Project Description

The program begins with a residential summer institute at the Arecibo Observatory. This will be followed by a series of data gathering field sessions during the school year. The summer program will introduce the conceptual base (atmosphere science, geology), and provide the hands-on activities with the technology and equipment that will be used to carry out the research projects. At the end of the year, participants will report their findings to colleagues and mentors in a geoscience congress that will be organized at the Arecibo Observatory.

Participants will gain first-hand experience in conducting a scientific research by using the Arecibo radio telescope and laboratory facilities at UPRA. Participants will also develop an understanding of geoscience concepts which illustrate the interdisciplinary nature of the geosciences. The program will provide a geoscience research experience in the following two areas:

Atmospheric Science - Participants will be able to use the Arecibo 305 m radio telescope and gather data that will allow them to study temperature and altitude variations in the ionosphere through its 420 MHz radar. This will be accomplished by incorporating the school teams in the various observing campaigns that are conducted under the “World Day” telescope observing sessions. Each school will assemble a team of 4 students and one teacher. Atmospheric scientists at the Arecibo Observatory will coordinate these events and will assist the school teams in the data collection process and analysis. Participating schools will be able to access atmospheric data through the web in order to analyze their results and compare with previous observations.

Caño Tiburones wetland – Participants will visit this coastal wetland on a periodic manner and monitor the physical and chemical properties of the reservoir. This will include temperature, pH, salinity, turbidity, conductivity, and current flow, along the wetland. Different plant species will be collected in order to monitor the presence of heavy metals contaminating the ecosystem. UPRA students will participate in this research project and will serve as mentors to the high school teams. Data samples will be analyzed at the chemistry and biology laboratory facilities at UPRA.

Arecibo Geoscience Summer Institute

A 10-day residential summer institute at the Arecibo Observatory will provide participants with a residential program with the following objectives:

• Introduce participants to atmospheric and space science.
• Provide hands-on activities with the graphing calculator and the calculator based laboratory (CBL TM ) equipment.
• Introduce participants to field measurements using the CBL technology.
• Provide an overview of the Geology of Puerto Rico, highlighting the karst topography (its formation and evolution).
• Provide a laboratory experience at the UPRA chemistry department.
• Introduce and develop the concept of experimental design.

The research teams will be organized during the Summer Institute. Each group will establish the objectives of their investigation and determine the procedures by which data will be collected and analyzed. On the final day of the Institute, each group will present their plan of action, including the proposed methodology and the target area that will be investigated. The AGEOP staff will provide the necessary feedback in order to validate the proposed projects.

The residential nature of this program will allow participants to learn about the activities inside a national research facility, and to interact with Observatory research staff and visiting scientists. At the end of the summer program, participants will have received an introduction to atmospheric science, geology, and hydrology. They will have learned to use an affordable data collection system and enhanced their research skills. The Arecibo Geoscience Summer Institute will provide 100 contact hours.

Arecibo Geoscience Summer Institute

The Geoscience Academy

After the summer institute, participants will split in two groups, each group will include different teams from the participating schools. One group will meet at the Arecibo Observatory and work in the atmospheric science project. The other group will meet at the UPRA facilities to carry on the Caño Tiburones investigations. Both groups will meet a minimum of 8 sessions, every semester, for a total of 16 meetings during the school year (August to May). UPRA undergraduates will be integrated in this effort, and will serve as mentors for the high school teams.

During the Geoscience Academies, participants will be able to collect data, use laboratory facilities to analyze the results, or enhance their understanding in geosciences concepts that are relevant to their projects. These sessions will be headed by the scientific staff participating in the project. The Geoscience Academy will provide a 92 contact hours of hands-on research experience in which the participants will work on their projects.

Arecibo Geoscience Congress

An annual geoscience congress will be organized at the Arecibo Observatory at the end of the year. Geoscience educators and scientists will be invited. A highlight of the congress will be a keynote lecture by a prominent scientist in the geosciences. Teachers and students will have the opportunity to present their research results, either as a poster presentation or a short talk. An effort will be made to include in the keynote address scientists in the main geoscience components: earth, atmosphere, and ocean. The Arecibo Geoscience Congress will provide 8 contact hours.