Teachers' Workshop in Astronomy & Astrophysics

Professor Tammy Smecker-Hane has received a grant from the UCI FOCUS program, funded by  the National Science Foundation (NSF), to do science outreach with the UCI Observatory. As part of our comprehensive program we will hold a workshop each summer about astronomy & astrophysics for science and math teachers from local elementary, middle and high schools. Other astronomers who might be interested in holding similar workshops can read about ours on our poster entitled "Building a Successful Teachers' Workshop in Astronomy & Astrophysics", which we presented at the 207th annual meeting of the American Astronomical Society in January, 2006.

The material presented at the workshop will be geared to teachers of grades 6 - 12, but it can be adapted for use with lower grades. Preference in admission will be given to teachers from the Compton/Newport-Mesa/Santa Ana school districts, which are participating the NSF-sponsored FOCUS program, but teachers from other districts will be included if space permits. The attendance is limited to 25 teachers. Teachers from FOCUS schools will be paid a stipend of $200 to attend the workshop.

Our workshop is a 2 day-long event that forms part of a larger, two week-long Earth Science workshop. Our fourth annual workshop will be held on August 9 - 10, 2007, from 8am - 3pm at the University of California, Irvine, in Room 121 of the Multi-Purpose Science & Technology Building, which is building #415 on the campus map (see the link below). Parking passes and lunches will be provided for all workshop attendees.

Demonstrating the motions of objects in the night sky.


Observing the spectral signature of different chemical elements

Each teacher will receive a kit of materials with exciting and innovative ideas for adding astronomy and physics to their curriculum. The workshop will include: To apply to attend the workshop please download the following two forms, fill them out and send them to Dr. Tammy Smecker-Hane by email or regular mail.  Communication by email is preferred, but not required. After submitting these forms, you will be contacted regarding your registration. Registration will be on a first-come first-serve basis, and preference will be given to teachers in the school districts that are part of the UCI FOCUS program: Compton, Newport/Mesa and Santa Ana school districts until June 15. Teachers from other school districts will be placed on a waiting list, and we will open registration to them on June 15, but the teachers or their school districts must pay $215 for the cost of the workshop (this does not include a $200 stipend for the teacher). A limited number of scholarships for teachers in underperforming schools, as judged by their API score, may be available.
We encourage you to share this information with other teachers who might be interested. You can also send us your name, address and email address and we'll send you an early notice when registration opens for next summer's workshop.

For more information please see our web page at http://www.physics.uci.edu/~observat/workshop.html or contact us at:

Dr. Tammy Smecker-Hane
Associate Professor & Director of the UCI Observatory
Mailing Address: Department of Physics & Astronomy
       4129 Frederick Reines Hall
       University of California
        Irvine, CA 92697-4575
Office: 4109F Frederick Reines Hall
Phone: (949) 824-7773
Email: tsmecker@uci.edu


http://www.physics.uci.edu/~observat/workshop.html
Last updated June 4, 2007



The UCI Observatory
Department of Physics & Astronomy
University of California, Irvine