education and outreach at the laser interferometer gravitational-wave observatories

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Education and Outreach at the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave

Observatories

Fred Raab

LIGO Hanford Observatory

Education and Outreach at LIGO

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LIGO’s Mission is to Open a New Portal on the Universe

In 1609 Galileo viewed the sky through a 20X telescope and gave birth to modern astronomy

LIGO’s quest, 400 yrs later, is to create a radically new way to perceive the universe, by directly listening to the vibrations of space itself

LIGO consists of large, high-tech, earth-based, detectors that will act like huge microphones, listening for the “space quakes” created by the most violent events in the universe


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LIGO Hanford (LHO, Washington)

LIGO Livingston (LLO, Louisiana)

The Laser InterferometerGravitational-Wave Observatory

Brought to you by the National Science Foundation; operated by Caltech and MIT; the research focus for about 450 LIGO Science Collaboration members worldwide.


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…despite a few difficulties, science runs started in 2002…


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Focus on Making this Science Accessible!

LIGO is 21st century science, rooted in age-old struggle to understand universe Public finds Einstein, space, time, cosmology, astrophysics very exciting Goal is to share the excitement and possibilities of this science and utilize it to

meets critical needs in our communities Targeted observatory communities, represented by Local Educator Networks:

» Pacific Northwest for Hanford Observatory– Rural– Low-income pockets and migrant populations– Large Hispanic and Native American populations

» State of Louisiana for Livingston Observatory– Rural– Poor with “failing” schools– Large black population

Products– Site tours and exhibits, internships, public lectures, pre-/in-service

programs, internet resources, media relations


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Local Educator Network Focus Groups Advise Direction of Effort

(Example: LHO LEN)

Royace Aikin, Science Education Programs, Pacific Northwest National Lab

Terri Andre, Science Education Programs, Columbia River Exhibition of History, Science & Technology

Rene Corrales, Scientist, Pacific Northwest National Lab Lynne Dolph, Teacher, Yakima Nation Tribal School (High School) George Garlick, President, Garlick Enterprises Roy Gephart, Scientist, Pacific Northwest National Lab & Alliance for the

Advancement of Science Through Astronomy Stan Hughes, Teacher, White Swan High School Dale Ingram, Teacher, Gladstone High School Mary Moore, Teacher, Jason Lee Elementary School Judy Morrison, Faculty in Education, Teaching, and Learning at Washington

State University, Tri-Cities Tim Olson, Faculty in Computer Science and Engineering, Salish-Kootenai

College Keith Plewman, Teacher, McLaughlin Middle School Brock Wells, Teacher, Robert Olds Junior High School


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LHO LEN Focus Group Workshop on 1/8/03

Identified Needs, Concerns & Opportunities» Unanimous: bring schools, families, clubs and other groups to

observatory for contact with real science and scientists– Increase community awareness and student motivation

» Internships felt to be strong educational vehicles– REU program attractive for college students in sciences– SST program attractive for high school and maybe middle school– Strong voice for adding in-service and pre-service training

» Given limited resources, focus on students in grades 6-20 with observatory visits, especially grades 8-12

» Grade K-5 educational needs best met by immersion of teachers in science methods and scientist interactions

» Encouragement for joint programs with WSU, CREHST, AASTA and other community groups


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Programs to Date for K-12 Students and Teachers

K-12 programs in collaboration with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and Educational Service District (ESD) 123 in southeast Washington, Washington State University at Tri-Cities, Gladstone School District in Oregon, Columbia River Exhibition of History, Science & Technology, Southern University of Baton Rouge, Louisiana Board of Regents.

Scientist-Student-Teacher program started in 1999, involved ~120 students on projects related to LIGO research in AY2003

LIGO featured in “The Scientific Method on the Job” video for Middle/High School science

Distance learning initiative with ESD 123, developed interactive science program for WA K-20 teleconferencing network

Teacher interns developed exhibit guide, lesson plans, K20 scripts and internet resources during summers

District-level workshops for science teachers


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Scientist-Student-Teacher Program with Gladstone High

Objective: address the Essential Academic Learning Requirement (EALR) on “the nature and methods of scientific inquiry” by involving classes in real scientific research

Problem: analyze seismic data taken at LIGO Hanford Observatory (LHO) and produce long-term study of microseism

Why? The microseism produces the fastest changes of the LIGO baseline, but there are no historical records of microseism near the Hanford site

Instrumentation: LIGO has 5 triple-axis seismometers on site connected to a data acquisition system and significant high-speed computing capacity

Gladstone High School supplies commitment to long-term monitoring & data trending

Program migrating to Louisiana schools


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Gladstone High School Contributions to LIGO Research

