StarsAtYerkes AAS 2012

StarsAtYerkes was well represented once again at the AAS convention, January 9-12, 2012, in Austin, TX. In attendance were teacher members Marcella Linahan (Carmel Catholic High School, Mundelein, IL), Chelen Johnson (Breck School, Minneapolis, MN. and Peggy Piper (Lincoln-Way North High School, Frankfort, IL) as members of NITARP (NASA/IPAC Teacher Archieval Research Program). Our main S@Y mentor, Vivian Hoette (Yerkes Observatory) was also in attendance along with a bevy of astronomers who have supported us over the years.

Marcella and Chelen, with students from their schools, had the opportunity to present their work on Star Formation in Bright Rimmed Clouds to astronomers and educators from all over the world. Working alongside astronomer Louisa ReBull (Spitzer Science Center) and with teacher/student teams from Oregon and Florida, Marcella and Chelen have spent the past year working on this project. They presented the culmination their work in terms of both astronomy and the impact on education. Their Science poster Spitzer-Selected Young Stellar Objects in Two Bright Rimmed Clouds [1] describes their discovery of a total of 19 previously unknown Young Stellar Objects (YSOs) in BRC 27 and 8 YSOs in BRC 34. The groups Education poster described The Effects of Authentic Research Experience on Teachers and Students Through NITARP [2] in which they collected antidotal data on the effects of this research experience inspiring other students and teachers.