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Past Program Archives

Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative (CWBI)
Maryland Space Grant Consortium, designated by the mid-Atlantic Space Grant consortia as the lead institution for implementing the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative, continues to involve K-12 teachers and students throughout the mid-Atlantic states in an open-ended scientific investigation to determine the degree to which human actions - voluntary, involuntary, or accidental - and nature (especially weather) affect water quality in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The tools they are using include test kits to measure water quality, weather satellite images and other meteorological data to observe and monitor weather, and Landsat satellite imagery to study changes in land use and land cover. This watershed serves as a huge outdoor laboratory in which students can learn about global environmental change by studying and observing environmental phenomena affecting their own communities.

NASA/Raytheon Synergy Project
Towson University, a Maryland Space Grant Consortium (MSGC) partner, was selected as one of seven academic institutions across the country to participate in the Raytheon Synergy Project, a NASA/Earth System Science program focusing on applications of scientific data collect from space. Towson proposed developing an impervious surface map of the Chesapeake Bay and coastal bay watersheds based on the interpretation of Landsat imagery. Current efforts are directed at determining the degree to which certain landforms can be regularly and accurately identified in recently acquired (March 2000) imagery. MSGC is leading a mid-Atlantic Space Grant Consortia effort to involve teachers and students in collecting and reporting "ground truth" data to support Towson's efforts. Workshops were held in July and August 2000 to instruct 75 teachers throughout the watershed in the use of Global Position System (GPS) units to enable them and their students to collect and electronically report different types of herbaceous, forested, and water-impervious surfaces. The workshop-trained teachers also had an obligation to train four more teachers in their area to perform the same tasks during the 2000-2001 school year, thus multiplying the workshop training efforts.

Impervious Posters (NASA/Raytheon Synergy Project)
Elementary, middle and high school teachers who are trained as part of the NASA/Raytheon Synergy project will receive an impervious surface map of the entire Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Maryland Science Center SpaceLink Pre-Service Teacher Internships
Two pre-service teachers received internships at the Maryland Science Center's Space Link which includes creation of an astronomy or earth science lesson activity; a journal reflecting internship experiences; and final Powerpoint Presentation to the MSGC Program Committee. Currently, Kandi Randall, education major at Morgan State University, has been working in SpaceLink since late May 2000. The second intern will begin in spring 2001.

Exploring Engineering Options for Women (STU 102-02 spring 2000)
This program introduced 11 women to the various aspects of engineering and technology. Through this hands-on, interactive approach, women are encouraged to seek technical education experiences and are provided strategies to enhance the enrollment and degree completion in Hagerstown Community College's Engineering Technology and Transfer Programs in order to enter careers in engineering technology. Participants receive one HCC credit and course requirements include classroom discussions, computer simulations, labs, and a field trip.

6th National Volunteer Monitoring Conference
MSGC collaborated with GLOBE and GREEN in a joint poster exhibit during the "Moving into the Mainstream," the 6th National Volunteer Monitoring Conference April 26-29, 2000 in Austin, Texas. MSGC's Chesapeake Bay Watershed Initiative was highlighted.

(Two) 2000 One Week Summer in Engineering Programs for 60 Female High School Students
Two one-week Summer in Engineering Programs for 60 female high school students provided participants the opportunity to experience the world of engineering through conducting lab experiments and working on engineering design projects while living on University of Maryland College Park's campus.

Women's Science Forum
This year's support funded 100 girls and 56 parents to a full day event at the Maryland Science Center which included a Keynote address, hands-on physics activity on dark matter and astronomy and boat trip to investigate the chemistry of the Bay, a panel discussion with women scientists about careers, and an informal fair to link up the girls with other educational opportunities.

Engineering= Maryland Community Collaboration (E=mc2)
Elementary School Outreach Program is a community partnership between the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland at College Park, Community Service Programs and the neighboring Paintbranch Elementary School. Engineering undergraduate students worked with thirty-two 4th and 5th graders to help them complete science projects.