Adler Planetarium, Chicago, IL

Education

Astro Science Workshop 2008

Lake Michigan as seen from 19 miles up
Actual image taken by an Adler balloon

Astro-Science Workshop 2008

Topics

Guest Lecturers

Application & Eligibility

Scholarships

About ASW

Contact

UPDATE:

Our most recent balloon launch on April 5th, 2008 was very special. It featured the first ever Peep Astronaut to safely return to Earth! Check out a video of the balloon's flight on YouTube: Peeps in Space!

Astro-Science Workshop 2008

The Sun and the Earth: A Delicate Balance
July 14-25, 2008
9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Monday-Friday

Have you ever wanted to build and fly your own spaceship?

As a participant in this year's Astro-Science Workshop, you will contribute to our knowledge of the Earth's atmosphere by assembling cameras and instrument packages and launching them to the edge of space - nearly 20 miles up, where the sky above is pitch black and you can see the curvature of the Earth.

The ASW will consist of 10 sessions, nine at the Adler Planetarium every week day from 9:00 am - 4:30 pm. The days spent at the Adler Planetarium will revolve around the construction of the balloons and scientific payload, as well as educational lectures focusing on the Sun, the Earth, and the close relationship between the two.

One day during the second week of the program, we will travel from the Adler to our launch site in Kankakee, Illinois (transportation is provided), where you will fly the payloads that you built on board special high-altitude helium balloons. Using GPS systems and radio transmitters onboard the payload, we will track the balloons in real time, and chase them in the Adler's vans through central Illinois (think "Twister" without the tornadoes). Once we recover the payloads (after a soft landing via parachute), you will analyze your scientific data - and have your own "home movies" from space!

Topics

The ASW will explore the exciting field of astronomy by address the following topics:

• How the Sun and Earth were formed
• How the Sun works: What is its power source, and why does it keep us warm
• How the Earth protects us: What the atmosphere does for us, and why its important for our survival
• Planets around other stars: how astronomers are searching for life around other stars

Guest Lecturers

Guest lecturers will introduce the students to exciting current topics and unsolved problems in the study of our Solar System. Past speakers have come to us from such varied institutions as the University of Chicago, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the University of Calgary, and the Anglo-Australian Observatory. Students in the program will have the rare opportunity to have lunch with such scientific heavyweights after their talks.

Application & Eligibility

Due to the level of the workshop's content, a course in Algebra is a prerequisite. In addition, only applicants in the 10th or 11th grades during the 2007-2008 school year will be considered. Eligible students with a strong interest in astronomy and related sciences are encouraged to apply. Due to high interest in the program the application process will be competitive. For full consideration, please apply before May 15, 2008.

Step 1

To Apply By Mail:
Please download the application (PDF) and send to:

Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum
ATTN: Jeremy Sepinsky, ASW Coordinator
1300 S. Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60605

To Apply Online:
Click the button below to go to our webform

APPLY ONLINE

Step 2

Ask one of your teachers to mail a letter of recommendation to the address given above.

Those admitted to the program will be charged a registration fee of $150, which will help to cover the costs of materials for the program, food for the launch day, and the instruments to be launched. Fee waivers are available; please contact the program coordinator for details.

Scholarships

The ASW will conclude with an award ceremony, at which three students who have excelled in their work will be honored with the following awards:

Helen & Robert Adler Scholarship

$2,000 will be credited towards the recipient's first year's college tuition. In addition, the recommending teacher will receive $300 to use in the classroom.

Henry G. Knorr Book Award

$150 will be presented to one student for the purchase of college textbooks.

Marti Beck Memorial Award

$100 will be awarded in memory of Marti Beck, Astro-Science Workshop class of '65-'66.

About ASW

The Astro-Science Workshop (ASW) is a challenging program designed for high school sophomores and juniors in the Chicago area who have demonstrated exceptional interest and aptitude in science. Sponsored by the Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum and the National Science Foundation, the ASW originated over 40 years ago during the space race and Apollo program. Created to encourage students to pursue careers in science, today it fulfills this goal by offering students the unique opportunity to work hands-on with scientific instruments and research-quality data.

