Welcome Teachers and Youth Leaders. The Green Bank Observatory has some exciting opportunities that engage you and your students in STEM research.
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Chautauqua Short Course
May 27 – 29, 2020 in Green Bank, WV
Chautauqua Short Courses are a 2.5 day program for college teachers, high school teachers, and amateur astronomers. At the Green Bank Observatory, we offer a course called Radio Astronomy Update.
Note: This course is sponsored by and offered at the Green Bank Observatory in Green Bank, West Virginia. Applications should be sent to the GBO Center. This course has course fee of $195 (in addition to the $100 application fee), which covers course-related expenses. Limited reduced rate on‑site lodging at about $35 per night will be available to early applicants.
This course is designed to celebrate more than 50 years of contributions to the forefront of astronomy by the telescopes of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory/Green Bank Observatory at Green Bank. During this time researchers using these telescopes have made major advances in our understanding of topics as diverse as chemical processes in interstellar space, the early phases of star formation, the assembly of galaxies and galaxy clusters at high redshift, the properties of black holes, and SETI.
Pulsar Search Collaboratory
The Pulsar Search Collaboratory (PSC) is an out-of this-world opportunity for formal and informal teachers and their students to join an international team of astronomers in searching for new pulsars! Your work actually helps to advance the field of pulsar science. All STEM teachers in grades 9-12, and their students, 13 and up, are encouraged to apply! The PSC is a national program, funded by the National Science Foundation. Teachers and students participate in a free online workshop to prepare you to analyze data. Once you have your astronomer’s credential, you can analyze brand new data taken by the Green Bank Telescope! For active PSC members, Capstone Events are held around the country AND a summer PSC Camp at the Observatory will hone your skills to the next level! Join us!
Research Experience for Teachers Dates TBD for 2020!
West Virginia University leads a collaboration with the Observatory to offer a six-week summer research program to 10 high school teachers each summer, called Digital Signal Processing in Radio Astronomy (DSPIRA). DSPIRA is funded through a grant from the Engineering Division of the National Science Foundation. Teachers will learn how to use a cheap, versatile and rapidly developing technology called software defined radio, which can be developed for astronomy applications as well as receiving signals from satellites like NOAA weather satellites! Successful applicants will spend 4 weeks working with WVU Engineers in Morgantown, and 2 weeks at the Green Bank Observatory, designing and testing software defined radio systems and piloting classroom activities with students. We are very interested in teachers who are interested in engaging their students in engineering activities. Applications are being accepted! Find out more at http://wvurail.org/dspira-2018/ Questions? Email Sue Ann Heatherly at sheather-at-nrao.edu.