Now have multiple-year record of microseism Seasonal variability on high end traced to ocean wave activity

using specific NOAA buoys» students also measured the wave propagation velocity between buoys by

using a cross-correlation technique During quiet season, searched for potential correlation with local

weather patterns Demonstrated general insensitivity of microseism band to

human-generated noise by studying day/night statistics Reports on Gladstone High School physics web page at

http://www.gladstone.k12.or.us/ghs/users/ingramd/Physics Annual community science night draws parents, business

leaders, state legislators and ~100 student presenters


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Long-term microseism connection to ocean-wave activity

Seasonal trend in microseism identified in early analysis (left) found to agree qualitatively with ocean-buoy

wave-height data (below)


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Internet-Accessible Resources for Teachers, by Teachers


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Web Lesson Plans Tied to State Standards in WA & OR


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Integrated In-Class and Field Trip Activities


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College Students and Faculty

LIGO REU/SURF program involves ~20-30 undergrad research interns/yr; LHO typically supports 5-6 + hosts SURF field trip for students from CIT

» Betsy Weaver developed/commissioned vac-prep facility» Eric Morganson wrote earth-tides prediction software» Tom Corbitt developed automated laser sideband analyzer» Brian Cameron simulated periodic source analysis

Typically 2-4 grad students doing research» U.Rochester, U. Oregon, U. Michigan, Caltech, MIT, Penn.St.

Visitors program» U. Michigan, U. Oregon collaborators on long-term appointments» Oregon Institute of Technology visiting professor developed ideas for Laser

Institute courses


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Informal Education

Observatory tours draw 1000s of visitors/yr both in WA and LA» Einstein, interferometers, astrophysics and the work that we do.» Audience comes from professional groups, schools, boy scouts, families, bicycle

club, Model T club, etc.» Hosted WA State Science Teachers in 2001» Recent “Mars Madness” night drew 20 telescopes and ~1500 skygazers

Public talks and LIGO Public Lectures» Annual public lectures bring breaking science to diverse audiences (typical

attendance of several hundred/lecture)» Rotary/Kiwanis clubs & professional societies» Adler Planetarium public lecture, as part of “Cosmic Happenings” series

Cooperative “happenings” w/ other outreach groups» Wheeler book signing at CREHST museum, Richland, WA» B-Reactor reunion» Mars Madness with Tri-City Astronomy Club

LIGO Video (~20 minute) RFP by NSF


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Targeting Underserved Populations

Hispanics and Native Americans are largest groups near LHO that are typically underserved by science education and underrepresented in technical fields

Salish-Kootenai College (SKC) - near Flathead Lake, Montana – member, LIGO Scientific Collaboration (LSC); provides detector characterization software, establishing Tier-3 GRID center for LIGO data analysis

Blacks are largest underserved/underrepresented community near LLO, with larger Hispanic populations in neighboring states

Southern University of Baton Rouge is historically black college near LLO, member LSC, large in-service program in LA

University of Texas, Brownsville, member LSC, large Hispanic student body, involved with LLO


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LIGO Hopes to Widen Doorway into Science for Native- & African-Americans

LIGO

Salish-Kootenai

U. of Washington

School District(s)

Community Colleges

Southern U.

Louisiana State U.

School Districts

Community Colleges

WA LA


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Proposing Major Education/Outreach Expansion in Louisiana

Based on experience and partnerships developed, we hope to significantly expand local outreach» $5M over five years

» Major Science Center at Livingston Observatory

» Exploratorium-developed exhibits for teaching science for Livingston & Hanford

» Integrated with teacher training and service internships at Southern University of Baton Rouge

» Integrated with Louisiana’s GEAR-UP program through Board of Regents

» Local Educator Networks for guidance by outreach consumers


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Working toward a regional science center for the inland Northwest

Partners/Resources» Columbia River Exhibition of History, Science & Technology

– Access to non-classified Hanford DOE artifacts– Active K-6, summer & other programs in science & environment– “Gateway” to Hanford Works & Hanford Reach Nat’l Monument

» Alliance for Science Teaching Through Astronomy– Robotizing 0.8-m observatory atop Rattlesnake Mountain for internet

use in classrooms

» B-Reactor Museum Society– World’s 1st production nuclear reactor; hope to open to public

» Economic, Community and Tourism Development Agencies– Hungry to develop economic independence from D.O.E.

Plan to develop alliance over next few years


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National Outreach Effort

Caltech public relations coordinates national media inquiries into LIGO (print, radio and TV)

NSF video will provide “PBS half hour” material for presentations, incorporation into other program

LSC has many independent efforts at member institutions

As LSC tech-development programs coalesce into advanced LIGO upgrade project, hope to unify LSC outreach efforts into a coordinated national program

education and outreach at the laser interferometer gravitational-wave observatories

Documents