Note: This paper was later published in ASP Conference Series Volume 89, edited by John R. Percy, ISBN 1-886733-10-4, pp 218-220, 1996.

ABSTRACT: The AAS engages in educational outreach at many levels. These include the Shapley Visiting Lectureship program to colleges, the Research Experience for Undergraduates program for college students, the Bok Awards for high school students at the International Science and Engineering Fair, the career brochure for high-school and college students, the AAS Teacher Resource Agent program and the Teachers' Days at AAS meetings for elementary/secondary school teachers. In addition, AAS members are supported through the Working Group on Astronomy Education and special sessions at AAS meetings. Support for the REU and AASTRA programs by NSF and the Teachers' Day by NASA is acknowledged.

TEXT:

The American Astronomical Society (AAS) is the major organization of professional astronomers in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The basic objective of the AAS is to promote the advancement of astronomy and closely related branches of science. The membership of approximately 6500 includes astronomers, physicists, mathematicians, historians of science, science teachers, geologists, and engineers whose interests lie within the broad spectrum of subject matter now comprising contemporary astronomy. The Society produces and/or participates in a broad range of programs to involve students and teachers, as well as the general public, in the excitement of modern astronomy.

The Harlow Shapley Visiting Lectureship program provides two-day visits by professional astronomers to college campuses, bringing the excitement of modern astronomy to the students and general public. A key feature of every visit is a free public lecture for the community. Lecturers also make presentations to a variety of classes at the college, visit with the college administrators, and often make outreach visits to local schools or planetariums. The level of the talks vary depending upon the needs of the host institution. Forty to eighty colleges are visited throughout Canada and the US every year. Over 80 astronomers are designated Shapley lecturers each year. Program costs are provided by the Harlow Shapley Endowment fund of the American Astronomical Society. Host institutions are requested to make a financial contribution in support of the visit. For further information contact: the AAS Education Office.

Since 1994, the AAS Teacher Resource Agent program has provided summer institutes and follow-up activities for 75 teachers per year. These K-12 teachers are prepared to become astronomy resource agents in their geographic regions. The objectives of the program are to enhance the teaching of astronomy in elementary and secondary schools, to provide astronomy workshops to elementary and secondary school teachers using hands-on astronomy activities, to encourage the professionalism of the participants, and to increase interactions among professional astronomers, science educators, and elementary/secondary school teachers. The summer institutes are conducted at Northern Arizona University, Loyola University of Chicago, and University of Maryland at College Park. All agents become associate members of the AAS as part of their participation. The AASTRA program is supported by the National Science Foundation as a teacher enhancement project. For further information, contact the AAS Education Office.

Mentoring of undergraduates by astronomers is provided in the AAS Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program. The student receives a stipend for either academic year or summer and travel funds for research. The mentor and student receive travel funds to attend an AAS meeting where they present the results of their research. Since Spring 1992, 35 awards have been made to mentors a t 31 different institutions. Awards are made on the basis of peer review of short research proposals to the AAS/REU committee. The AAS/REU program is supported by the National Science Foundation. For further information contact the AAS Executive Office, 2000 Florida Avenue, NW Suite 400, Washington, DC 20009.
[This program ended in September, 1996. More information concerning it can be found in a paper presented at the June, 1996 AAS meeting.]

The AAS and ASP jointly provide the Priscilla and Bart Bok Awards at the annual International Science and Engineering Fair for high school science fair projects in astronomy. Winners of the first and second place Bok Awards receive certificates, subscriptions to Mercury magazine, and cash awards. For further information, contact Science Service, 1719 N Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036, 202-785-2255.

The AAS Education Office produces and distributes a career brochure on astronomy. A New Universe to Explore: Careers in Astronomy.

The AAS sponsors 1.5 day meetings for teachers at some national meetings. Twenty to sixty teachers from the local region participate. The teachers receive substitute teachers' pay for one day, resource materials, and an opportunity for both special sessions of their own while attending parts of the regular meeting. Since 1991, the program has been supported by the NASA Astrophysics Division under the IDEA program. In 1995, the meeting was held in cooperation with the ASP. In addition, the Division of Planetary Sciences of the AAS sponsors similar meetings for teachers at their annual meetings.

Sites of AAS Teachers' Programs
Austin (1988)
Kansas City (1988)
Boston (1989)
Washington (1990 & 1994)
Philadelphia (1991)
Atlanta (1992)
Phoenix (1993)
Tucson (1995)

Sites of AAS Division of Planetary Sciences Teachers' Programs
Providence (1989)
Charlottesville (1990)
Palo Alto (1991)
Munich (1992)
Boulder (1993)
Bethesda (1994)

The Working Group on Astronomy Education was formed to provide interested astronomers with a forum for raising questions and gathering information. The Group sponsors education sessions at AAS meetings and publishes an electronic newsletter. Noted in 2010: this group no longer exists within the AAS.

This document last updated: 7 February 1997 (Links updated 20 October 2010)
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