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 Founded
in 1889, the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP) is an international
organization dedicated to advancing science literacy through engagement
in astronomy. Its programs, many with sponsorship from the National
Science Foundation, NASA, and astronomical institutions around the
world, are particularly designed to assist those who work to improve
the public understanding of science. In recent years, the ASP has
been expanding the impact of its diverse projects through a variety
of networks and services:
Networks
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The
Night Sky Network: an organization of 200+ astronomy clubs
engaged in outreach, which receive training and kits of materials
through the ASP, with support and infra-structure from JPL's Exoplanet Exploration Program and several other NASA projects.
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The
Project ASTRO/Family ASTRO Networks: 13 regional sites for
training educators and professional and amateur astronomers to
work together in classrooms and on family events; each astronomer
adopts a 4th - 9th grade class for a year; thousands of astronomers
and teachers have been trained since 1994.
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The
Astronomy from the Ground Up Network: an expanding group of
smaller museums and nature centers whose staff are being trained
to do more astronomy.
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The
College Astronomy Instructors: an informal listing of more
than 1,200 instructors who teach introductory astronomy in 2 and
4-year colleges, some of whom meet every three years at "Cosmos
in the Classroom" conferences.
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The
ASP's EPO Conference Participants: an informal group of people
who do education and outreach in astronomy and space science.
The ASP has been organizing symposia for these professionals at
its recent international meetings.
Services
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The
Universe in the Classroom: a quarterly electronic newsletter
for educators in grades 3-12 who teach astronomy; 3000 active
subscribers and far greater distribution through the web and through
translation.
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The
ASP AstroShop: a nonprofit, online distribution service for
educational resources in astronomy and space science.
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ASP
Membership (in all 50 U.S. states and more than 40 other countries)
who receive Mercury magazine on line and regular updates from
the Society.
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The
ASP Web Site with background information, resource guides,
classroom and family activities, podcasts of lectures, and 120
years of ASP history.
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