Reaching For the Stars: My NASA IYA 2009 Experience, Adam Goler

1. Reaching For the Stars: My NASA IYA 2009 Experience, Adam Goler American University, Washington DC MAJOR EVENTS ABSTRACT Science is a team sport. More and more, research groups are dependent on each other for inspiration and competition, both of which are necessary for advancement. Yet, science is becoming less and less popular in the public eye. Therefore, it is up to us scientists to rekindle the fascination of the public. Thus over the last year, in association with NASA's International Year of Astronomy, I have held several successful outreach events for a handful of schools in the DC area and have also begun volunteering at the National Air and Space Museum. From doing demos to writing lesson plans to judging science fairs, each has brought me closer to my community and hopefully brought my community closer to the stars. Outreach Event #1, Science Fair 24 February 2009 Approximately 50 students  In conjunction with a few members of the AU chapter of the Society of Physics Students, we volunteered to judge the MacFarland Middle School’s first ever science fair. About 50 students submitted projects on topics from astronomy and meteorology to other physical and health science projects. The goals for this project were to become familiar with one of the inner city public schools in order to foster connections for later events while simultaneously assisting this school’s science department in a fundamental way.  (Above left): One NASM Storytime Volunteer reads to an attentive crowd. Due to the volume of visitors to the museum, the headcounts for these events can range from a handful of children to well over fifty. (Above right): Discovery stations, like this one, are designed to spark the curiosity of visitors. Station operators strive to ask only questions and have the patrons come up with as many of the answers on their own as possible. This operator is demonstrating how gravitational lensing occurs. Outreach Event #2, The School Without Walls 2 March 2009 Approximately 20 students  This event was meant to be more formal in nature. My collaborators from the previous event were eager to help plan and execute this one. The primary goals of this event, aside from making connections with another local school for further events, was to try our hand at developing lesson plans involving demonstrations for high school students. The AP Physics class we visited, was studying electromagnetic theory at the time, so we developed a 2 hour lesson involving demonstrations, some of which were built by hand, as well as an applicable worksheet.  Our demos ranged from Van de Graff and Wimshurst generators to Tesla Coils and a Jacob’s Ladder. Besides fundamental concepts, we tried to highlight atmospheric and astrophysical examples of electromagnetism.  Outreach Event #3: Roosevelt High School 1 May 2009 Approximately 15 students    Planning for this event began in March when I was contacted by the Roosevelt High Environmental Science teacher, Amy Cahill, who offered us the opportunity to bring physics demos to show her class. That particular day they were planning working on a lab building windmills and measuring their efficiency. Our demo, which we gave before they began, showcased a number of different "types" of energies. Using our trusty Jacob's Ladder, Wimshurst Generator, and a few nifty solenoids, magnets and cranks, we demonstrated how energy can be converted from one form to another and how it can be used for various applications. Following this 10-20 minute demo, the students were given a chance to handle some of our equipment and then began their lab, with which we assisted. Beyond the relevance of the topic not just to science but to everyday life we wanted to give students the opportunity to see something that is extremely rare in DC public schools. (Above and below): Students from an Environmental Science class at Roosevelt High School go “hands-on” with demos of energy conversion. This event focused on different types of energy, how they are converted from one form into another as well as how they are used. Outreach Event #4: School Without Walls GSFC Visit 20 May 2009 Approximately 20 students    In addition to visiting the physics class at the School Without Walls in March, Eric Day and I were able to coordinate a tour for this class of some of the GSFC facilities. The goals of this tour were primarily to give a few students the opportunity to see something extraordinary, such as the Hubble Testing and Integration facilities. Aside from this, Eric Day and an associate of his gave the students information about NASA scholarships and opportunities for continuing high school students and college bound students.  (Above): Sixth-graders from MacFarland Middle School participate in the school’s first ever science fair. Approximately fifty students participated. Topics ranged from Earth and Health Sciences to Meteorology and Astronomy. SUMMARY The pursuit of outreach, like any scientific endeavor, is both extremely time intensive and engrossing as it is fascinating and rewarding. Just as with any serious project hard work and dedication are tantamount to success, but for the most part, major breakthroughs are earned over the course of decades rather than individual years. In this respect outreach is no different. My NASA 2009 IYA experience was a success in that I was able to make a difference in the daily lives of people of all ages and backgrounds to remind them to keep looking up. Especially as human space exploration faces an uncertain future, it is more important than ever for the next generation to reach for the stars. Outreach Event #5 (ongoing): National Air and Space Museum Volunteer began 1 June 2009 (approx. 4 hours per week) Approximately 50+ patrons per day   Volunteering at the Air and Space Museum gives me a unique opportunity to serve as the IYA ambassador in DC as well as work with patrons of all ages from all over the world. My focus will be to work as a Discovery Station operator in the "Explore the Universe" exhibit and also with the Early Childhood Development Program assisting in reading stories to preschool age children.