In science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, PARI fills a vital role for students from kindergarten through the 12^th grade by providing real experiences in science.  Our nontraditional, inquiry-based, hands-on programs literally take education out of the classroom.  At PARI, students learn science by doing science.  As a result of their work at PARI, students are excited by science and begin to seriously consider careers in science and technology.

Among our more popular programs are:

• StarLab, a portable planetarium that takes astronomy programs to schools and other venues throughout the region.  Areas of study are designed for various grade levels and include Shapes and Patterns in the Sky, The Reason for the Seasons, Stars of My People, Stars of Lewis and Clark, Realm of the Planets, Motions in the Sky and Observing the Radio Sky. Presented by a PARI astronomer/educator, StarLab programs to date have been viewed by more than 55,000 people.
• Space Science Lab (SSL), an unprecedented opportunity for high school students in Western North Carolina to participate in an authentic science research effort and participate in a global effort to study lunar impacts.  Funded by Burroughs Wellcome Fund, students reside at PARI for a week during the summer to begin their lunar research by building and using optical and radio telescopes.  The students continue their participation throughout the academic year by using PARI telescopes remotely while also making observations from school or home.  Registration is online and through local school systems.
• School of Galactic Radio Astronomy (SGRA), a curriculum workshop for grade 8-12 teachers on radio astronomy that allows teachers and students to access a PARI radio telescope and conduct experiments via the Internet.  Teachers attend a workshop to learn the science of radio astronomy and how to use “Smiley,” PARI’s 4.6 meter (15ft) radio telescope.  About 500 teachers and students have been certified and Smiley has been used to benefit more than 3,000 students[JA1] , some as far away as Australia.
• Stellar Classification Online—Public Exploration (SCOPE), PARI’s first citizen science project makes images in the Astronomical Photographic Data Archive (APDA) available to students and the general public.  PARI astronomers established a website (scope.pari.edu) that allows anyone to log in, learn about stellar classification and participate in the effort to classify stars recorded in the APDA’s University of Michigan objective prism plate collection.
• Duke Talent Identification Program (TIP), an on-campus intensive learning experience for talented high school students, conducted each summer at PARI.  Participating high school students conduct astronomical research in a team environment using equipment available through the Internet or on PARI’s campus.
• HomeSchool Day, an on-campus experience for students being schooled at home.  Morning and afternoon sessions include age-appropriate astronomy workshops and a program in the StarLab planetarium.  These programs are scheduled each spring and fall.  PARI is currently working with a network of statewide homeschoolers to determine additional ways we can serve this important segment of K-12 students.
• Onsite programming including our Galaxy Walk and other programs geared to the North Carolina Standard Course of Study.