PHYSICS EDUCATION NEWS (PEN) February 1994, No. 2 An electronic newsletter of the AIP Educ

PHYSICS EDUCATION NEWS (PEN)
February 1994, No. 2

An electronic newsletter of the AIP Education Division

VICE PRESIDENT ASKS SCIENTISTS TO JOIN EDUCATION REFORM EFFORTS
In his February 1, 1994 speech to the National Academy of Sciences'
Forum on Science in the National Interest, Vice President Al Gore
challenged the U.S. science community to participate in efforts to
improve the nation's science, mathematics, and technology education
programs.  "You have much to offer," said Mr. Gore, "not only at
the college level but also earlier in the educational pipeline,
with underrepresented minorities, in the school-to-work transition,
in lifelong training, and throughout public education."

GALAXY INSTITUTE TO PROVIDE SATELLITE EQUIPMENT TO SCHOOLS
The nonprofit GALAXY Institute for Education has announced a
program to help outfit 1,000 schools with new 18" DirecTv satellite
dishes/receivers free of charge.  This technology will allow
schools to receive GALAXY Classroom, the first interactive K-5
satellite network devoted exclusively to elementary education.  By
combining satellite broadcasts, fax, video, and a computer network,
GALAXY creates a global classroom that incorporates commercial-free
video programming with hands-on activities, science kits, teachers'
guides, student magazines, and literature books.  The program
includes teacher and administrator training, and continuing
professional and technological support.
(For application information, contact GALAXY Classroom, c/o Hager
Sharp, 1090 Vermont Ave., NW, Washington, DC  20005; 800-33GALAXY)

FREE GUIDEBOOK HIGHLIGHTS FEDERAL RESOURCES FOR SCIENCE TEACHERS
A free guidebook of federal resources to supplement science and
mathematics teaching will be available to elementary and secondary
educators in March 1994.  The Eisenhower National Clearinghouse for
Mathematics and Science Education will publish 10 regional
"Guidebooks to Excellence" that contain information from 16 federal
agencies.  The resources available include field-trip sites,
federal-agency speakers, teacher training opportunities, NASA's
regional teacher centers, and more.
(For a free copy, contact:  Eisenhower National Clearinghouse, Ohio
State University, 1929 Kenny Rd., Columbus, OH  43210-1079)

AT&T BELL LABS TO BROADCAST LIVE SCIENCE MARATHON
"Live from AT&T Bell Labs," the nation's first six-hour science
marathon, will be broadcast live from 10 am to 4 pm Eastern Time,
Wednesday, April 27, 1994.  The program, produced by scientists,
mathematicians, and engineers from AT&T Bell Labs, is intended to
stimulate students' interest in science and math.  Nobel laureate
Arno Penzias, vice president of research at Bell Labs, and a panel
of top physicists and mathematicians will answer questions from
students. In addition, dozens of exciting and challenging topics on
the leading edge of science will be explored.  The program will be
carried via cable TV, satellite, PBS, and the Whittle Educational
Network.  Students' questions should be sent in advance via E-mail,
fax, or mail, or may be videotaped and sent in.  A free classroom
poster and curriculum guide is also available.
(For more information contact:  "Live from AT&T Bell Labs," Murray
Hill, NJ  07974-0636; telephone:  800-770-LABS; fax:  908-582-LABS;
E-mail:  LABS@ATTMAIL.COM)

ASTRONOMY MATERIALS CATALOG AVAILABLE FROM ASP
A new catalog published by the nonprofit Astronomical Society of
the Pacific (ASP) lists a variety of materials for the teaching and
study of astronomy.  The illustrated color catalog includes sky
observing aids, computer software and CD-ROMs, video and audio
tapes, slides and videodiscs, books, posters, and more.  New items
include extensive files of astronomical images available on CD-ROM,
a reasonably priced teacher's solar system slide set, and a
videotape on the latest results from the Hubble Space Telescope.
(For a free copy, send your name, address, and three first-class
stamps to:  Catalog Requests Dept., ASP, 390 Ashton Ave., San
Francisco, CA  94112, or call 415-337-1100)

CASS ONLINE PROVIDES ACCESS TO LUNAR AND PLANETARY DATA
The Center for Advanced Space Studies (CASS), in Houston, TX,
operates CASS Online, a Sun/SYBASE based program which offers lunar
and planetary information and bulletin board systems.  Users can
access a meetings bulletin, current and back issues of the Lunar
and Planetary Information Bulletin, a bibliography of space related
articles, online catalogs, NASA's Image Retrieval and Processing
System (IRPS), the Venus/Mars Gravity and Geophysics Bulletin
Board, and the Mars Exploration Bulletin Board System.
(Internet users can connect by typing:  telnet cass.jsc.nasa.gov
(or telnet 192.101.147.17).  VMS/DECnet users can connect via the
EAST gateway:  set host east.  At the Ultrix login type: 
cass.jsc.nasa.gov! (don't forget the !).  Modem users can connect
at 9600 baud or lower by dialing 713-244-2089.  After connection
via any of these methods, log in as follows:  login:  cass
password:  online (use only lower case letters.))

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American Institute of Physics
Education Division
Contact:  Mr. Tracy Schwab
301-209-3100, ext. 6450
tschwab@aip.org

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