The AAS Solar Eclipse Task Force received 152 responses to its call for proposals for National Science Foundation–funded Jay M. Pasachoff solar eclipse mini-grants: 111 regular proposals requesting up to $5,000 each, and 41 augmented proposals requesting up to $20,000 each. Six regular proposals and three augmented proposals were either incomplete or submitted from outside the United States and therefore disqualified. The remaining 143 proposals requested a combined $941,242, for an oversubscription of 4.7 relative to the available funding of $200,000 — comparable to the oversubscription of professional telescope time.
After review and ranking by a committee of task-force members, the following 35 organizations/institutions and principal investigators (PIs) have been awarded mini-grants. The average of the 26 regular awards is about $3,900, and the average of the 9 augmented awards (noted with an asterisk after the PI's name) is about $10,700. All projects will be assessed by a professional evaluator to determine how effectively the mini-grant funds were used to engage and inspire people with eclipse-related events and activities. In no particular order:
Weathersfield Proctor Library, Ascutney, VT; PI: Mark Richardson
- A Sun of a Different Color — The Weathersfield Proctor Library, along with the Southern Vermont Astronomy Group (SoVerA) and Reading (VT) Public Library, is using its mini-grant to obtain a Coronado 70-mm SolarMax III telescope, a SolarQuest tripod, and accessories to enable solar viewing in the red light of the hydrogen-alpha emission line from the Sun’s chromosphere. The goal is to facilitate solar viewing –– before, during, and after the April 8, 2024 solar eclipse –– in southern Vermont. Both libraries are municipal institutions, and SoVerA is a 501(c)3 educational nonprofit. The grant will benefit residents in the area, especially students from towns without high schools, by providing access to astronomical resources and fostering community engagement.
Sul Ross State University, Uvalde, TX; PI: Jennifer Miller-Ray*
- Total Eclipse en la Frontera — The purpose of this program is to provide informal and formal education outreach using the La Frontera Research Initiative (LFRI) for the April 8th total solar eclipse to communities located on the southwest Texas–Mexico border. With our existing partnerships and National Science Foundation Noyce program we expect to reach over 20,000 people to provide educational experiences to the Uvalde CISD, Eagle Pass ISD, Del Rio CISD, Southwest Texas Junior College, Sul Ross State University, and surrounding private schools, public libraries, and the general public/community. Leveraging the LFRI Mobile STEM Lab and established partnerships to include partnerships with Southwest Texas Community College, Uvalde CISD, Eagle Pass ISD, Del Rio ISD, Presidio ISD, Marfa ISD, Alpine ISD, the Science Mill Museum, and the National Solar Observatory, this project will offer eclipse-themed STEM education programs, eclipse-focused educator training, and present cultural total eclipse lectures with national experts to the communities along the border communities of Eagle Pass, Del Rio, Uvalde, and the Big Bend region.
Ringwood Public Library, Ringwood, NJ; PI: Heather Caldwell
- Data Detectives — This program is an initiative to promote data literacy, utilizing the eclipse and citizen science as means of engagement. It includes a series of classes focused on data literacy and will give children the opportunity to participate in authentic scientific research on weather and climate by collecting and analyzing data for NASA’s GLOBE Observer program. Girls ages 10-15 can participate in the initiative through the library’s recurring Gadget Gals program. Students in the local intermediary school (grades 4-5) can participate during the school day. A group of homeschoolers, aged 8-13, will also participate over a 6 week period at the Ringwood Public Library. Other single-day programs, passive programming, and events as part of the initiative include a display about citizen science and the eclipse in April; a field trip for special needs high school students to learn the “tools of the trade;” solar eclipse kits with eclipse glasses, safety information, and DIY activities; and an observation station for the public on the day of the eclipse to promote and provide safe watching methods and for the students in the Data Detectives classes to collect and display data, such as temperature, cloud cover, sounds, and more.
