Arizona: Planetary Science Institute, Girl Scouts Offer Educational OutreachPlanetary Science Institute, Girl Scouts Offer Educational Outreach

From the Tuscon Citizen: Planetary Science Institute, Girl Scouts Offer Educational Outreach
Feb. 23, 2012, Tucson, Ariz. — The Planetary Science Institute (PSI) is partnering with the Girls Scouts of Southern Arizona (GSSoAz) to offer science-based educational opportunities to area students.

The “Comets: From Head to Tail” program, which will include a series of astronomy “star parties” for students in the Amphitheater School District, is funded by a $45,000 NASA Supplemental Education Award for ROSES Investigators grant.

“The partnership will build upon and strengthen existing programs at GSSoAz and PSI bringing together the Education/Public Outreach expertise of the two organizations that are dedicated to Science, Technology Engineering and Math education in Southern Arizona,” said Larry Lebofsky, project co-investigator and Senior Education Specialist at PSI.

The program will include four major activities:

• Annual Family STEM Nights for each elementary school in Tucson’s Amphitheater School District.
• Development of activities for students to do in school and showcase at the school Family STEM Nights.
• Support of GSSoAz staff and volunteers through training and mentoring for their work on Family STEM Nights and classroom visits.
• Expansion of the program to be replicated by other educators and to expand the effort to other topics.

PSI Senior Scientist Beatrice Mueller is the Principal Investigator. Others involved in the program include Senior Scientist Nalin Samarasinha, Education Specialist Sanlyn Buxner and Lebofsky from PSI and Michelle Higgins, Director Membership Experience
STEM, Hispanic, Social Justice at GSSoAz.

THE PLANETARY SCIENCE INSTITUTE:

Celebrating its 40th anniversary, the Planetary Science Institute is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to solar system exploration. It is headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, where it was founded in 1972.

PSI scientists are involved in numerous NASA and international missions, the study of Mars and other planets, the Moon, asteroids, comets, interplanetary dust, impact physics, the origin of the solar system, extra-solar planet formation, dynamics, the rise of life, and other areas of research. They conduct fieldwork in North America, Australia and Africa. They also are actively involved in science education and public outreach through school programs, children’s books, popular science books and art.

PSI scientists are based in 17 states, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Russia, Australia and Canada.