NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI)

Educational Workshops/Classroom/Lab Experiences

The Ames Astrobiology team has developed and organized educational sessions and workshops at national conventions or site locations across the country and internationally. Team members participated as keynote speakers, lecturers, and presenters of hands-on workshops targeted at students of all levels, university professors, and educators. The team also develops and presents science lessons for local and international classroom experiences at various schools. The presentations occur in places where team members are conducting research on-site or involved in science conferences. The science team makes it a priority to present their research at universities, while providing a program for the K-12 school in the areas they are visiting. Because of return field experiences or invitations as speakers, the team does have more than a “one stop” experience with the local school districts. Students and educators are invited to various centers, universities, museums, science centers, national parks, and field sites to participate with the science team. The experiences with the science team also include field expeditions, short courses, course series, and lesson development with the educators on site. The Camp Wilderness Curriculum and Park Kids programs at Yellowstone National Park and the Museum programs at the California Academy of Sciences involve scientists with students, teachers, docents, and interpreters. Science team members make themselves available after they return home to answer questions via e-mail from the students or educators that they had met. The themes usually addressed are the value of scientific training, participating in space exploration.

Audiences ranged from as small as ~30 to as large as ~500. Total number is probably well over 2000 Dr. Sandford gave 20 different talks on the Stardust mission and the collection and study of cometary organics during 2006.
01/2006 through 12/2006 Scott Sandford 20 different talks at almost as many different organizations Talks were given to a wide range of venues including: universities, amateur astronomy clubs, planetaria local state parks, corporations -Varian, NASA-Ames research Center, amateur astronomy club members, p ublic school teachers, the general public at planetarium and astronomy night lectures at local parks, Varian scientists and engineers, NAI Director?s seminar
7/1/207- 6/30/2007 Lou Allamandola Astrochemistry Laboratory, Space Science Division Ames Research Center 50 – 80 people comprised of general public, Middle-School Teachers, mid school and high school students
06/22/07 Andrew Mattioda Astrochemistry Laboratory, Space Science Division Summer students lab tour and seminar 16 undergraduate college students Conducted a tour of the Astrochemistry Laboratory for the SETI Institute?s Research Experience for Undergraduates in Astrobiology students. The students were given a lecture covering the Astrobiology research being conducted in the Astrochemistry Laboratory/
6/17/07-8/24/07 Andrew Mattioda Astrochemistry Laboratory, Space Science Division Ames Research Center/SETI REU program 1 undergraduate college student Directed and supervised the research of an undergraduate student in the Astrochemistry Laboratory. This research project was performed under a National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in Astrobiology proposal. Results from this REU experience have been written up and submitted to a peer-reviewed publication.
July 2006 Richard Castenholz Thermal Biology Institute (Montana State University) Outreach for high school science teachers High School Teachers Teachers- 5 Office and field descriptions and discussions of thermal microbiology of Yellowstone National Park

Sept. 2006 Richard Castenholz Thermal Biology Institute (Montana State University)- training sessiion Faculty and students, University of Washington Astrobiology Institute Faculty and students-about 35 Oral presentations in lecture hall and field for 2-3 days
7/22-7/29/07 Tori Hoehler, Allan Treiman Lunar & Planetary Institute Research Institute and NASA education broker/facilitator Teachers – 30 Week-long intensive workshop for high school and middle school science teachers involving field and classroom activities, lectures, and interpretation relating to planetary geology and astrobiology
July, 2006 Allan Treiman Lunar and Planetary Institute,
3600 Bay Area Boulevard
Houston TX 77058 Non-Profit Teachers ~30 Teacher training field workshop, ?The Heat Within?, emphasizing volcanos and volcanism in a planetary context. Based from Eugene OR, with field studies near Bend OR. Explores volcanism, with implications for life on Earth and especially Mars.
Thru 6/30/07 Allan Treiman, Lunar and Planetary Institute,
3600 Bay Area Boulevard
Houston TX 77058 Non-Profit Teachers ~30 Teacher training field workshop ?Earth?s Extremophiles?. NASA sponsored workshop for middle and high-school teachers, based at Yellowstone National Park and Montana State University.
6-07 David Ward participated int he LPI Yellowstone field expedition and Montana State University classroom lab experience for educators. On site in Yellowstone presented descriptions of the microbial communities in the effluent channels of alkaline siliceous hot springs. In class at Montana State presented a 2 hour session on microscopy and electric and previewed the electrobic field trip about microbes of Yellowstone National Park 30 educators

June 20006 Marilyn Vogel ORAU / NPP
NASA Ames Research Center NASA Explorer Schools Program High School Science Teachers – 20 Taught an Origins of Life seminar to high school science teachers enrolled in NASA?s Explorer School program.

2/07 David De Marais provided a walking tour to the NASA Ames Research Center Director, Dr. Pete Worden and Mr Boyd with a presentation on the Ames team research and outreach program.
2/07 David Des Marais Presented the NASA Ames Astrobiology Institute program to Mr. Rick Hieb and Ms Judy Gan. Vice Presidents for Lockheed Martin Corporation

7/07 Dave Ward presented microbiology/astrobiology to the Montana State University Master’s in Science Education program shortcourse. 20 students