2003 Graduate Student Summer Program in Earth System Science (GSSP) - he Goddard Space Flight Center's Earth Sciences Directorate, in collaboration with the Goddard Earth Sciences and Technology (GEST) Center with headquarters at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, is offering a limited number of graduate student research opportunities. The program is scheduled for June 9 to August 15, 2003, and is designed to stimulate interest in interdisciplinary Earth science studies by enabling selected students to pursue specially tailored research projects in conjunction with Goddard scientific mentors. This year's theme and introductory seminar series will be Radiation Effects of Aerosols and Clouds on Climate.
(Added: 23-May-1999 Hits: 812) [Spider search][grade levels: post-secondary]
Air Pressure - The force exerted on you and things around you by the
weight of tiny particles of air (air molecules) is called air
pressure. Although air molecules are invisible, they still
have weight and take up space. Air pressure makes it
possible to fly in airplanes and keeps our bodies from
exploding! Find out how air pressure affects you and why
it's important.
(Added: 28-Jun-1999 Hits: 2810) [Spider search][grade levels: 3-5|6-8]
Ames Aerospace Encounter - NASA Ames Research Center hosts fourth, fifth, and six grade classes in an interactive, hands-on
program, entitled the Ames Aerospace Encounter. Located in a renovated supersonic wind tunnel, the
Aerospace Encounter involves students in activities focused around four topics: aeronautics, space science,
living and working in space, and Earth system science.
In the Earth science section, children work with a variety of scientific information collected by aircraft and
spacecraft. The Earth system science tutorial features images of Earth taken from aircraft and satellites.
The students find their way from space to Moffett Field, California by identifying specific geographic
features in these remotely-sensed images. In Aeronautics, students learn about the principles of flight,
wind tunnels, and use computers to design airplanes. In the Space Sciences section youngsters experience
some of the basics of physics in fun physical ways. Young people become astronauts on a simulated space
station with different experiments to complete.
NASA Ames Research Center hosts fourth, fifth, and six grade classes in an interactive, hands-on
program, entitled the Ames Aerospace Encounter. Located in a renovated supersonic wind tunnel, the
Aerospace Encounter involves students in activities focused around four topics: aeronautics, space science,
living and working in space, and Earth system science.
In the Earth science section, children work with a variety of scientific information collected by aircraft and
spacecraft. The Earth system science tutorial features images of Earth taken from aircraft and satellites.
The students find their way from space to Moffett Field, California by identifying specific geographic
features in these remotely-sensed images. In Aeronautics, students learn about the principles of flight,
wind tunnels, and use computers to design airplanes. In the Space Sciences section youngsters experience
some of the basics of physics in fun physical ways. Young people become astronauts on a simulated space
station with different experiments to complete.
The Ames Aerospace Encounter is free; groups are accepted on a space-available basis for this popular
program.
(Added: 5-Feb-2001 Hits: 1015) [Spider search][grade levels: 3-5|6-8]
CERES S'Cool Project - S'COOL - Students' Cloud Observations On-Line - is a project which involves school children in real science. They provide ground truth measurements to assist in the validation of the CERES instrument. They can also compare the surface- and space-based observations to learn more about clouds and climate.
(Added: 2-Nov-2001 Hits: 809) [Spider search][grade levels: 3-5|6-8|9-12]
Challenger Center for Space Science Education - Challenger Center for Space Science Education is an international, not-for-profit education organization
created in 1986 by the families of the astronauts tragically lost during the Challenger space shuttle
mission. Using space exploration as a theme, the Center's highly acclaimed programs inspire students to
pursue math, science, and technology studies, while at the same time helping them develop critical life
skills.
