Teaching Einstein's Universe at Community Colleges

通过激光干涉引力波天文台（LIGO）对第一个引力波的预期探测将在观察宇宙的方式上创造一个范式转变，并证实爱因斯坦广义相对论的一个重要预测。该奖项的活动将为社区学院的教师和低年级的大学生提供以全新的方式观察宇宙的工具，并洞察LIGO令人生畏的技术挑战，及时欣赏预期的引力波首次探测。该奖项将为“LIGO学院教师资源网站”创造新的科学和技术内容。这些内容也将用于在线课程“向大学生教授爱因斯坦的宇宙”，该课程将为全国社区大学教师提供学术或继续教育学分。

The expected detection of the first gravitational waves through the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) will create a paradigm shift in the way the Universe is viewed, as well as confirming an important prediction of Einstein's Theory of General Relativity. The activities in this award will provide community college faculty and lower-division college students with the tools to view the Universe in an entirely new and different way and with insights into LIGO's daunting technological challenges, just in time to appreciate the expected first detections of gravitational waves.The award will enable the creation of new science and technology content for the "LIGO College Faculty Resource Website." This content will be also be used in the online course "Teaching Einstein's Universe to College Students" which will be offered for academic or continuing education credits to community college faculty nationwide.