STEM Ed Announcement: MIT Haystack Observatory Radio Wave Workshop

[Morton Sternheim <mort@k12s.phast.umass.edu>]

This is not a UMass program.
Contact information is below.
============================

Radio Waves: Why They Are Important To Us and 
 How They Are Used in Astronomy and Space Science

A workshop for teachers at MIT Haystack Observatory


Why are radio waves so important to modern society?
How do astronomers and atmospheric scientists use radio waves in their
   research?
Do storms on the Sun affect radio waves that we use on Earth?

Attend this Workshop at the MIT Haystack Observatory to learn more about
radio waves, how they are used in astronomy and space science, and how to
talk with your students about the modern importance of radio waves. 
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 6-10, 2009
	9:00 - 2:30 daily

Location: MIT Haystack Observatory, Off Rte. 40, Westford, MA, 01886

Open to high school science teachers.

There is no fee to attend this workshop; attendees receive PDPs and a
$300.00 stipend.

To apply:  There is no application form. Send or e-mail a letter of
application that includes the name of your school, why you are interested in
this workshop and information about what you teach.

For more information contact Madeleine Needles, 781-981-5400, or e-mail
mneedles@haystack.mit.edu.

Application Deadline - May 26, 2009 
Limited number of spaces available.


Objectives:
"	To improve understanding of radio waves and the technologies that
use them
"	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

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 Very 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 outbursts that can cause huge
disturbances in Earth's geomagnetic field. These dramatically change 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 study
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 - Welcome, Introduction to Haystack Observatory, Introduction to
radio waves
"	Afternoon - AM/FM Radio Waves; Waves in Motion  
Tuesday - Introduction to space weather and walking tour of the UHF antenna
- Dr. Phil Erickson and Dr. Anthea Coster
"	Afternoon - Caught in the Solar Wind and Solar and Geomagnetic
Investigations
Wednesday - Introduction to Radio Astronomy - Vincent Fish; 
Outer Space is not Empty Space
"	Afternoon - Astrochemistry in the classroom; Mindy Lekberg;
Demystifying Scientific Data
Thursday - Introduction to the Very Small Radio Telescope
"	Afternoon - Hands on with the VSRT
Friday - Introduction to the MOSAIC system
Afternoon - Teacher Exchange
Wrap-up session