What ARE Astronomers Doing?: A Project for MPS Internships in Public Science Education

AST-0227870海门威，玛丽凯基金被授予博士玛丽凯海门威在得克萨斯州大学奥斯汀生产一个网站和博物馆亭，将描述和解释天文学家如何进行天文研究。 具体而言，该项目将帮助成年人了解天文学家如何在一个主要的天文观测站进行研究;帮助学生探索天文研究，设备和职业;引导科学教育研究生，实习教师和其他K-12教师更深入地了解天文研究，同时加强与天文学家的联系;并给天文学家一个有组织的方式与公众分享他们的研究。该网站和信息亭将打开一个日历，概述麦克唐纳天文台每个主要研究望远镜的研究计划。 与相关访问者友好页面的链接提供了关于使用望远镜的天文学家的信息;关于望远镜的信息，包括其仪器和操作;为每个特定项目使用所选仪器的理由;以及天文学术语表。 主要观众将是1,500名教师和他们的15万名学生使用“StarDate/Universo in the Classroom”。“项目团队包括天文学公共宣传和教育专家，天文研究专家，科学教育研究生和K-12教师。 该小组还将与具有类似外联任务的其他机构分享该项目的设计和模板。 一个国家教育咨询委员会将在项目发展过程中对其进行评估。 计划中的评估方法包括访问使用资讯站的天文台访客，以及调查教师和学生使用网站的情况。该项目得到了数学和物理科学理事会多学科活动办公室的支持。

AST-0227870Hemenway, Mary KayFunds are awarded to Dr. Mary Kay Hemenway at the University of Texas at Austin to produce a web site and museum kiosk that will describe and explain how astronomers perform astronomical research. Specifically, the project will help adults understand how astronomers perform research at a major astronomical observatory; help students explore astronomical research, equipment, and careers; lead both a Science Education graduate student, a teacher intern, and other K-12 teachers to a deeper understanding of astronomical research while enhancing their contacts with astronomers; and give astronomers an organized way to share their research with the general public. The web site and kiosk will open with a calendar outlining research scheduled on each of the major research telescopes at McDonald Observatory. Links to related visitor-friendly pages provide information on the astronomers using the telescopes; information on the telescopes, including their instrumentation and operation; rationale for using the chosen instrument for each particular project; and a glossary of astronomy terms. The primary audience will be the 1,500 teachers and their 150,000 students using "StarDate/Universo in the Classroom." The project team includes experts in astronomy public outreach and education, an astronomical research expert, a graduate student in Science Education, and a K-12 teacher. The team will also share the project's design and templates with other institutions with similar outreach missions. A national Education Advisory Board will evaluate the project as it develops. Planned evaluation techniques include interviewing Observatory visitors who use the kiosk, and surveying teachers about their and their students use of the web site. This project is supported by the Office of Multidisciplinary Actitivies in the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences.