Rep. Schakowsky, Northwestern University, Visit ETHS Science Programs

Rep. Schakowsky views a computational model from ETHS student. NU graduate student Jason Hwang (second from right) partners as a resident scientist in the classroom of ETHS physics teacher Dan DuBrow (left).

EVANSTON, IL. - Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky recently visited Evanston Township High School to learn more about a new collaboration between ETHS and Northwestern University in which two Northwestern University astronomy graduate students, Benjamin Farr and Jason Hwang, are integrating their cutting-edge research into the science curricula at Evanston Township High School as "resident scientists."

They are part of a new five-year program that puts graduate students in K-12 classrooms and trains them in communicating their complex research to people of all ages. The program, called "Reach for the Stars: Computational Models for Teaching and Learning in Physics, Astronomy and Computer Science," pairs each doctoral student with an area science teacher. The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded this five-year, $2.7 million Graduate Teaching Fellows in K-12 Education (GK-12) grant to Northwestern's Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics (CIERA).

Five other graduate students from Northwestern’s science, technology, engineering and math doctoral programs are resident scientists this year in other local schools. At ETHS, Farr is in the astronomy classroom of GionMatthias Schelbert, and Hwang is working with Dan DuBrow in physics. Each team will work closely all school year to develop lesson plans for the classroom that integrate computational thinking and scientific inquiry-based learning.

NU graduate student Benjamin Farr demonstrates his research to Rep. Schakowsky. Benjamin Farr (right) is a resident scientist in the classroom of ETHS astronomy teacher GionMatthias Schelbert.

More information can be found at: http://gk12.ciera.northwestern.edu/