Girl Scouts of Western New York, Inc., Buffalo, NY; PI: Tricia Skwieralski
- Reaching for the Sky with Girl Scouts in 2024 — Reflecting our investment in STEM education and growing the number of women in STEM fields/careers, particularly for those from under-represented populations, this program will provide 625 K-12 girls in Western New York with a lifetime experience relating to the total eclipse of the Sun to occur on April 8, 2024. 175 girls will experience the eclipse at one of our camp properties: Camp Piperwood in Victor, NY, or Camp Windy Meadows in Lockport, NY; an additional 450 will be able to participate in programming with their troops or at home during the year. This special series will expand equitable access to STEM learning, special workshops, Girl Scout badgework, and patch programs. Educational hands-on activities, with a particular emphasis on eclipse education, basic astronomy, and eclipse viewing safety will be a part of the fun, while our girls also gain exposure to future marketable skills. Participating girls will receive an exclusive “I Looked UP with GSWNY on April 8th” care package that includes glasses, a special patch, and a few other surprises.
Vertus Charter School, Rochester, NY; PI: Julie Locey
- Solar Eclipse Discovery — Vertus Charter School is a nonprofit public high school focusing on at-risk young men. The school’s mission centers around building strong relationships, character education, personalized academics, and career preparation. Our solar eclipse project aims to engage students in scientific exploration, culminating in a Family Night event where students present their solar eclipse projects to their families. The project spans classroom engagement, research, project-based learning, peer presentations, and community outreach. The goal is to foster a deep understanding of solar eclipses, develop critical thinking skills, enhance public speaking and presentation skills, promote a sense of achievement, and strengthen community engagement.
Enrich Geneva, Geneva, NY; PI: Debbie Ferrell
- Connecting Science, Art & Community — This three-pronged eclipse project involves ways to connect science, art and the Geneva, New York, community, bringing the eclipse to the people through education, knowledge of events, and promoting small businesses to incoming tourists to make their experiences enjoyable. Our souvenir magazine will be packed full of information about eclipse events, tours and lectures and distributed free of charge throughout the community to offer as a keepsake of this once-in-a-lifetime event. The second component will incorporate the arts and sciences through an art gallery experience, displaying local artists’ work that combines art with the natural world, namely astronomy and Earth science. Exhibited in the historic downtown district, this event will be open to the public and accessible to those not usually exposed to the sciences and the arts. Visitors and residents alike will benefit from the rehabilitation of the Smith Observatory, built in 1888, which has suffered deterioration due to weather conditions and neglect. The building is full of historic and scientific artifacts, which will be displayed, along with its original telescopes, during open tours to engage guests for eclipse week and beyond.
Joseph Moore Museum, Earlham College, Richmond, IN; PI: Heather Lerner
- Total Eclipse at the Joseph Moore Museum — The Joseph Moore Museum (JMM) at Earlham College will collaborate with our local Richmond Parks Department to expand public access to eclipse education through activities at collaborative events. We will purchase supplies for educational stations and provide training for volunteer educators to staff stations at events including, but not limited to, the JMM Open House on March 2nd, the Richmond Farmers Market, and three eclipse-viewing events sponsored by Earlham and the Parks department. Volunteer educator training will be available for any of our local nonprofits, schools, and governmental organizations who want to provide eclipse education, outreach, and science activities. Activities will include creating a “pocket solar system” using stickers and receipt tape, citizen science observations, making constellation art, exploring the power of the Sun’s light with color-changing beads and a solar-powered spirograph, the scale of the solar system with inflatable planets, a solar telescope, Moon phases made with Oreos, and more! Equipment purchased under this grant will be repurposed to classroom kits teachers can borrow from the museum for lessons about the solar system in the future. One set of equipment will remain at the museum to be used during field trips and future events.
Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum / Air Zoo, Portage, MI; PI: Amy Walker
- Afterschool Program Community Partnerships for the Solar Eclipse — Air Zoo Aerospace and Science Center, an internationally recognized Smithsonian affiliate aims to provide resources to nonprofit organizations in Kalamazoo working with youth in afterschool settings to facilitate educational programs during the April 8, 2024, solar eclipse. The goal is to offer meaningful experiences in astronomy and physics, targeting primarily the Kalamazoo Public School district’s economically disadvantaged students.
