Public Services - Educational Outreach
Radon in Air and Water
Radon in Air and Water is a public service program helping to answer the following questions Mainers have about this potentially deadly gas:
- What is radon?
- How does radon get into homes?
- Where is radon found in Maine?
- How does radon affect health?
- What is the risk of illness?
- When should I take action?
- How does risk from radon compare with other risks?
- What control measures can I take?
For more information, please contact: Dr. C.T. Hess [ mailto:hess@maine.edu ]
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Mainely Physics Road Show
The Department of Physics and Astronomy takes an active role in educating younger students with a traveling road show. The Road Show includes material, equipment, and educational modules for use in public schools. Department staff demonstrate science concepts with fun and entertaining procedures. Contact David Sturm [ mailto:sturmde@maine.edu ] for more information about bringing this exciting program to a classroom near you!
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Physics Education Research
Sharing our results with other researchers and educators is central to the mission of the UMaine [ http://perlnet.umephy.maine.edu/outreach.htm ]PERL. We have given workshops in a variety of areas, have led discussion and seminar sessions at national meetings, and are strongly involved in the Center for Science and Mathematics Education. In addition, we host an annual meeting of Maine high school physics and physical science teachers. If you would like to be involved in any of these, please contact Michael Wittmann [mailto:wittmann@umit.maine.edu ] or John Thompson [mailto:john.thompson@umit.maine.edu].
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High School Physics Teachers' Collaborative
The main goal of the High School Physics Teachers’ Collaborative is to foster a sense of community, and a forum for discussion, among high school physics teachers in the area. Our group serves as a resource for individual participants. Topics of discussion include the teaching and learning of a particular physics topic, how to make over a laboratory experiment that isn't quite "working," the revised Maine Learning Results, and research on student learning of physics.
Given the professional community we have become, we are particularly interested in "Lone Rangers" – teachers who *are* the physics department at their school. We also include students in our Master of Science in Teaching program with physics concentrations, the occasional undergraduate secondary education major with physics interest, our colleagues in the State Department of Education, and other interested parties.
We meet monthly, on campus and in other locations (including John Bapst, Bangor HS, Hermon HS, and the UMaine Hutchinson Center in Belfast). In addition to the opportunity to discuss physics teaching and learning once a month (as if that weren't enough!), there is a small stipend given to participants after the entire year, and dinner is provided.
If you are interested in the Collaborative, please contact John Thompson
[ mailto:john.thompson@umit.maine.edu ] to be put on the email list.
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Maynard F. Jordan Planetarium & Observatory
Located on the second floor of Wingate Hall since 1954, the planetarium has a 20 foot dome suspended over 45 seats that shows approximately 1000 stars, planets, and other celestial objects to over 8,000 visitors every year. The planetarium's audio system provides music and narration for most presentations while a battery of special effect machines enhance each adventure. This technology is computer controlled to create a presentation many may mistake for "a movie".
The Observatory has been a fixture at the University of Maine since 1901, when the original refractor telescope was installed. Since then, the telescope has been modified with an additional refractor and an electronic clockdrive, enabling it to accurately track the stars. Classes and observational labs are taught here, as well as public star parties.
Public Schedules are available on-line for the Planetarium and the Observatory. Planetarium programs are designed for age-appropriate audiences. Private shows and field trips can also be arranged for a fee. Fees and target ages are also available here. Program descriptions can be found here.
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