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Published in the Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 2005, 206, p. 5204.

NASA EPO Support of the School of Galactic Radio Astronomy

Michael Castelaz, Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute

Joe Daugherty, University of North Carolina at Asheville

David Moffett, Furman University

Jay Case, Brevard High School

The Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI) was awarded a STScI IDEAS Program grant to develop the School of Galactic Radio Astronomy (SGRA).  SGRA enhances education of science, mathematics, and technology of students in grades 8-12.  The purpose of SGRA is to teach the basics of scientific inquiry, which includes methodology, critical thinking, and communication of the results.  To facilitate the excitement of science and discovery, teachers and students use the PARI 4.6m “Smiley” radio telescope via the Internet.  The IDEAS grant supported the development of the science curriculum and labs that use the 4.6m radio telescope, teacher workshops, and high speed internet service necessary for remote access to the radio telescope.  Partnerships with Brevard High School , Furman University, and the University of North Carolina-Asheville have proven important to the success of the program.  In addition, the IDEAS grant was important in our success in acquiring grants from the foundations at Z. Smith Reynolds and Progress Energy, a AAS Small Grant, and a STScI HST/EPO award to further enhance and continue the SGRA Program.  

More than 100 teachers are now involved in SGRA.  To increase awareness of SGRA, we have presented the program at meetings of the AAS, North Carolina Science Teachers Association, the North Carolina Science Museum, and Pisgah Forest Institute summer workshops.  Our experience in writing and carrying out the program, along with the NASA components in the program, teachers’ comments, and lessons learned, will be presented.

We are extremely grateful to the IDEAS Grant Program for helping PARI initiate and develop an exciting program of hands-on Internet radio astronomy from high school classrooms.