NITARP, the NASA/IPAC Teacher Archive Research Program, gets teachers
involved in authentic astronomical research. We partner small groups of
educators with a mentor professional astronomer for an original research
project. The educators incorporate the experience into their classrooms and
share their experience with other teachers. The program runs January through
January. Applications are available now and due on September 21. ***Please
note that there is a new page limit this year for applications!***

This program, to the best of our knowledge, is completely unique in the
following two important ways: (1) each team does original research using
real astronomical data, not canned labs or reproductions of previously done
research; (2) each team writes up the results of their research and presents
it at an American Astronomical Society meeting (the AAS is the professional
organization for astronomers in the US). Each team also presents the
educational results of their experience in the program.

Most, but not all, of our educators are grade 8-13, but informal educators
have participated as well. The kinds of educators we are looking for are
those who already know the basics of astronomy, and are interested in
learning exactly how astronomy research is conducted.

Some of you on this distribution will be interested in applying, and others
are mentors to, or friends of, people who might be interested in applying.
Either way, please do pass this along!

For more information, please see our website (
http://nitarp.ipac.caltech.edu ), or if you have any questions, please feel
free to contact me at this email or at our central email,
nitarp@ipac.caltech.edu.

Dr. Luisa Rebull Research Scientist, Spitzer Science Center
Caltech M/S 220-6 voice 626-395-4565
1200 E. California Blvd. FAX 626-568-0673
Pasadena, CA 91125