Nationwide Preparation for the Eclipse of 21 August 2017

2017年8月21日，日全食将从俄勒冈州到南卡罗来纳州穿越美国。数百万美国人将目睹月球完全遮挡太阳的日全食，北美超过5亿人将经历日偏食。在这个项目中，美国天文学会（AAS）将组建一个伞状组织，由一个日食项目经理、一个集中的资源网站和一个小型拨款计划组成，以协调和促进地方和国家的活动，向公众普及这一罕见事件的科学知识。该项目将利用这种迷人的美来吸引尽可能多的人参与科学的努力。该项目将涉及科学家、教育工作者、业余和专业日食观测者，共同制定广泛的计划，开展独特的外展活动，以覆盖美国多样化人口的很大一部分。这次日食将引起媒体的广泛关注，其目的是利用这次日食教育广大观众有关相关科学的知识，并鼓励来自不同背景的年轻人从事科学事业。将特别强调公民科学项目和针对STEM学科中代表性不足的群体的教育活动。将设立一个小额赠款方案，为专门针对代表性不足群体的努力提供资金，以增加他们的参与。评价计划将侧重于网站上材料的使用情况以及小额赠款资助的具体活动参与者的学习成果。所有的经验教训将被整理成一份公开的正式报告，并将为一项战略计划奠定基础，以充分利用2024年下一次美国日食。由于该项目与多个NSF理事会的目标非常一致，因此该奖项由教育和人力资源理事会的本科教育司和学习研究司共同资助；数学和物理科学局天文科学司；以及地球科学理事会大气和地球空间科学部。

On August 21, 2017, a total solar eclipse will traverse the United States from Oregon to South Carolina. Millions of Americans will witness totality, in which the Moon completely blocks the Sun, and over 500 million people across North America will experience a partial eclipse. In this project, the American Astronomical Society (AAS) will forge an umbrella organization consisting of an eclipse project manager, a centralized website of resources, and a mini-grants program to coordinate and facilitate local and national activities that will educate the public about the science of this rare event. The project will leverage this fascinating display of beauty to engage as many people as possible in the endeavor of science.This project will involve scientists, educators, and amateur and professional eclipse observers in developing extensive plans for unique outreach activities to reach a significant fraction of the diverse U.S. population. The goal is to use the eclipse, which will generate significant media attention, to educate a broad audience about the associated science and to encourage young people from widely diverse backgrounds to pursue careers in science. Special emphasis will be placed on citizen science projects and on educational activities targeting groups that are underrepresented in STEM disciplines. A mini-grants program will be established to fund efforts specifically targeting underrepresented groups in order to increase their participation. The evaluation plan will focus on the utilization of the materials on the website and the learning gains of participants in specific activities funded by the mini-grants. All lessons learned will be collated in a publicly available formal report and will lay the groundwork for a strategic plan to fully capitalize on the next U.S.-based solar eclipse in 2024. Because this project aligns well with the objectives of multiple NSF directorates, this award is co-funded by the Division of Undergraduate Education and the Division of Research on Learning in the Directorate for Education and Human Resources; the Division of Astronomical Sciences in the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences; and the Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences in the Directorate for Geosciences.