Yerington Intermediate School, Yerington, NV; PI: Lynn Jeka
- Spurring Growth with a Solar Eclipse — At the Yerington Intermediate School, the April 2024 solar eclipse is a focal point of our school year. We have developed a plan to tie the eclipse into the following goals: (1) to increase the number of students meeting their projected growth goals in assessments from district-adopted curricula as well as state assessments, (2) to teach social and emotional learning (SEL) curriculum with fidelity, and (3) to increase parent/family participation through communication with families of all cultures and backgrounds. Eclipse day will be a culminating event that will wrap up five months of cross-curricular project-based learning that will also include cultural studies based around the beliefs and traditions of our local Native community. Students will have engaged in a study of astronomy from multiple perspectives: historical, mathematical, scientific, and artistic. When the community gathers to view the eclipse, it will also be a time to showcase our work.
Hope Church, Brunswick, OH; PI: David DeFelice
- Glory in the Skies: A Total Solar Eclipse Event — Hope Church is blessed with 10 acres of mostly open sight lines, and we’re setting up a free festive day complete with fun activities, food trucks, live programs, and live music. Most local school districts surrounding Hope Church will close their schools on eclipse day. This provides a great opportunity to engage students and their families. Through our partnership with local schools, we will be promoting pre-eclipse outreach activities as well as the eclipse day event. We are partnering with Medina Creative Housing, which serves the Northeast Ohio area by providing a comprehensive lifestyle for individuals with developmental, intellectual, and physical disabilities including housing, supportive services, and programs. We will ensure that their residents, families, staff, and volunteers can view the eclipse safely while maximizing their understanding and appreciation for this once-in-a-lifetime event over their neighborhoods. We will also engage non-native English speakers with English as a Second Language (ESL) programming with visual references for each student group that will incorporate eclipse science principles including physics and astronomy with a focus on the physics of the Sun, Earth and Moon with an emphasis on safety.
South Central Regional Library Council, Ithaca, NY; PI: Mary-Carol Lindbloom
- Moon Mondays: Libraries Get Ready for the Great 2024 Total Solar Eclipse! — The South Central Regional Library Council (SCRLC) aims to engage its diverse member libraries and communities in the upcoming solar eclipse of April 8, 2024. The project focuses on connecting community members with regional astronomical societies, creating a train-the-trainer program for library and museum workers, and developing an online resource guide on the eclipse. The project involves partnerships with public library systems and evaluates success based on increased knowledge, community program participation, and membership diversification in astronomy societies.
Dudley Observatory at Siena College, Loudonville, NY; PI: Mindy Townsend
- Facilitating Educator Eclipse Education in Upstate New York — Dudley Observatory, in collaboration with Siena College, plans to conduct a three-hour online workshop for librarians and K-8 teachers in upstate New York. The workshop aims to educate educators about the total eclipse occurring on April 8, 2024, and equip them with knowledge and activities to engage their communities in understanding eclipses. The program, led by Dudley Observatory’s astronomer, will provide low-cost, replicable activities and distribute eclipse kits to participants. The target demographic includes schools and libraries in districts with more than 50% of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunches.
Center for Science and the Schools, Penn State University, University Park, PA; PI: Stephanie Klixbull
- Beyond the Shadow: K-12 Educator Workshops — The project will conduct workshops and provide educational materials to K-12 teachers in Pennsylvania, focusing on the April 8th solar eclipse. The workshops, led by Penn State University’s Center for Science and the Schools (CSATS) in collaboration with Penn State’s Behrend Campus and the Pennsylvania Space Grant Consortium (PASGC), aim to inspire STEM educators to engage students in eclipse-related activities. The initiative comprises three one-day workshops: one for elementary educators and two for high school physics and Earth science teachers. The workshops leverage the expertise of CSATS and PASGC to provide content on the physics of solar eclipses, with a focus on hands-on activities using wireless, remote-ready sensors.
Putnam Valley Library, Putnam Valley, NY; PI: Amina Chaudhri
- Eclipse Kids — Serving approximately 11,000 citizens, the Putnam Valley Library will collaborate with the Museum of Innovation and Science (miSci) in Schenectady, New York, for in-person visits with a portable planetarium. The activities include three shows, one conducted in Spanish, targeting elementary school children and those with developmental disabilities. Additionally, the library plans to organize “build your own solar eclipse items” programs, including creating eclipse viewers and a UV Kid project for the North American solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.
