A TEACHER'S GUIDE TO PLASMA SCIENCE RESOURCES
| Introduction | Basic Information | Plasmas in Nature | |
| Man-Made Plasmas | Resources for Students | |
| Resources for Teachers | Plasma Outreach Near You |
A PLASMA OUTREACH PROGRAM NEAR YOU
The sites below point toward outreach programs that either have a plasma component or could support a discussion of plasma. If you cannot find an outreach program near you, remember that a local college/university may house a chapter of the Society of Physics Students (SPS). Often these students do physics outreach into their local communities.
Click on the
The World Wide Web Virtual Library - Plasma Science and Technology Sites
Worldwide: Plasma-related research sites
around the world. Part of the larger
University of Alabama, Department of Astronomy and Physics (Tuscalusa, AL): Hosts Public Nights, an evening program open to the public for viewing celestial objects. See their web site for dates and times.
Auburn University, Plasma Program
The Marshall Space Center (Huntsville, AL): Sponsors a speakers' bureau, tours, partnerships and workshops as well as providing information.
Poker Flat Research Range (Poker Flat, AK) is "the world's only scientific rocket launching facility owned by a university," the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). They offer general information, scientific data, tours, aurora activity information, etc.
The Geophysical Institute, Space Physics and Aeronomy Group (Fairbanks, AK): Conducts research in the Earth's geophysical environment from the space around the sun to our atmosphere.
University of Arizona, Physics Dept. Outreach (Tucson, AZ): Outreach is not specific to plasmas, but may include plasmas.
National Solar Observatory (Kitt Peak, AZ)
Lowell Observatory (Flagstaff, AZ)
University of Arkansas, Physics Department (Fayetteville, AR): Over 100 physics demonstrations.
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Science and Technology Education Program
Lockheed Martin Space Plasmas Group
Mt. Wilson Observatory: A tour of the observatory, or a night viewing through the telescope, could supplement a discussion of plasma.
Stanford University, Stanford Solar Center: This site presents a collection of fun educational activities based on Solar Oscillations Investigation (SOI) and Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) data.
UCLA: Los Angeles Physics Teachers Alliance Group (LAPTAG): LAPTAG is a University-Community College-High School alliance between Los Angeles area High Schools, Community Colleges and the UCLA's Plasma Physics Department. It is open to all interested high schools and community colleges. It has a strong plasma physics focus, including a High School Plasma Lab http://plasmalab.pbwiki.com/.
UCSD Center for Energy Research: Provides information for teachers and students about local activities and demonstrations relating to plasma science.
Space Science Institute (Boulder, CO)
University of Colorado at Boulder maintains a number of plasma outreach sites, including:
Center for Integrated Plasma Studies: Has some links to education materials through their different Research Groups.
Science from CU: Has a "States of Matter" link that deals with plasma.
Physics Department, U of Colorado: Click on the Outreach button on the Physics page.
Educational Outreach in Physics, Southern Connecticut University (New Haven): Dr. James Dolan is listed as being in charge of educational outreach. Plasmas are not specifically mentioned.
Western Connecticut University (Danbury, CT) Astronomical Facilities: For physics education, observatories and special programs see http://www.wcsu.edu/physics/astfacilities.asp. Plasmas are not specifically mentioned.
Mount Cuba Astronomical Observatory
University of Delaware Department of Physics and Astronomy High School Day Open House: Outreach is available through scheduled open houses, and the Society of Physics Students.
Florida Solar Energy Center (University of Central Florida)
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (Tallahassee)
Georgia Tech (Atlanta,GA): Physics, Resource Page.
University of Hawaii, Institute for Astronomy (Maui): Astronomy Projects.
Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Lab, INEEL (Idaho Falls, ID): Educational programs, includes partnerships, sponsors competitions, teacher workshops and more.
Argonne Division of Educational Programs: Describes the Argonne Educational Outreach Vehicle and Summer Teacher Enhancement Institute. Locals should contact them for more information.
Physics Van Outreach Program (University of Illinois Physics Department): Includes shows, demonstrations, and much more!
University of Chicago Center for Astrophysical Research in Antarctica
University of Chicago Center for Cosmological Physics
Ames Laboratory: Supports a collaborative undergraduate research program during the school year and during the summer.
University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA): Space Plasma Wave Group
Kansas State University QuarkNet Center (Manhattan, KA): This program provides opportunities for school science teachers to learn firsthand about frontline physics research, and establish mentor relationships between science teachers and physics professors at universities.
