I am heavily involved in communicating science to those outside astronomy through formal and informal education. This page serves as a partial list of activities that I have been involved in at Cornell.
2006
- Ask an Astronomer – 3 or more questions per week since September 2006
- DeWitt Middle School (Nov 1, 2006): After-school program about the solar system
2007
- Southern Cayuga Astronomy Program (Jan 19, 2007): Public lecture about current solar system missions and events
- Trumansburg Elementary School (Jan 22, 2007): After school program about the solar system
- Wings of Eagles Discovery Center (Feb 10, 2007): Hands-on activities with children and families
- Wrote for the Cornell Daily Sun and Cornell Chronicle (Spring 2007) [3D Printing, Sustainable Business, Science in Action]
- Museum of the Earth – Natural History at Noon (Mar 31, 2007): Public lecture about current solar system missions and events
- Beverly J. Martin Elementary school – Science Fair (April 5, 2007): Hands on activities
- Led construction of large “rubber sheet” space-time model (a.k.a. the Spandex Universe)
- Spandex Universe demonstration to visiting AP physics students (May 31, 2007)
- Focus for Teens (June 26-29, 2007) – Gave a 90 minute “Mission to the Planets” presentation, allowing students to plan their own robotic mission. Spandex Universe was used in a separate presentation.
- Sciencenter summer camp (July 18, Aug 1, Aug 15, 2007) – “Tour of the Universe” presentation
- Mars Lab tours for Rural Schools Institute (July 23-25, 2007)
- Public talk at Fuertes Observatory (September 21, 2007)
- Taught Astronomy 101 lab and discussion sections (Sept-Dec 2007)
- Started a blog: Inescapable Perspective (October 2007)
2008
- Taught Astronomy 102 lab and discussion sections (January – May 2008)
- Took Comm 566: a course on science communication (January – May 2008)
- Moved to a new blog: The Martian Chronicles
- Southern Cayuga Astronomy Program (Feb 29, 2008): Public lecture about current and future solar system missions and events
- Wings of Eagles Discovery Center (Feb 16, 2008): Public lecture about the future of space exploration
- Mars lab tour for Cortland High School astronomy class (March 6, 2008)
- Guest Lecture about Life on Mars for Astronomy 299: Life in the Universe (April 10, 2008)
- Guest lecture about the history and future of Mars exploration for Astronomy 109: The Birth of the Universe (Freshman Writing Seminar) (April 14, 2008)
- Member of the Education and Public Outreach committee for the 2008 Division of Planetary Sciences meeting
- Mars Lab tour for teachers participating in a lab development conference (April 17, 2008)
- Met with two Science Olympiad students and their coaches to help prepare them for the national competition (topic: Remote Sensing on Mars) (April 17, 2008)
- Hands-on activities with parents and children for “Take Your Child to Work Day” (April 24, 2008)
- Lunch with a visiting middle school student interested in a career in space/astronomy (April 24, 2008)
- Focus for Teens (July 1-3, 2008) – Gave a 90 minute “Mission to the Planets” presentation, allowing students to plan their own robotic mission.
- Public talk at Kopernik Observatory about Jupiter (July 8, 2008)
- Sciencenter summer camp (July 9, July 22, Aug 13, 2008) – “Tour of the Universe” presentation
- Marslab tour (Aug 19, 2008)
- Mentored high school intern (July and August, 2008)
- Videographer for the Neptune movement of Holst’s “The Planets” – Performed by the Cornell Symphony Orchestra (Oct 11, 2008)
- Organizer of Women in Science activities at Boynton Middle School (Oct 14, 2008)
- Center for Astronomy Education (CAE) workshop: “How to Teach Astro 101″ (Oct 16 & 17, 2008)
- Public Talk at Kopernik Observatory about Current Events in the Solar System (October 25, 2008)
