Extraordinary Matter: Visualizing Space Plasmas and Particles

Atoms and sub-atomic particles play a crucial role in the dynamics of our universe, but these particles and the space plasmas comprised of such particles are often overlooked in popular scientific and educational resources. Even the most basic particle and plasma physics principles are generally unfamiliar to non-scientists. Educators and public communicators need assistance in explaining these concepts that cannot be easily demonstrated in the everyday world. Active visuals are a highly effective aid to understanding, but resources of this type are currently few in number and difficult to find, and most do not provide suitable context for audience comprehension. To address this need, our team of space science educators and scientists from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and the Adler Planetarium are in the process of developing an online multimedia reference library of resources such as animations, visualizations, interactivities, videos, etc. This website, Extraordinary Matter: Visualizing Space Plasmas and Particles, is designed to assist educators with explaining these concepts that cannot be easily demonstrated in the everyday world. The site will target primarily grades 9-14 and the equivalent in informal education and public outreach. Each ready-to-use product will be accompanied by a supporting explanation at a reading level matching the educational level of the concept. It will also have information on relevant STEM education standards, date of development, credits, restrictions on use, and possibly related products, links, and suggested uses. These products are intended to stand alone, making them adaptable to the widest range of uses, including scientist presentations, museum displays, educational websites and CDs, teacher professional development, and classroom use. Our team has surveyed the potential user community for their specific needs, gaps, and priorities. Referencing STEM educational standards, we are accumulating and enhancing the best available existing materials, and we have concurrently begun the development of new products to fill remaining gaps. We are focusing initially on the simplest concepts and gradually moving on to the more complex, because simpler concepts apply to a wider range of space science, from heliophysics and astrophysics to technology and human exploration. Visitors to the poster will have the opportunity to provide input and sign up to receive periodic email updates on the status of the website.