Science Outreach Center at the University of Virginia

1. Science Outreach Center at the University of Virginia Edward M. Murphy University of Virginia Department of Astronomy

2. Astronomy Outreach Faculty Position • Teach undergraduate class for non-science majors • Manage and expand the education and outreach program • Limited time for science research activities • Non-tenure track position

3. E/PO Program Summary • The Astronomy E/PO program currently targets three areas: • Undergraduate education • Public outreach • Public night program • Partnerships • K-12 education • Science Center at McCormick Observatory

4. Public Outreach Program • Informal science education • Public night program at McCormick Observatory • Exhibits highlight department research • Exhibits and programs at other museums • Science Museum of Virginia • Space Travels exhibit • Planetarium shows • Virginia Discovery Museum • Classes for the community • SCPS personal enrichment classes • Jefferson Institute for Life-long Learning

6. K-12 Education Program • Formal science education • Outreach programs to local schools • School field trips to McCormick Observatory • Speakers for in-school lessons • Teacher professional development • Space Science for Teachers • Two-week, professional development workshop for in-service teachers • Virginia Earth Science Collaborative

7. Summer 2005

8. Science Education Center Goals • Expand outreach faculty model to other departments and schools • Expand existing E/PO programs • Develop new E/PO programs and E/PO infrastructure • Involve undergraduate and graduate students in outreach programs. • Diversify and increase visitation.

9. Science Education Center Goals • Develop structures to facilitate outreach partnerships. • Highlight the scientific research conducted at the University of Virginia.

10. E/PO Programs • Teacher Professional Development • Summer and academic year workshops • “Science Saturdays” • Science classes for pre-service teachers • Masters Degrees for teachers • Kit based science • Host and refurbish Engineering Teaching Kits and FOSS kits • Provide teacher training and resources for using kits in the classroom.

11. E/PO Programs • Collaborations • Local school systems • School of Education • Musuems • Develop and host personal enrichment and lifelong learning classes • Collections (preservation and display) • “Pre-packaged” Outreach Programs

12. “Pre-packaged” Outreach Programs • Challenger Center • Multidisciplinary • Exciting, engaging, hands-on • Dolan DNA Learning Center • Genetics education program • Science on a Sphere

13. Challenger Learning Center

14. Dolan DNA Learning Center

15. Science on a Sphere

16. Administration • Executive Director • Reports to the Associate Dean for Science in the College of Arts and Sciences • Advised by the Science Outreach Center Advisory Board • Board members are stakeholders from the University and local community • Programs committee • Financing committee

17. Personnel • Science Outreach Faculty • Goal is to raise endowments for science outreach faculty members in each department • Science Outreach Center Staff • Support staff will assist faculty members in carrying out outreach programs • Executive Director • Assistant Director for Education • Educators • Administrative Assistant • Curator

18. Annual Budget • Staff $300,300 per year • Requires an endowment of $7 million • Operations (not programs) budget $50,000 per year

19. Facilities • Our facilities plans call for: • Renovating McCormick Observatory to provide full access to persons with disabilities. • Renovating Alden House to provide program space, office space, and storage. • Developing adequate parking. • Landscaping and science garden.

20. McCormick Observatory

22. McCormick Refractor

24. Renovation/Endowment Funding • Capital campaign • Naming of the science outreach center • Naming parts of the science center • Purchasing “pre-packaged” outreach programs • Endowing faculty and educator positions • Endowing teacher workshops • Funding programs and exhibits • Foundations

25. Renovation/Endowment Funding • Save America’s Treasures program of the National Park Service and the National Trust for Historic Preservation • Historic Renovation Tax Credits • Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) Grants • University funding

26. Program Funding • Program charges • State grants • Department of Historic Resources State Grant • NCLB Title 2 Improving Teacher Quality grants • Mathematics and Science Partnerships grants • Foundations

27. Program Funding • Federal grants • National Science Foundation • Informal Science Education • Communicating Research for Public Awareness • GK-12 Program • NASA E/PO Supplemental Grants • Institute of Museum and Library Sciences • Annual gifts • Friends of McCormick Observatory

28. Thomas Jefferson