Radio Astronomy and Space Science

in the High School Classroom

A workshop for teachers at MIT Haystack Observatory

What is a radio star, and is it different from our Sun?

Do storms on the Sun affect Earth?

How do radio waves get from the edge of the universe to Earth?

Attend this Workshop at the MIT Haystack Observatory to learn about radio astronomy and space science, and how to include them in your curriculum.  Haystack scientists will introduce you to their research, and teachers who have worked at Haystack will present units that have been developed for the high school classroom through the NSF Research Experiences for Teachers program.

Dates:  July 10-14, 2006

            9:00 – 2:30 daily

Location: MIT Haystack Observatory, Off Rte. 40, Westford, MA

Open to high school math and science teachers.

There is no fee to attend this workshop.  You will receive content PDPs plus a $200.00 stipend.

To apply:  There is no application form. Send a resume, and a letter of application that includes why you are interested in this workshop and information about your classroom activities.

Send application to:

High School Workshop

MIT Haystack Observatory

Off Rte 40

Westford, MA 01886

For more information contact Madeleine Needles, 781-981-5407 or mneedles@haystack.mit.edu

Application Deadline – May 15, 2006

Objectives:

• To increase content knowledge in the fields of radio astronomy and space science
• To provide teachers with an opportunity to learn from scientists who work with these subjects on a daily basis
• To present units developed for the classroom that conform to science curriculum standards
• To introduce the Small Radio Telescope to teachers

As a leader in radio astronomy and space science Haystack Observatory has, for many years, been preparing the next generation of scientists by working with college students. Today, through the development of the Small Radio Telescope and the creation of units specifically developed for high school classrooms, Haystack is also helping to introduce high school students to radio astronomy.

The nearest star to Earth, our Sun, dominates our radio sky and provides a convenient laboratory to investigate radio phenomena. In addition, large sunspot regions create intense solar flares that can cause huge disturbances in Earth's geomagnetic field and the ionosphere, affecting cellular phones, pagers, satellite communications, and power grids in ways that have become increasingly important to our technology-driven society.  At Haystack Observatory, MIT scientists have been studying these “space weather” effects using high power radars and GPS systems.

Through this workshop, teachers will learn the basics of radio astronomy and space science, and will receive teaching materials that can be used in their classes to introduce these subjects to their students.

Tentative Schedule - Morning coffee and lunch provided each day

Monday – Introduction to Radio Astronomy and the SRT (Small Radio Telescope) – Dr. Preethi Pratap and Phil Shute

· Afternoon – Introduction to Haystack and tour;

Waves in Motion Unit - Leslie McGourty and Ken Rideout

Tuesday – Taking data with the SRT – Dr. Preethi Pratap and Phil Shute

· Afternoon – Using the SRT in the classroom – Mary Altenhof, Jeff Yuhas, David Whalley and Wes Johnson.

Wednesday – Introduction to space weather and walking tour of the UHF antenna – Dr. Phil Erickson and Dr. Anthea Coster

· Afternoon – Radio waves in the ionosphere and your FM radio, Jeff Yuhas and Dr. Phil Erickson; RFI unit - Susan Dunn

Thursday – Solar and Geomagnetic Investigations unit - Mary Altenhof; Astrochemistry – Dr. Preethi Pratap

· Afternoon – Astrochemistry (continued with demonstrations) – Dr. Preethi Pratap and Mindy Lekberg

Friday – Outer Space is not Empty Space unit – Wes Johnson

Afternoon – Review using the SRT.

Wrap-up session.

Days end at 2:30 pm, but teachers are encouraged to stay and practice with the SRT at the end of each day.