Student Science Fellow Program
A collaboration between Stanford's Haas Center for Public Service and the Solar Observatories Group

Stanford's Haas Center for Public Service and the Solar Observatories Group are collaborating to develop a program to train and involve interested undergraduate students in communicating science to K-14 students and the general public. Development of the program and evaluation are being undertaken in collaboration with Stanford's School of Education and with Dr. Cherilynn Morrow of the Space Science Institute.

University undergraduate students from all fields are selected to participate in the program, which has 2 aspects:

1. Formal classroom training, for undergraduate credit, in science education and communicating science, service learning issues and techniques, and current solar science understanding. Science Fellows are taught the importance of science education reform and to understand and work with the National Science Standards.

2. Weekly ongoing outreach to community-based education programs such as the Boys and Girls Clubs, local and non-local underserved school districts, and tribal colleges.

Our hope is to develop a successful model science-outreach, community service student program, which can be adapted to a variety of environments and other universities.

By combining in-depth training with outreach, we hope to instill in our Science Fellows a lifelong interest in science education and public outreach, no matter what their careers. These students will go on to become leaders in their fields, not only serving as effective role models but also motivating their own professions to engage in E/PO activities.

Member's of NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) Mission are involved with developing the program and assuring appropriate science content. Astrophysicist, NASA Facilitator, and Education Professional Dr. Cherilynn Morrow has helped design and deliver the training program. Activities and learning materials were chosen from pre-existing NASA and other resources. Most have already been evaluated and aligned with the National Science Standards.

Our Science Fellows serve as role models to disadvantaged young people. They are explicitly taught about the need to attract diverse populations into the science, engineering, technology, and math fields and encourage children to continue in science related courses, to go to college, and consider these careers. Our students are able to work with diverse communities, speaking native languages to the students and their parents, and acting as role models to encourage careers in science and technology.

For information about our Stanford Student Science Fellow program, see Science in Service Community Placements.