We received so many excellent session proposals for our 27th annual Space Exploration Educators Conference! The conference schedule will be available very soon. In the meantime, check out five top SEEC 2021 sessions.
1. NASA climate science: what is causing the sea level rise?
John Patrick of NASA NSPACE
Participants engage in two activities from NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement to help students understand the key causes of sea level rise attributed to climate change. The activities will provide a vivid visual representation of the phenomena and clear up common misconceptions among students.
2. Feel the spirits of JAXA Space Education Center
Takuo Takarada
We introduce basic philosophy of JAXA Space Education Center. It includes three spirits – curiosity, adventure and craftmanship. In this session, explore an experiment of Kepler’s third law and symmetry of Origami by space yacht, IKAROS.
3. Asteroid Explorers! NASA ROADS on Asteroids Student Challenge
Celena Miller, NASA Texas Space Grant Consortium
Plan and simulate a trip to asteroid Vesta including an impactor, drone landing and takeoff, and robotic navigation across potential surface hazards looking for the building blocks for life. Teachers hear from NASA Johnson Space Center carbonaceous asteroid curator and get hands-on experience with drones and EV3s. Plus door prizes!
4. Cosmic calendar
Stephanie Carol, Ellen Ochoa STEM Academy
The cosmic calendar allows students to see the evolution of the universe as it unfolds in an understandable 12 month calendar. The timeline begins with the Big Bang and explores such critical events within the universe as the emergence of the Milky Way Galaxy, the birth of our Sun and celestial objects in the Solar System including Earth. Students discover the evolution of life on our planet through the Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic eras in an engaging way that will eliminate misconceptions and instill wonder and curiosity of humankind’s place within the universe.
5. Electromagnetic energies got you down?
Argy Layton, Montclair High School
Do you struggle with teaching about the electromagnetic spectrum? Want something more than the usual gas tubes and diffraction grating? See the electromagnetic spectrum in new ways in this session. Check out how NASA uses electromagnetic energies in the search for exoplanets, investigating stars, and in identifying the composition of our moon and other moons. Walk away with a stronger understanding of spectroscopy. Give-aways from the Canadian Space Agency and NASA.