Tri‐State Education & Technology Foundation, Cincinnati, OH; PI: Pamela Bowers*
- Solar Eclipse STEM Outreach — The Tri-State Education & Technology Foundation, operating as Drake Planetarium & Science Center, is a nonprofit organization founded in 1982. With a mission to provide exceptional STEM learning experiences, the foundation focuses on outreach programs, educational initiatives, and partnerships, especially targeting under-represented groups in Greater Cincinnati. Our mini-grant project involves providing STEM outreach programming about the April 8th solar eclipse, collaborating with the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, and hosting public events. The goals include educational outreach to Title 1 schools, ethnic minorities, community centers, ESL students, and individuals with disabilities.
Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT; PI: Meredith Hughes
- Bringing Solar Observing to the Middletown Community — This project will support an ongoing collaboration between the Russell Library and Wesleyan University, both located in Middletown, Connecticut. The equipment supported by the grant will be used to enhance our ability to serve Middletown and surrounding communities both through our eclipse outreach event on April 8, 2024, and follow-up activities at the library that are already integrated into our departmental curriculum. Our activities will serve a wide swath of the central Connecticut community; our eclipse events include a bilingual Spanish-English component supported by Spanish-speaking Wesleyan astronomy students and bilingual materials provided by NASA through a library eclipse program. Our events will be advertised through our existing outreach channels, including Van Vleck Observatory’s email and social media lists, the library’s regular newsletters, and our existing collaboration with the Middletown Public School system and the city’s Parks and Recreation department.
California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA; PIs: Laura Lerman & Rachael Van Schoik*
- Science Action Club — SAC is an out-of-school time program that inspires youth in grades 5-8 to explore and connect with nature while achieving essential science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) learning goals. Developed by the California Academy of Sciences, SAC ignites curiosity while building STEM knowledge and identity through dynamic curricula that integrate high-energy games and hands-on activities with citizen and community science investigations. In partnership with afterschool providers along the path of totality, SAC will implement the Bug Safari unit with youth prioritizing rural communities. Bug Safari explores small creatures with big environmental impacts. On local field expeditions, youth will search for bugs, collect specimens, and post photographs to iNaturalist — a citizen and community science project and online social network for nature research. Using scientific tools and technology, youth will collect and identify arthropod species, document habitat conditions, and investigate their ecological effects on our planet’s health. In addition, during the April 8th solar eclipse, youth will document multi-sensory observations for NASA’s Eclipse Soundscapes project, helping scientific researchers better understand animal behavior changes before, during, and after a solar eclipse.
Dayton Society of Natural History / Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, Dayton, OH; PI: Parker Lynch
- Seeing A Full Eclipse Safely, Together (SAFEST) — The SAFEST project emphasizes eclipse education and proper solar viewing practices. Our museum is in the path of totality for the April solar eclipse. As a leading resource for informal STEM education in our community, we provide eclipse programs at our museum, at community centers and libraries, and at schools. On-site, we host planetarium shows, hands-on learning like making pinhole viewers, solar exhibits, and outdoor solar viewing programs with solar filters and telescopes. We leverage our on-site and traveling planetariums to provide impactful visual education. We also provide resources prepared in partnership with local eye doctors about the importance of protecting your eyes while looking at the Sun, including during an eclipse. In the weeks leading up to the eclipse, we will host regular educational programming, distribute eclipse viewers, and share safety information. On the day of the eclipse, we will host viewing events at both of our locations.
University of North Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX; PI: Faranak Zarnani*
- Solar Eclipse Event at UNT Dallas — This project will organize programs and events related to the April 8, 2024, solar eclipse. The initiative aims to engage UNT Dallas’s campus population, families, and the local community. UNT Dallas is a minority-serving institution with a focus on empowering students and strengthening the community. The grant will fund equipment for eclipse viewing and educational activities, including solar glasses, telescopes, and scientific sensors. The eclipse event planning committee plans to reach at least 1,500 people on the day of the eclipse and a wider audience through educational activities leading up to the event.
