I instructed coding and research skills within CIERA’s summer research program (REACH) for high school students, with a focus on underrepresented minorities. REACH is a highly interactive program that provides high school students with experience with astronomy research in an atmosphere of team-style learning, hands-on training, and mentorship from professional scientists.
I developed accessible programming materials in the context of astronomy called REACHpy, designed to improve students’ coding skills and encourage their interest in STEM fields. REACHpy is an introductory course for learning Python in the context of astronomy. The courses are open to the public and assume no prior knowledge of programming!
I led CIERA’s Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) program, funded by the National Science Foundation, to guide Chicago high school teachers in conducting original research in astronomy alongside CIERA researchers. This initiative empowers educators to translate their research into enriching classroom materials, which will be implemented in Chicago public schools, significantly extending my outreach to underprivileged students.
CIERA Astronomer Evenings offers Dearborn Observatory’s weekly public viewing sessions, a tradition that’s been ongoing for over 100 years!