|  Who We Are
The Universe Forum is a national center for teaching and learning
about the scientific study of the Structure and Evolution of the Universe
(SEU). With the help of our NASA SEU mission and research partners,
we aim to foster collaborations that use the unique resources of NASA's
space science research program to create exciting and substantive learning
experiences for students, teachers, and the public.
We are based at the Smithsonian
Astrophysical Observatory, a member of the
Harvard-Smithsonian Center for
Astrophysics (CfA)
in Cambridge, MA. The CfA is home to over 300 Smithsonian and
Harvard scientists researching the physical processes that determine
the nature and evolution of the universe; our Science Education Department
is world-renowned for its educational research, development, and media
projects.
Using questions about the universe, how it began, how it is evolving, and
our place within it, the Universe Forum engages the public in the deepest
mysteries of the cosmos - such as the origin of time, the nature of black
holes, the secrets of dark energy, and the ecology of our unfolding universe
- promoting understanding of the common principles underlying all science.
Contact the Universe Forum at seuforum@cfa.harvard.edu
What We Do
The Universe Forum is involved in a number of projects, programs,
and partnerships that bring the exploration of the structure and evolution
of the universe to students, teachers and the public: Formal Education - In order to enhance the quality
of science, mathematics, and technology education at the pre-college
level, we produce classroom curriculum tools and professional development
programs for educators, based on research investigations of science learning
and teaching:
- MicroObservatory national online telescope network
- Space Science Assessment Project
- Cosmology DVD Project for Professional
Development
- Modeling the Universe NSTA short course
- Cosmic Questions Education Program
Informal Education - In order to share
the excitement of space science discoveries with the public, we facilitate
the presentation of programs, exhibitions, and multi-media products in
museums, planetariums, and other out-of-school learning environments:
Building Learning Communities - We
make our research and materials widely available through print, Internet,
teleconferencing, hands-on workshops, exhibits at science and education
conferences, and other media, and through our partners. Our partnerships
and collaborations include the following regional and national organizations:
- American Association of Physics
Teachers
- Association
of Science-Technology Centers
- Astronomical Society of
the Pacific
- Boston Public Schools
- Boston
2 to 6 Afterschool Initiative
- Cambridge Public Schools
- Hispanic
Office of Planning and Evaluation
- International Planetarium
Society
- Latino After-School Initiative
- National
Organization of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers
- National
Science Teachers Association
Our NASA Education and Public Outreach Partners
Visit our Missions Page to
find out about our partners from NASA missions that study the Structure
and Evolution of the Universe. The Universe Forum is part of the greater
NASA Education and Public Outreach community. Consisting of four
Education Forums and seven Broker/Facilitators, NASA's
Office of Space Science (OSS) Support Network connects scientists
with educators, educational programs and the public. Connect with the
Forums to explore the exciting themes of NASA space science research
and education, or find a Broker/Facilitator in your area and learn about
individual collaborations in your geographic region.
Forums Structure and Evolution of the Universe (SEU) Forum
Smithsonian
Astrophysical Observatory, MA
http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/seuforum Astronomical Search for Origins and Planetary Systems (ASO)
Forum
Space Telescope Science Institute, MD
http://origins.stsci.edu/ Solar System Exploration (SSE) Forum
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, CA
http://sseforum.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm Sun-Earth Connection (SEC) Forum (East Coast)
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, MD
http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/ Sun-Earth Connection (SEC) Forum (West Coast)
University of California, Berkeley, CA
http://sunearth.ssl.berkeley.edu/ Brokers Upper Northeast Region Broker
New England Space Science Initiative in
Education (NESSIE) at the Museum of Science, MA
http://www.mos.org/nessie/ Mid-Atlantic Region Broker
Mid-Atlantic Region Space Science Broker (MARSSB), at the Center
for Educational Technology, WV
http://marssb.cet.edu/main.html Southeast Region Broker
Southeast Regional Clearinghouse (SERCH), at the College of Charleston,
SC
http://serch.cofc.edu/serch/ Upper Midwest Region Broker
DePaul Space Science Center for Education
and Outreach, at DePaul University, IL
http://analyzer.depaul.edu/NASABroker/ South and Lower Midwest Region Broker
SCORE Broker, at the Lunar and
Planetary Institute (LPI), TX
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/broker.shtml Upper Northwest Region Broker
Space Science Network Northwest (S2N2) at the University of Washington,
WA
http://www.s2n2.org/index.html Upper Midwest and Lower Southwest Region Broker
Western Region Broker, at Space Science Institute (SSI), CO
http://ssibroker.colorado.edu/broker/ For a map of the Forums and Brokers across the country, visit
http://spacescience.nasa.gov/education/resources/ecosystem/index.htm |