Prevent Blindness, Chicago, IL; PI: Donna Fishman
- Preschool Solar Eclipse Eye Safety Project for Migrant Farmworker Families — Prevent Blindness, the nation’s leading eye health and safety organization, has partnered with the East Coast Migrant Head Start Project (ECMHSP) to offer eye safety education and engagement among under-represented groups for the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse. This project will help young children and their families in migrant communities to learn about solar eclipses and how to safely view them. Prevent Blindness has developed a short book and an eclipse lesson plan for preschool children that is paired with hands-on activities. These education materials explain the science principles of how the Sun, Moon, and Earth are connected to share the wonder and awe of solar eclipses and how to view them safely. The materials will be available to students and their families in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole and will be distributed through the ECMHSP’s 48 centers across the country with a focus on those located in states where the eclipse will have the greatest visibility.
Hillsboro City Library, Hillsboro, TX; PI: Justin Dyer
- Eclipse Funfest — To celebrate the upcoming total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, the Hillsboro City Library in Hillsboro, Texas, is hosting an Eclipse Funfest carnival for area families. The Eclipse Funfest will take place at Hillsboro’s historic City Hall on Saturday, March 2. The carnival will feature a mobile planetarium, free eclipse glasses, an educational space themed magic show, amateur astronomers, free food, eclipse themed crafts, and free science and space books to be given out to all children who attend.
University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX; PI: Lindsay Fuller
- Total Eclipse of the Heart of Texas — This project aims to leverage the upcoming total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, in San Antonio as an opportunity for outreach and STEM education. Staff and students in the UTSA Dept. of Physics and Astronomy will participate in an air show and STEM expo hosted by Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) on the weekend preceding the Great North American Total Solar Eclipse, where we’ll engage with various demographics and expand eclipse-related STEM outreach in the region. The team plans to employ solar telescopes, eclipse glasses, brochures, spectroscopy demos, and Sunspotters in its activities.
McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, Concord, NH; PI: Jeanne Gerulskis*
- Countdown to the Eclipse — The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center (MSDC) is a renowned air and space museum dedicated to fostering intergenerational fascination with celestial phenomena through engaging STEM activities. Situated as an indispensable asset within the Concord, New Hampshire, community, the MSDC collaborates closely with local libraries, schools, and youth organizations, such as the Boys and Girls Clubs. Through these partnerships, the MSDC continues its mission to deliver STEM education to underserved communities and the general public. On April 8, 2024, the MSDC will host a public observation event, prioritizing educational outreach and safe viewing practices; leading up to the eclipse, MSDC will train Boys and Girls Clubs staff and a cohort of students at the New Hampshire Technical Institute, Concord's Community College, in safe and enjoyable eclipse viewing. Participants in all these activities will have access to eclipse-viewing glasses, Sunspotters, pinhole cameras, and telescopes, facilitating an immersive learning experience. Building on its successful engagement during the 2017 eclipse, MSDC workshop leaders will ensure alignment with the Next Generation Science Standards. Our mini-grant funding will support the procurement of equipment for eclipse viewing and educational activities, including solar glasses, telescopes, and scientific sensors.
Al Sigl Foundation, Rochester, NY; PI: Brenda Geglia
- Accessible Eclipse Experience — Al Sigl Community of Agencies will create accessible learning and viewing experience opportunities for children and adults with special needs to encounter the eclipse in a safe and meaningful way. Individuals of all abilities will have the opportunity to experience the rare and awesome occurrence of a total solar eclipse in Rochester, New York. Al Sigl intends to engage participants from our member agencies and their families in educational and participatory activities including creating custom designed solar system themed sensory boards with eclipse information and resources, a hands-on makers event to create and educate, and a viewing opportunity during the eclipse designated for accessible vehicles. These activities create a unique opportunity to teach about the eclipse with a hands-on activity and inclusive viewing experience.
Williams College, Williamstown, MA; PI: Kevin Flaherty*
- Solar Eclipse Outreach in the Footsteps of Jay Pasachoff — Williams College, where Jay M. Pasachoff taught for decades, will conduct a series of outreach events surrounding the April 2024 solar eclipse. The goal is to inspire students to study science and provide college students with opportunities for community engagement. The outreach includes visiting local schools, using portable telescopes for solar viewing, collaborating with on-campus diversity-focused organizations, and hosting an eclipse viewing event. The target audience includes local schoolchildren, college students, and communities with lower median incomes. Our mini-grant program aims to increase interest in science, especially among schoolchildren, and enhance diversity in STEM fields.
