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COMMUNITY:
Project Descriptions

Sharing the Universe

April 1, 2007 - September 30, 2012 | Public Programs, Professional Development, Conferences, and Networks
The Astronomical Society of the Pacific, in collaboration with the Institute for Learning Innovation, will implement "Sharing the Universe." This research and implementation project is designed to include both a comprehensive, two-phased research component, as well as a large-scale national dissemination. The intended impacts are to improve the quality and effectiveness of informal science education activities provided by amateur astronomers; increase the frequency of public engagements in astronomy; and broaden the variety of events and diversity of the outreach to include underserved and underrepresented audiences. The project will create a community of practice using club leaders to improve astronomy clubs nationwide through research tools, training and outreach skills. Project deliverables include Phase I research which is designed to gain an understanding of how outreach-orientated clubs function and identify strategies that make successful clubs effective. Phase II will examine a core group of 20 clubs in detail to further understand the outreach culture while using interventions developed from the Phase I results such as a training DVD, Online Resource Library, Outreach Toolkit and a robust community of practice. The final deliverable will be the dissemination of proven strategies and best practices revealed by the research to 200 diverse astronomy clubs across the country. Strategic impact will be realized in increased outreach capacity among amateur astronomers and a strong model for astronomy clubs with proven best practices and resources. It is anticipated this project will reach more than 4,400 amateur astronomers and indirectly impact more than one million Americans in astronomy clubs in four years. Inverness Research will conduct the summative evaluation of the project.

Funders

NSF
Funding Program: ISE/AISL
Award Number: 0638873
Funding Amount: 1605220

TEAM MEMBERS

  • James Manning
    Principal Investigator
    Astronomical Society of the Pacific
  • Storksdieck Headshot small
    Co-Principal Investigator
    Institute for Learning Innovation
  • Eric Jones
    Co-Principal Investigator
    Institute for Learning Innovation
  • Michael Bennett
    Former Principal Investigator
    Astronomical Society of the Pacific
  • 2013 09 26 greg
    Co-Principal Investigator
    Astronomical Society of the Pacific
  • Discipline: Education and learning science | Space science
    Audience: General Public | Museum/ISE Professionals
    Environment Type: Public Programs | Citizen Science Programs | Community Outreach Programs | Professional Development, Conferences, and Networks | Professional Development and Workshops

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