California Institute of Technology

1
LIGO EDUCATION CENTER
California Institute of Technology Massachusetts
Institute of Technology
2
LIGO and Education

• An essential part of LIGOs mission, and that of
  the NSF, is the enhancement of science education.
• We want to be part of the educational fabric of
  the region where each of the LIGO Observatories
  is located.
• We want to respond to site-specific educational
  needs at each observatory site

3
Goals of This Presentation

• Get the message out to state educators
• We want to collaborate with you to develop
  science education programs
• Establish a broad base of support and interest
  for a science education center at the LIGO
  Livingston Observatory

4
LIGO is exciting science!

• It captures the publics attention and stimulates
  interest in science at all age levels
• It brings outstanding scientists and students
  from Caltech, MIT, and 35 other university
  institutions world-wide to Livingston for
  collaborative research
• Regionally, LSU, Southern University, SLU,
  LaTech, and Loyola University are active
  participants in LIGO Science Collaboration and
  provide natural avenues to the education community

5
LIGO Can Benefit Education in Louisiana

• We see opportunities to enhance K-12 science
  education as well as university level education
• Stimulate childrens interest in physics and
  astronomy
• On-site in-service and pre-service teacher
  training to strengthen understanding of basic
  science
• Provide informal science education opportunities
  to the general public in a region that is
  traditionally underserved
• Collaboratively pursue vocational education
  opportunities utilizing LIGO resources

6
We See Lots of Evidence of Strong Regional
Interest in LIGO

• In the past 18 months
• More than 3,000 visitors more than 2000 student
  visits
• More than 200 teacher visits for in-service
  training and workshops
• More than 700 visitors in a single day for a
  public open house

7
We See Lots of Regional Opportunities for
Collaboration

• Reinforcing Louisiana Science Curriculum
  Standards based on NAS benchmarks
• Reaching out to traditionally underserved
  communities to expose children to LIGO related
  science and technology
• Collaboration with K-12 educators, higher
  education, and state education agencies to enrich
  science education

8
Projects Underway

• Field trips to LIGO and science lessons for
  children
• In-service teacher tours
• Sharing of ideas with teachers for hands-on
  activities
• Creation of web-based resources (in collaboration
  with Northwestern State Univ.) for classroom
  lessons before and following a LIGO visit

9
Telescope

• Through the efforts of Prof. Greg Guzik (LSU), a
  16 inch optical telescope will be installed
  on-site within next 12 months
• Funded through Louisiana Technology Innovations
  Council
• Teacher training to be conducted collaboratively
  with LSU

10
Other Education Plans Underway

• Research Experiences for Teachers (RET)
• Proposal submitted to NSF
• facilitates K-12 teacher participation in
  collaborative research with LIGO scientists
• Leads to transfer of new knowledge to classroom
  activities
• Internships in Public Science Education (IPSE)
• Proposal submitted to NSF
• Will bring a small group of teachers to each LIGO
  site to collaboratively develop LIGO related
  enrichment materials and hands-on activities to
  enhance science education (including robotic use
  of telescope)

11
Plans Underway

• Partnership with Washington and Oregon area high
  school teachers and students to conduct
  collaborative research at LIGO Hanford
  Observatory. Possibility to expand this program
  to Louisiana
• We have also requested from the NSF a staffing
  increment at each site specifically devoted to
  educational outreach

12
With Additional Resources and Local
Collaboration, We Can Do a Lot More

• For Example
• With Southern University, to reach children in
  the African-American community a population
  segment historically under-represented in the
  sciences
• With Southeastern Louisiana University, to
  enhance pre-service and in-service teacher
  education
• With Livingston Parish - a largely rural and
  economically disadvantaged area to provide
  access to science enrichment resources in an area
  that has not had access

13
Development of a LIGO Education Center

• Propose to develop a science education center
  that will become a regional resource for
  students, teachers, and the general public
• Unique opportunity to utilize LIGO Observatory,
  its staff, and resources to stimulate science
  education and interest in science
• The Center will build upon and enhance initial
  educational outreach programs already underway at
  LIGO

14
Outreach Center Programs and Resources

• Facility will house hands-on science exhibits
  which explain LIGO and related science to
  visitors
• Teacher resource center and workshop to be used
  for development of classroom enrichment materials
  by pre-service and in-service teachers
• Classroom for Saturday Morning Science classes,
  teacher workshops, and school-to-work vocational
  training

15
Role of the Telescope

• The telescope will be a primary focus of the
  outreach center
• Daytime solar observing by school children and
  other visitors
• Robotic access by school children from their
  classrooms via internet
• Structured education activities in partnership
  with local educators, such as the NSF-funded
  programs Hands On Universe and Hands On
  Astrophysics
• Night-time star parties for the general public
• Modest scientific program will be developed in
  collaboration with local schools and amateur
  astronomy groups

16
Teacher Education and Curriculum Development

• Expanded summer internships for teachers
  (NSF-IPSE) to develop classroom enrichment
  materials, improve their grounding in the
  physical sciences, and expose them to physics
  research
• Strengthen in-service training for teachers to
  address needs of state mandated LEAP testing
• Physical science education at the middle school
  level is a particular need in La

17
Vocational Education Program Center

• Development of vocational programs where students
  can learn skills associated with LIGO that have
  commercial value
• For example
• Vacuum systems
• Computer and network system support
• Lasers and optics training
• Process control systems
• The center will provide a place for formal
  classroom lectures that are given as part of this
  program

18
Auditorium
Classroom, teacher work room, and support areas
Exhibition Hall
Car and school bus parking
Telescope
Conceptual Layout of Proposed Educational
Outreach Center at LLO
19
Outreach Center Features

• Full time staffing to facilitate visits by
  general public, organized groups such as school
  field trips, and to lead special workshops and
  events
• Connection to LIGO auditorium for public
  lectures, films, events
• Classrooms for teacher and student workshops,
  opportunities to develop materials for distance
  learning activities via the La Board of Regents
• Library, workshop, and office space
• Operations support areas and museum shop
• Approximately 8,500 sq. ft. floor space

20
Outreach Center Will Be Integrated Into Site to
Facilitate Visitor Tours of the Control Room and
Observation Deck
Telescope
Auditorium
Auditorium
Outreach Center
21
Development

• 501c(3) foundation to be established and
  administrated by outreach center board of
  directors with wide representation from community
• Advisory board of nationally prominent
  science-center consultants to be formed to guide
  development of displays and programs
• Need to undertake construction soon to avoid
  interference with LIGO scientific program

22
Other Science Centers That Have Significantly
Contributed to the Education Environment

• Lederman Education Center at Fermi National
  Accelerator Laboratory
• National Atmospheric and Ionospheric Center,
  Arecibo, Puerto Rico
• Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff Arizona
• MacDonald Observatory, Fort Davis, Texas

Arecibo
23
Where Do We Go From Here?

• We have have been strongly encouraged by the NSF
  to submit a proposal to construct this center
• We want to develop partnerships with you to fully
  utilize the center
• We feel this is an opportunity to broadly benefit
  education in the state!