CaSGC Affiliate -- University of California San Diego & San Diego State

Project ASTRO

Project ASTRO is a national program to improve science education in grades 4-9 by training and forming partnerships between educators and astronomers in their communities. Through multiple classroom visits based around hands-on activities in astronomy and space science, teacher and students can really get to know "their" adopted astronomer, who can provide a lasting benefit throughout the school year and beyond. The program was conceived by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (CaCGC affiliate) in 1993 and now has 11 sites operating in the U.S.. Each site is responsible for recruiting astronomer volunteers, hosting training workshops, and obtaining local funding to support these activities. The San Diego site UC San Diego CaSGC affiliate & San Diego State CaSGC affiliate) began operations in 2001, and has more than doubled in size in 2002-2003 to serve 25 schools in San Diego county, with many of the new schools located in traditionally under-served communities.

For 2003, the San Diego site goals are:
• To retain the current teaching partnerships and provide them with continuing education; and
• To reach even more children in San Diego County's schools, and meet the needs of both today's teachers and the future aerospace industry, by training at least 10 additional astronomer partnerships for schools in communities who have traditionally had little or no access to scientist role models

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