Astrobiology as a tool for getting high school students interested in science

B. Wieb Van der Meer; James J. Alletto; Dudley Bryant; Mike Carini; Larry Elliott; Richard Gelderman; Wayne Mason; Kerrie McDaniel; Charles H. McGruder III; Claire Rinehart; Rico Tyler; Linda Walker

doi:10.1117/12.411615

29 December 2000 Astrobiology as a tool for getting high school students interested in science

B. Wieb Van der Meer, James J. Alletto, Dudley Bryant, Mike Carini, Larry Elliott, Richard Gelderman, Wayne Mason, Kerrie McDaniel, Charles H. McGruder III, Claire Rinehart, Rico Tyler, Linda Walker

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 4137, Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology III; (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.411615
Event: International Symposium on Optical Science and Technology, 2000, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

A workshop was held (10/99) for high school students and teachers on astrobiology. NASA provided support through an IDEAS grant. Out of 63 qualified applicants, 29 were accepted: 22 students (11 minorities) and 7 teachers. The workshop was held on 2 successive weekends. Activities included: culturing microbes from human skin, discussing "what is life?", building and using a 2-inch refractive telescope and a van-Leeuwenhoek-type microscope (each participant built and kept them), listening to lectures by Dr. Richard Gelderman on detecting extra solar planets and by Dr. Richard Hoover on life in extreme environments. Other activities included: collecting samples and isolating microorganisms from the lost river cave, studying microbial life from extreme environments in the laboratory, using the internet as a research tool and debating the logistics and feasibility of a lunar colony. Written evaluations of the workshop led to the following conclusions: 48% of the students considered a possible career in the biological and/or astrophysical sciences, and half of these stated they were spurred on by the workshop itself.

Citation Download Citation

B. Wieb Van der Meer, James J. Alletto, Dudley Bryant, Mike Carini, Larry Elliott, Richard Gelderman, Wayne Mason, Kerrie McDaniel, Charles H. McGruder III, Claire Rinehart, Rico Tyler, and Linda Walker "Astrobiology as a tool for getting high school students interested in science", Proc. SPIE 4137, Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology III, (29 December 2000); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.411615

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available