National Solar Observatory (NSO), Boulder, CO; PI: Ryan French
- Sun Science Tent — This project will provide a unique sensory and educational experience for the public and K-12 students witnessing the solar eclipse at the National Solar Observatory’s eclipse viewing site at the Eagle Pass SAC stadium in Eagle Pass, Texas. We will utilize experiments at the intersection between eclipse/Sun science and the K-12 school curriculum, including the investigation of spectroscopy and multiwavelength nature of light with spectral discharge tubes and infrared experiments. Sun Science Tent will also provide a sensory experience for visitors to experience the partial eclipse phases in a unique and exciting way, creating an immersive eclipse viewing environment using reflective disco balls, Sun catchers, and pinhole cameras. The science experiments (but not the sensory viewing experience) will also be used in the days leading up to the eclipse, during multiple school visits across the Del Rio and Eagle Pass school districts. Eagle Pass has a 94% Latino population and is an area of high educational demand and sparse further educational opportunities.
University of North Texas, Denton, TX; PI: Rebekah Purvis
- The Panther Pride Eclipse Project — This project, subtitled “The Vision to Lead and Learn,” is led by the University of North Texas in collaboration with Keller Independent School District’s Parkview Elementary School. It aims to create an afterschool Science Club to educate students about heliophysics and engage the Dallas-Fort Worth community in eclipse-related activities. The project targets Parkview Elementary, a Title I school with a diverse student population, especially focusing on under-represented groups.
Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Cleveland, OH; PI: Anna Hudelson
- Eclipse and You: Community Outreach — In anticipation of the solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, we are leveraging our substantive community connections, our successful programming, and the expertise of our astronomy staff to expand eclipse-focused programs to the neighborhoods that surround the museum. Understanding science equips individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate modern life, make informed decisions, and contribute to the betterment of their communities. The museum serves as a resource for learners of all ages, providing a foundation of STEM knowledge that includes an understanding of astronomy. In Northeast Ohio and nationally, opportunities exist to foster a greater understanding of science. Ohio Department of Education data show that local students are being left behind in their science education. Among adults, a recent museum-sponsored national survey by Marist Poll reveals that 85% of Americans want to learn more about science, while close to half say they are falling behind in their understanding. The museum’s mission, therefore, has never been more critical. Driven by our guiding vision — to explore, engage, and empower for a better tomorrow — it is imperative that the museum continues to engage the public, foster lifelong learning and discovery, and increase access and inclusion for people who experience health, education, and economic disparities. Together with our community funding partners, the museum bolsters public scientific literacy, empowering everyone in our region to create health and prosperity today and in the future.
Trinity University, San Antonio, TX; PI: Ellen Barnett
- Engaging Community in Eclipse Educational Programming — Trinity University’s multidisciplinary team will engage our diverse San Antonio community and local teachers in understanding and experiencing the April 8th total eclipse. The team will make and distribute eclipse/solar system models in a box to local schools and libraries. The boxes contain a 1:1 billion scale model of the solar system, eclipse glasses, and lesson plans and materials in English and Spanish. During a professional development event for local K-12 teachers co-led by science and education faculty, teachers will participate in, and collaboratively refine, eclipse lessons for use in their classrooms. Trinity University undergraduate science and math majors pursuing STEM teaching careers will teach eclipse lessons to local middle and high school students. Lessons will be aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and Universal Design for Learning (UDL), a framework for removing barriers to equity and engaging all learners. We estimate that thousands of people will be impacted as they engage with the model at their library and as teachers share their knowledge and passion for science with their students.
Frontiers of Flight Museum, Dallas, TX; PI: Rosalie Wade*
- Eclipsing Boundaries: Expanding Astronomy Education — Dallas will be the largest city in the path of totality for the Great North American Solar Eclipse, and the excitement is palpable. Working with schools, libraries, and other groups, the Frontiers of Flight Museum will ensure that underserved communities have the resources to give all students the opportunity to experience and understand this spectacular once-in-a-lifetime event. The museum will partner with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas (BGCD). BGCD is a leading youth-serving nonprofit impacting 8,700 youth ages 6-18, with clubs near Title I schools that the museum serves. This partnership will inspire a new generation of aerospace-STEM workers who have been under-represented. The Eclipsing Boundaries program has 3 elements: (1) eclipse-themed STEM nights for Title I public schools and community organizations (such as BGCD) at no cost, (2) a pre-eclipse festival on SUN-day, April 7, to offer unique family-friendly activities to prepare the community for the exciting day to follow, and (3) teacher professional development programming. The museum is expected to reach approximately 30,000 participants during its eclipse outreach to the community and students in poor/impoverished communities.
