"From Stargazers to Starships",   overview,   home page
            stargaze/Sintro.htm
"The Great Magnet, the Earth",   overview   home page
            earthmag/demagint.htm
"The Exploration of the Earth's Magnetosphere",   overview,  
          home page     Education/Intro.html

Ideas which have motivated these sites  

Questions and Answers, selected from correspondence with users which have motivated these sites  

A short math course, attached to the "Stargazers" site.
A set of 46 lesson plans, attached to the "Stargazers" site.  
A chronology of astronomy, physics and space study, attached to the "Stargazers" site.  

Links related to 93 specific subjects on thse sites.

From the same source... "Welcome to my World", a diverse collection of writings.   The home page is   outreach/outreach.htm
      You can download a "zip" copy of that collection (including its home page, a total of 11.6 Mb), at http://www.phy6.org/outreach.zip.

      These sites were written with several goals in mind.

      First, they try to provide non-scientists with clear explanations and explicit answers about physics and astronomy, in particular in those areas that concern space, which has been my own field of work. Many web pages exist about such subjects, but they often leave the reader no wiser, and at times, more confused. Here you may find straight answers, and the material is self-contained, you need no prior knowledge.

      Second, I have tried to include interesting stories and connections, many from the history of science and of technology. Science has always been closely linked to culture and society, and the historical thread provides both continuity and human interest. For non-scientists, especially ones interested in space and its exploration, this opens a window to a rich subculture of which society is barely aware.

      And for students who might be getting their first look at science, as well as for their teachers, this may provide fresh material on physics, astronomy and earth sciences, with new content and added interest. Most of it is written at the high school level, though parts can be taught in middle school and others would fit undergraduate college. It is an open ended resource with extensions, links and references for the few who wish to explore at a higher level.

      I am a physicist, at the end of a long career in space research, yet familiar with the history of science and with many of the links between science, technology, culture and society (personal details at Education/wstern.html). I am well aware that most recent graduates from high school lack both the understanding of science and an interest in it. Reasons vary--e.g. rigid and formal curricula, lack of trained teachers, too much memorization, too little new material--but whatever they might be, it seems high time to seek a more fruitful approach.