NASA ACADEMY PARTICIPATION   Above all else, the crowning achievements for students in our program involve special opportunities for interaction with NASA.  Seven Kentucky students have participated in the highly selective NASA Academy program, gaining intensive education in research and the operations of NASA, and developing their capabilities for leadership in future space efforts.

FLYING WITH NASA   Six teams of student researchers have successfully proposed and participated in the NASA Reduced Gravity Student Flight Opportunities Program.  Kentucky students personally design their research equipment and conduct their experiments in the reduced-gravity environment provided by parabolic-trajectory flights of the NASA KC-135A.

STARBASE ROBOTIC TELESCOPE NETWORK  We lead the STARBASE consortium to develop a network of research mentors and internet-operated telescopes to provide high-level research experiences for high school and college students, as Students Training for Achievement in Research Based on Analytical Space-science Experiences.  The included Hands-On Universe (HOU) program provides multi-level educational experiences in observing with large astronomical telescopes for teachers and their students.

HIGHER EDUCATION MENTORED UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH   Space-related and NASA- related student research provides practical project experience as part of the higher education of our future science and technology workforce.  The students plan and propose for funding, utilize NASA resources in the research, and give public presentations of their results -- often winning awards for their projects and presentations.

 
NATIONAL STANDARDS BASED TEACHER INSTITUTE   We have developed a model program that enhances teacher education and capability for using the excitement of space science and exploration to inspire student involvement and learning in science.  The institute addresses national standards and state education objectives, using hands-on activities based on NASA resources and materials.  NASA Education Division AESP personnel provide materials specific to the state's needs, participate in teaching the institute, and facilitate continuing teacher access to NASA resources, including moon rocks and meteorites.  Participants help in the development of accessible NASA resources into products that are useful for class participation and learning, in cooperation with the NASA Office of Space Science, SERCH, and Marshall Space Flight Center.

NASA-BASED GENERAL PUBLIC EDUCATION   NASA-Based Public Planetarium Presentations facilitate public access to NASA resources and increased public awareness of the nation's space efforts.  Products from the NASA Office of Space Science enable thousands of citizens each year to share in the excitement of space science and exploration.

Kentucky Space Grant Consortium 
Dr. Richard Hackney, Director 
Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, TCCW 246 
Western Kentucky University 
One Big Red Way 
Bowling Green, KY 42101 
Phone: (270) 745-4156/4044 
FAX: (270) 745-4255 
E-mail: Richard.Hackney@wku.edu

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Questions or comments to Richard.Hackney@wku.edu
Last modified: February 18, 2001
All contents copyright (c) 2001.
Western Kentucky University.