Student-Scientists use Student-Scientists use Remote Sensing Remote Sensing

to Reach Across the to Reach Across the EquatorEquator

NOAO Science Education Group.

Dr. Ron Probst (NOAO)

and Chris Martin

(Howenstine Magnet High School)

Special student-to-student Special student-to-student videoconferencesvideoconferences

• Held in May and November 2006 between students in Tucson, Arizona and La Serena, Chile, the headquarters for the north and south offices of the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO).

• Both times, fifty participants at each location reported on a remote-sensing activity conducted by hundreds of students during February through April, and September through November 2006, respectively.

Students at Tucson High Magnet School (above) and Nsta. Sra. de Andacollo (below) enjoy working on the activity.

Students became acquainted Students became acquainted with the geographywith the geography

• …and geology of their area using Landsat satellite remote sensing imaging.

• The Tucson students then analyzed images of La Serena and students from Chile analyzed images of Tucson.

False color image of Tucson above & La Serena, Chile below

Human “Rovers” Human “Rovers” & Ground Truthing& Ground Truthing

• Since top-down satellite views may not provide complete information, students from one country emailed students from the other country and requested them to be human “rovers,” taking local pictures of areas under question to establish ground-truth

Ground-truthing: La Serena image coordinate F-12 White area is a lime mine.

Student Reaction to the ProjectStudent Reaction to the Project

• was unequivocally positive.

• “The remote sensing project was one of the most fun things in my junior year. I learned how to use a map of La Serena, Chile. I learned about the electromagnetic spectrum, used to form false color images. It was incredible for us Latino students to use our Spanish language to e-mail students in Chile”, said Bisbail Dorame, student coordinator for the project at Howenstine High School in Tucson.

What students learned atSafford Magnet Middle School:

1) What Tucson & Chile look like in satellite images

2) What remote sensing is and some of its uses

3) The difference between false color imaging and true colors imaging

4) Tides can influence the geography of the bay in La Serena

5) Local landmarks and geography and distant landmarks and geography sometimes share similar physical features

6) It is very important to study planet Earth’s physical features before studying other planets

7) The importance of ground-truthing, satellites & robotics in space missions

8) How to work together as a team

The success of The success of this cross-cultural programthis cross-cultural program

• …has motivated one of the ASTRO-Chile teachers & NOAO science education staff to broaden the project to schools around the US & in other countries, coordinated by students as their service-learning project.

• To facilitate this effort, a special, yet generic, worksheet is being developed by Chris Martin. The worksheet can be by teachers to include local landmarks and geographical features.

• Once completed and tested, the work-sheet will be placed on the NOAO website, along with Landsat7 satellite images for different areas around the world.

Chilean student reporting results; Tucson students waving good-bye.

The files for the activity can be found at http://www.noao.edu/ education/astro/remote-sensing/

Contact InformationContact Information

Connie Walker

NOAO

950 N. Cherry Ave.

Tucson, AZ

520-318-8535

cwalker@noao.edu