of grades 5-12. All Web seminars will include information and resources for educators available at NASA websites. With diverse backgrounds and experience, the presenters are space scientists, engineers and education specialists from NASA and ASU. During the live Web seminar, presenters will share their expertise and answer questions live from the participants.

The Mars Student Imaging Project

Join Paige Graff from Arizona State University’s Mars Education Program as she presents a free Web seminar about the Mars Student Imaging Project. MSIP gives teams of students in grades 5-12 through college sophomore level the opportunity to work with scientists, mission planners, and educators on the THEMIS (Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms) team at ASU’s Mars Space Flight Facility. Designed for educators of grades 5-12, the 90-minute seminar will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 28, 2008.

http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/JPL2/webseminar8.aspx

Exploring Mars with CRISM and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

Join Dr. Scott Murchie as he presents a free Web seminar about the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars instrument that is currently aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft in orbit around planet Mars. The CRISM is one of NASA’s high-tech “detectives” seeking traces of past and present water on the Martian surface. Designed for educators of grades 5-12, the 90-minute seminar will begin at 6:30 p.m. on March 6, 2008.

http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/JPL2/webseminar9.aspx

Using Earth to Explore Mars

Join Dr. Josh Bandfield and Brian Grigsby from Arizona State University as they present a free Web seminar that will compare and contrast Earth and Mars. Topics will include comparing features common to both planets and how to help students become familiar with planetary processes and landforms by integrating non-Earth examples. A Mars mission update will also be included. Designed for educators of grades 5-12, the 90-minute seminar will begin at 6:30 p.m. on April 3, 2008.

http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/JPL2/webseminar10.aspx

Join thousands of teachers, students and families around the globe Feb. 25-March 8, 2008, in a hunt for stars. Take part in this international event to observe the nighttime sky and learn more about light pollution around the world. GLOBE at Night is an easy observation and reporting activity that takes approximately 15-30 minutes to complete.

Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment, also known as GLOBE, is a worldwide, hands-on science and education program for primary and secondary schools.

For more information about the event, visit http://www.globe.gov/GaN/index.html . Please e-mail questions about this event to globeatnight@globe.gov .

“Floods and Flows: Exploring Mars Geology on Earth ,” a NASA-sponsored workshop for educators, will be held July 13-19, 2008. Spend the week with planetary scientists visiting the site of ancient Glacial Lake Missoula and tracing its flood waters through Montana, Idaho and into Washington. From these field experiences and accompanying classroom activities, participants will build an understanding of surface processes on Earth, including water flow, volcanism, glaciation and sedimentation. Attendees will extend their understanding to interpret what the features on the surface of Mars suggest about the past environments and history of the Red Planet.

The experience will be divided between the field and lab, where participants work with classroom-tested, hands-on inquiry-based activities and resources that can be used to enhance Earth and space science teaching in the classroom. Participants receive lesson plans, supporting resources and presentations. Applications are due April 7, 2008.

For more information about the workshop and to submit an application online, visit http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/fieldtrips/2008/floods20081st.shtml .

Visit with NASA representatives at NAA’s 2008 annual conference in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., March 12-14, 2008. Afterschool educators can attend a variety of NASA sessions with hands-on activities designed for all grade levels. Plan to visit the NASA booth to obtain education materials and information on how NASA resources can be used in out-of-school-time programs.

For a list of scheduled NASA-related workshops and sessions, visit http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/natl-afterschool-assoc-08.html  .

(From David Hogben, Vancouver Sun
Published: Wednesday, February 20, 200

WESTERN NORTH AMERICA - A piece of the heavens made a dramatic entrance into Earth’s atmosphere early Tuesday when a meteor transformed into a fireball streaked across the sky.

Early risers from Portland, Ore., to Kamloops reported seeing the spectacular white, orange and green fireball shooting west to east across the sky at about 5:30 a.m.

Read more at the following link: http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=1782ec8a-9973-4b99-aa0c-1791a33343d5

After a 13-day mission to the International Space Station, the Space Shuttle Atlantis returned home safely this morning, February 20, 2008.  The shuttle touched down at 9:07 am EST on runway 15 at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.  During the mission, the crew integrated the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Columbus laboratory to the existing space station. Crew member Daniel Tani, whose space station stay was extended to nearly four months due to the recent grounding of the shuttle, was finally able to return to Earth. Tani was replaced by ESA astronaut Leopold Eyharts.

For more details on the Space Shuttle Atlantis, please visit NASA’s website at http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

Dale Lowdermilk, Meteorite Collector and Lecturer with the Santa Barbara Astonomical Unit (SBAU), is conducting an exciting new Astronomy Essay Contest for children and young adults ages 5-18.  Assigned essay questions are based on age groups.  Hand written entries submitted with self addressed, stamped envelopes will receive fragments of stony meteorites!

To Learn more about the contest, including the official rules and essay questions, please visit the contest flyer on the first page of the following website:  http://www.dale93108.com/Meteor.html

Visit the following website for more information about the Santa Barbara Astronomical Unit, including upcoming events and tips for watching the skies:  http://www.sbau.org/