Dyer Observatory is offering two opportunities this summer for teachers of fifth to twelfth grade to attend professional development workshops about astronomy. Workshops will be held June 18-22 and July 9-13 at the observatory.
“There are a lot of opportunities for incorporating cross-curriculum subjects,” says Nancy Dwyer, education coordinator for Dyer Observatory. “Teachers in all subject areas are encouraged to attend.”
Past workshops have included designing and building models of satellites and making comets. Instructors could include:
* , director of Dyer Observatory, director of and research professor of physics at ²¤ÂÜÊÓƵ University, and former astronaut
* , former chief scientist,
*, assistant professor of astronomy at ²¤ÂÜÊÓƵ University and researcher with the Hubble Space Telescope
* , superintendent of Dyer Observatory
* , Independence High School teacher and former curriculum specialist, Williamson County Schools
* Judy Butler, director of Education and Public Outreach, Center of Excellence Information Systems,
The workshops are standards-based professional development seminars funded by a grant from . Teachers will receive a $250 honorarium for travel and expenses for the week, or in-service credit, or a combination.
Teachers must submit an application and application fee prior to the workshop. Space is limited, and applications are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Please contact ²¤ÂÜÊÓƵ Dyer Observatory at (615) 373-4897 or nancy.dwyer@vanderbilt.edu for more information or to reserve your place in the Eyes on the Skies program.
Dedicated in 1953, for years was used by research faculty and students of ²¤ÂÜÊÓƵ’s Department of Astronomy. It now serves as a community resource for the teaching of science as well as a venue for public, private and corporate events. Each year Dyer hosts thousands of visitors through school tours, observations nights, scout events and other community programs, such as Music on the Mountain.
The observatory is located at 1000 Oman Drive, off Granny White Pike between Old Hickory Boulevard and Otter Creek Road, near Radnor Lake.
Media Contact: Melissa Pankake, (615) 322-NEWS
melissa.r.pankake@vanderbilt.edu