Boulder ISEE Chapter
The Boulder ISEE Chapter began in 2012, initially focused on solar and space physics and mutual interests in the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) being built on Maui. The longtime ties between ISEE, the Akamai Workforce Initiative, the Institute for Astronomy at University of Hawaii, National Solar Observatory (NSO), DKIST, and Air Force facilities on Maui stimulated this ISEE Chapter.
In addition, Boulder is home to several ISEE alumni and instructors:
- Katherine Kretke participated in ISEE’s Professional Development Program (PDP) in 2007-2009; in 2012 she was an apprentice PDP instructor and led Boulder’s first team; and since then she has served as a PDP instructor.
- Barry Kluger-Bell, PDP developer and instructor since the program’s inception in 2001, also resides in Boulder.
- Seth Hornstein, Observatory and Education Director of the Sommers-Bausch Observatory in the Dept. of Astrophysical & Planetary Sciences at CU-Boulder, participated in the PDP from 2001-2003 as both a participant and an instructor.
Opportunities to participate in ISEE’s Professional Development Program
The Professional Development Program (PDP) aims to advance leaders in effective and inclusive STEM education through a suite of workshops organized into two intensives, a practical teaching experience, and reflection on what was learned.
Who can apply: Graduate students and postdocs from the Boulder area can apply to participate in the PDP through this chapter. In addition, professionals from NSO/DKIST, or Maui observatories or industry, may find avenues for participation through CU Boulder or Hawaii-based teaching venues.
Graduate students and postdocs from the Boulder chapter can apply for PDP fee waivers and travel support from ISEE (via PDP application), which is available through this chapter’s participation in the Advancing Inclusive Leaders in Astronomy project funded by the National Science Foundation (AST#17431117) and supports participants in astronomy and physics fields, or a grant from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research that supports those teaching in the Akamai program. Applicants are encouraged to secure some of their own institutional or grant funding, which will increase likelihood of acceptance and financial support from ISEE.
More information on applying to the PDP. Application for new and returning participants is now open! See link for approaching deadlines.
PDP 2020 participants will likely teach in University of Colorado Boulder Miramontes Arts & Sciences Program (MASP) Program for Excellence in Academics & Community (PEAC) summer program for traditionally underrepresented or first generation incoming freshmen or the Akamai Preparatory Course for undergraduates from Hawaii in June 2020.
Recent Boulder ISEE PDP participants and teaching activities
Venue: University of Colorado Boulder Miramontes Arts & Sciences Program (MASP) Program for Excellence in Academics & Community (PEAC) summer program for traditionally underrepresented or first generation incoming freshmen
2019
- Evan Anders (CU Boulder, Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences) led a team with Jennie Paine (CU Boulder, Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences), Jessica Roberts (Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences), and Tristan Weber (Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences) to design and teach an activity in which students investigated a buoyant phenomenon of interest using a simplified model to understand that density is an intrinsic property of substances, including fluids, and explain how the density of an object, compared to the fluid it is submerged in, determines whether or not that object will float. Learners gained experience with the practice of designing and carrying out investigations using models.
2018
- Chris Gilbert (CU Boulder, Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences) led a team with Daniel Everding (CU Boulder, Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences), Katherine McCormick (CU Boulder, JILA), and Sam Van Kooten (CU Boulder, Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences) to design and teach an activity about developing and using models of the Earth-Moon-Sun system to describe observed phenomena.
2017
- Austin Barnes (ISEE) led a team with Samantha Walker (CU Boulder, Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences), Evan Anders (CU Boulder, Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences), and Ben Forrest (Texas A&M, Astronomy) to design and teach an activity about predicting exoplanet parameters and the next transit from stellar light curves, and making hypotheses based on evidence.
Venue: PREP (Preparation for Research Experiences Program) for the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program
2015
- Identifying properties of the Sun based on its spectral features, and analyzing data in support of an explanation. Courtney Peck (Lead), Morgan Rehnberg, and Andrew Sturner.
2014
- “Illuminating Solar Light,” an activity on identifying temperatures from spectral features, and identifying assumptions. Jesse Lord (Lead), Briana Ingermann, and Bethany Wilcox.
Venue: CU Boulder Introductory Astronomy Lab Course for undergraduates
2014
- Lens optics and pinhole optics, and applying models (2014). Christopher Moore (Lead), Christopher Fowler, and Benjamin Pollard.
Venue: Astronomy WEST program at UC Santa Cruz
- Wavelength-dependent interactions between light and matter, and simplifying physical systems with models. Briana Ingermann (CU) led a team that designed and taught this activity.
Contact
Graduate students and postdocs affiliated with CU Boulder and other individuals from the Boulder area solar and space physics or astrophysics community (including discipline-based education researchers) who are interested in applying to the Professional Development Program should contact the Boulder ISEE Chapter Leads:
Seth Hornstein (seth.hornstein@colorado.edu)
Mark Rast (mark.rast@lasp.colorado.edu)
Others in the region interested in applying to the PDP (including junior faculty), or seeking general information about ISEE or Akamai, should contact the ISEE program manager in charge of this chapter, Cynthia Nelly Carrión: ccarrion@ucsc.edu