University of Central Arkansas STEM Institute, Conway, AR; PI: Todd Abel
- Illuminating Learning for Central Arkansas Teachers — The UCA STEM Institute is conducting a professional development program for K-12 teachers in Central Arkansas to capitalize on the 2024 solar eclipse as a unique learning opportunity. The program aims to equip teachers with knowledge, skills, and resources to integrate the eclipse into their curricula. The UCA STEM Institute will provide training, materials, and ongoing support, with our mini-grant funding the purchase of telescopes, binoculars, models, and books. The targeted demographic includes K-12 teachers in more than 20 school districts in Central Arkansas, spanning urban to rural settings with a focus on schools with limited resources.
Youth Learning As Citizen Environmental Scientists (YLACES), Flat Rock, MI; PI: Connie Atkisson*
- Team Up for Totality — This project aims to conduct eclipse-related research in Ohio’s zone of totality and to educate the community about the eclipse. Students and family members from three Michigan school districts and an Ohio homeschool group will collect real-time data with a variety of instruments on changes in clouds, temperatures, and plant/animal behavior during the April 8, 2024, solar eclipse. The data will be uploaded from the GLOBE Observer app to NASA GLOBE’s database for global scientific studies. Training on scientific field equipment has been provided, including a trial practice run during the annular eclipse in October 2023. The project involves collaboration with GLOBE Mission Earth at the University of Toledo, with real-time data sharing and comparisons. The eclipse-day event is open to the public, featuring various educational stations, presentations, viewing opportunities, and assessments.
Russia Local School, Russia, OH; PI: Eric Sullenberger
- Citizen Science from Russia with Love — Russia Local School, serving K-12 students, lies in the path of totality for the April 8 solar eclipse. Eric Sullenberger, a science teacher who also happens to be an amateur astronomer, will use our mini-grant to enhance the eclipse event for students and the community. The grants covers the purchase of data sensors, telescopes, cameras, and other equipment that will be used to engage the public through educational events, data collection, and citizen science projects. The community, supported by the Village Council, is gearing up for a significant turnout.
Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY; PI: Olivia R. Young*
- Student-led Commissioning of an Ionospheric Radio Probe in the Path of the 2024 Eclipse — This project includes the commissioning of a Deployable Low-Band Ionosphere and Transient Experiment (DLITE) station being currently built at Observatory Park in Montville, Ohio, to observe changes to the ionosphere during the 2024 total solar eclipse at 35 MHz. The telescope is being constructed as a collaboration between a graduate student from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), staff and undergraduate students from Hillsdale College, staff of Observatory Park, and staff of the Naval Research Laboratory. Not only will students be afforded a valuable opportunity to construct a radio telescope and observe the ionosphere during one of the most unique events of our century, but residents of the rural and underserved community of Montville, Ohio, will have a unique opportunity to view the eclipse in radio light and to interact with future observations.
Saint Francis University, Loretto, PA; PI: Lanika Ruzhitskaya
- Quantum Quest Fest 2024: Sun, Earth, and Moon — This program aims to serve elementary and middle school children in the rural communities of Bedford, Blair, and Cambria counties in Central Pennsylvania. Dedicated to increasing science awareness and fostering a lifelong appreciation of science, the three-hour program offers a number of engaging 15-minute activities, including physics and chemistry demonstrations, paper model construction, rocket launches, and drawing elliptical orbits of planets. This year’s focus is on hands-on science related to the celebration of solar eclipses, preparing participants for the April 8, 2024, solar eclipse. Over a dozen science stations, led by Saint Francis University undergraduate students and faculty, will explore the Sun, Earth, and Moon. Activities include 3D-fabricated Apollo landing sites, comparing lunar meteorites and Earth’s minerals, an anaglyph poster gallery of lunar features, exploration of lunar phases and eclipses, and constructing scale models. The program concludes with a 15-minute planetarium show on solar eclipses by Fiske Planetarium.