The organization launched the Challenger Learning Center Network in 1987. Learning Centers use
technology-rich educational environments to create hands-on and minds-on learning experiences. They
offer a variety of programs, from mission simulations for students to professional development workshops
for instructors. Each year, more than 300,000 students visit 37 Challenger Learning Center sites across the
United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Challenger Center for Space Science Education has developed the four flight scenarios offered at
Challenger Learning Centers. Voyage to Mars, Encounter Earth, Return to the Moon, and Rendezvous
with a Comet allow students to rev up their imaginations and transform themselves into astronauts,
scientists, and engineers. All four scenarios, which meet or exceed National Science Education Standards,
were developed with NASA engineers and scientists to ensure an authentic experience.
Mission scenarios and fees vary by location. Groups of up to 38 individuals are accepted on a
space-available basis. Log on to www.challenger.org for the Learning Center nearest you.
Contact: Challenger Center for Space Science Education, 1250 North Pitt Street, Alexandria, VA 22314;
Phone: (703) 683-9740 or 1-800-98-STARS; Fax: (703) 683-7546
(Added: 23-May-1999 Hits: 1496) [Spider search][grade levels: 3-5|6-8]
Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative - The Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative is a Mid-Atlantic Space Grant Consortia initiative involving
K-12 students. Utilizing a hydrology-based scientific experiment, students determine if possible causes
and effects of changes in nutrient levels in tributaries of the Bay can be correlated with weather phenomena
and/or remotely-sensed changes in land cover or use. Teams of students with varying levels of expertise
measure, code, and electronically report in situ observations of water quality, compile weather information
and analyze Landsat satellite imagery to investigate nutrient changes in time and space. Code forms and
observation are transportable nationwide.
Contact: Anne Anikis, Assistant Director, Maryland Space Grant Consortium, The Johns Hopkins
University, Bloomberg Center for Physics and Astronomy, Room 203 , 3400 N. Charles Street, Baltimore,
MD 21218-2686; Phone: (410) 516-7106; Fax: (410) 516-4109; Email: anne@pha.jhu.edu
(Added: 5-Feb-2001 Hits: 1156) [Spider search][grade levels: 3-5|6-8|9-12]
Data, Analysis and Measurement: Ahead, Above the Clouds - NASA CONNECT is a series of free, 30-minute, standards-based instructional distance learning programs for students in grades 5-8. Each program is accompanied by an educators' guide describing a hands-on classroom activity, and a Web-based component that reinforces the learning objectives and extends the lesson into a technology-rich environment. In "Ahead, Above the Clouds" students learn about hurricanes and how meteorologists, weather officers, and NASA researchers use measurement and data analysis to predict severe weather such as hurricanes. See also NASA CONNECT Video Program at: http://connect.larc.nasa.gov
(Added: 2-Nov-2001 Hits: 1609) [Spider search][grade levels: 3-5|6-8]
Earth Observatory - WWW site where the public can obtain new satellite imagery and scientific information about Earth, focusing on climate and environmental change. Visit the Earth Observatory to read feature articles on wide-ranging Earth system science topics, as well as see the latest images, media alerts, and summaries of Earth science headlines from radio, newspaper, and television. The Experiments section includes classroom activities and experiments.
(Added: 2-Nov-2001 Hits: 1224) [Spider search][grade levels: 9-12|all]
Echo the Bat - The Adventure of Echo the Bat is a program with both online and classroom components. The first unit, Understanding Light, provides a foundation for remote sensing and introduces the electromagnetic spectrum. The unit on Remote Sensing includes the Adventure of Echo the Bat, which is an interactive Web site allowing students to follow Echo the Bat as he migrates through Arizona. The adventure offers a directed and investigative approach to how land features look from space, what the colors mean in a Landsat image, and an introduction to identifying habitats in a false color Landsat image. Students go on to identify features in other satellite images using both images off the Web site and other textual resources. A unit follows on biodiversity covering topics such as food chains, food webs and the Nature Mapping program. The site is supported with a teacher's guide that includes lesson plans, classroom activities, and reproducibles. The units can also be utilized outside the program as supplemental activities within a required curriculum. All materials are available free on the Web. Recommended level:Grades 5-8.
(Added: 22-May-1999 Hits: 1318) [Spider search][grade levels: 3-5|6-8]