Contact

The coordinator of the 2008 Astro-Science Workshop is Jeremy Sepinsky. Should you have any questions about the program, please contact him by one of the following means:

E-mail: j-sepinsky@northwestern.edu
Phone: 312-322-0822
FAX: 312-322-2257

Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum
ATTN: Jeremy Sepinsky
1300 S. Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60605


		Education Astro Science Workshop 2008 Lake Michigan as seen from 19 miles up Actual image taken by an Adler balloon Astro-Science Workshop 2008 Topics Guest Lecturers Application & Eligibility Scholarships About ASW Contact UPDATE: Our most recent balloon launch on April 5th, 2008 was very special. It featured the first ever Peep Astronaut to safely return to Earth! Check out a video of the balloon's flight on YouTube: Peeps in Space! Astro-Science Workshop 2008 The Sun and the Earth: A Delicate Balance July 14-25, 2008 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday Have you ever wanted to build and fly your own spaceship? As a participant in this year's Astro-Science Workshop, you will contribute to our knowledge of the Earth's atmosphere by assembling cameras and instrument packages and launching them to the edge of space - nearly 20 miles up, where the sky above is pitch black and you can see the curvature of the Earth. The ASW will consist of 10 sessions, nine at the Adler Planetarium every week day from 9:00 am - 4:30 pm. The days spent at the Adler Planetarium will revolve around the construction of the balloons and scientific payload, as well as educational lectures focusing on the Sun, the Earth, and the close relationship between the two. One day during the second week of the program, we will travel from the Adler to our launch site in Kankakee, Illinois (transportation is provided), where you will fly the payloads that you built on board special high-altitude helium balloons. Using GPS systems and radio transmitters onboard the payload, we will track the balloons in real time, and chase them in the Adler's vans through central Illinois (think "Twister" without the tornadoes). Once we recover the payloads (after a soft landing via parachute), you will analyze your scientific data - and have your own "home movies" from space! Topics The ASW will explore the exciting field of astronomy by address the following topics: • How the Sun and Earth were formed • How the Sun works: What is its power source, and why does it keep us warm • How the Earth protects us: What the atmosphere does for us, and why its important for our survival • Planets around other stars: how astronomers are searching for life around other stars Guest Lecturers Guest lecturers will introduce the students to exciting current topics and unsolved problems in the study of our Solar System. Past speakers have come to us from such varied institutions as the University of Chicago, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the University of Calgary, and the Anglo-Australian Observatory. Students in the program will have the rare opportunity to have lunch with such scientific heavyweights after their talks. Application & Eligibility Due to the level of the workshop's content, a course in Algebra is a prerequisite. In addition, only applicants in the 10th or 11th grades during the 2007-2008 school year will be considered. Eligible students with a strong interest in astronomy and related sciences are encouraged to apply. Due to high interest in the program the application process will be competitive. For full consideration, please apply before May 15, 2008. Step 1 To Apply By Mail: Please download the application (PDF) and send to: Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum ATTN: Jeremy Sepinsky, ASW Coordinator 1300 S. Lake Shore Drive Chicago, IL 60605 To Apply Online: Click the button below to go to our webform APPLY ONLINE Step 2 Ask one of your teachers to mail a letter of recommendation to the address given above. Those admitted to the program will be charged a registration fee of $150, which will help to cover the costs of materials for the program, food for the launch day, and the instruments to be launched. Fee waivers are available; please contact the program coordinator for details. Scholarships The ASW will conclude with an award ceremony, at which three students who have excelled in their work will be honored with the following awards: Helen & Robert Adler Scholarship $2,000 will be credited towards the recipient's first year's college tuition. In addition, the recommending teacher will receive $300 to use in the classroom. Henry G. Knorr Book Award $150 will be presented to one student for the purchase of college textbooks. Marti Beck Memorial Award $100 will be awarded in memory of Marti Beck, Astro-Science Workshop class of '65-'66. About ASW The Astro-Science Workshop (ASW) is a challenging program designed for high school sophomores and juniors in the Chicago area who have demonstrated exceptional interest and aptitude in science. Sponsored by the Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum and the National Science Foundation, the ASW originated over 40 years ago during the space race and Apollo program. Created to encourage students to pursue careers in science, today it fulfills this goal by offering students the unique opportunity to work hands-on with scientific instruments and research-quality data. Contact The coordinator of the 2008 Astro-Science Workshop is Jeremy Sepinsky. Should you have any questions about the program, please contact him by one of the following means: E-mail: j-sepinsky@northwestern.edu Phone: 312-322-0822 FAX: 312-322-2257 Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum ATTN: Jeremy Sepinsky 1300 S. Lake Shore Drive Chicago, IL 60605