University of Kentucky (Lexington, KY): Physics and Astronomy, Education and Outreach.
Louisiana State University Physics and Astronomy Outreach (Baton Rouge, LA)
University of Maine (Orono, ME): Physics and Astronomy Research Public Services Program, includes classroom demonstrations and more.
University of Maryland: Physics lecture demonstration facility.
Space Telescope Science Institute (NASA) (Baltimore)
The NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (Greenbelt, MD): Offers resources to local residents as well as sponsoring programs throughout the U.S. Workshops, partnerships, information and more are available. The pages for their Education Programs and their Speakers Bureau are especially helpful.
MIT's Educational Outreach Programs
MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center Educational Outreach
University of Michigan Physics Outreach (Ann Arbor, MI): Although the site does not specifically mention plasma science outreach, the University of Michigan does research involving plasmas. Check out also their Saturday AM Physics Program, which may involve discussion of plasma from time to time.
Michigan State University Physics and Astronomy Department Outreach (Lansing, MI)
Eastern Michigan University Physics and Astronomy Outreach (Ypsilanti, MI): Also look at side bar for Society of Physics Students and Sherzer Observatory, both of which also do outreach.
University of Minnesota Space Plasma Physics Group (Twin Cities, MN)
University of Mississippi, Continuing Education and Outreach: Includes the Mississippi Science and Engineering Fair and precollege summer programs. They are not specific to plasma study, but can perhaps put you in contact with faculty that could help with plasma programs.
Honeywell Federal Manufacturing and Technologies (Kansas City, MO): Includes Do-It-Yourself Experiments, Programs and Workshops, Resources, and Invite an Engineer to Class programs.
University of Montana Physics and Astronomy Outreach (Missoula, MT)
University of Nebraska Lincoln Physics and Astronomy Outreach: The University has a Department of Atomic, Molecular, Optical and Plasma Physics.
University of Nevada, Physics Outreach Efforts
Experimental Space Plasma Physics Group, University of New Hampshire (Durham, NH)
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory Educational Programs
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Bradbury Science Museum Programs (Los Alamos, NM)
Sandia National Laboratory Science and Technology Outreach
Sandia National Lab, Educational Partnerships
Brookhaven National Laboratory
Columbia University (New York, NY): Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics offers precollege programs, scholarship information, informational web resources, etc.
Cornell Center for Materials Research: This site offers activities and education modules, but not much related to plasma. However, a search for plasma or plasma education will take the searcher to "Ask a Scientist" references, where a lot of plasma information if available via links.
Cornell University (Ithaca, NY): Includes teacher resources, workshops and tours, K-12 programs and more. They are not about plasmas, but provide general physics information useful in developing a foundation for understanding plasmas.
Laboratory for Laser Energetics (Rochester, NY): Focuses on Inertial Confinement Fusion. Follow the education link to the High School Program, and learn about a recent Summer High School Outreach Program.
Morehead Observatory Guest Night (Chapel Hill, NC)
Ohio State University (Columbus, OH): Department of Astronomy Public Outreach
University of Okalahoma, Center for Analysis and Prediction of Storms (Norman, OK): Outreach includes "Sun and Our Weather." Plasma is not mentioned specifically.
Pine Mountain Observatory (University of Oregon)
Lehigh University (Bethlehem, PA)
Ruth Patrick Science Education Center
Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) Volunteers in Education Team
CASPER - Center for Astrophysics, Space Physics & Engineering Research, Baylor University (Waco, TX)
University of Texas, High Intensity Laser Group (Austin, TX)
University of Utah Chapter of Society of Physics Students (SPS): Can be contacted for outreach. Photos on site indicate they have Van de Graaf generator.
Skyshows of Vermont (Pawlet,VT): A portable planetarium with assorted programs, including the birth and death of stars.
Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium (St. Johnsbury, VT)
Old Dominion University Student Physics Society (Norfolk, VA)
Thomas Jefferson Lab Science Education Programs
University of Washington, Aeronautics and Astronautics (Seattle, WA)
University of Washington Plasma Science
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (Richland,WA)
West Virginia University Plasma Physics Laboratory
K-12 Engineering Outreach Program (University of Wisconsin - Madison)
The Wonders of Physics (University of Wisconsin)
University of Wyoming Physics and Astronomy Outreach (Laramie,WY): Includes numerous observatories.
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