Training Nov 6th, 2010

Engaging Teachers in the Rio Grande Valley in Earth and Space Science
Professional development workshop at UTPA

Teachers from around the Rio Grande attended session to learn new techniques of discussing Earth and Space science.

Topics covered:

Erosion

Topographic Mapping

Volcanos

Sponsored by:

Saturday Morning Presentation

Dr. Wheeler's morning presentation on Exploding Stars...

(presentation is a download containing folder with multiple files)

RGVSA Friday Night Presentation

Dr. C. Wheeler gave an enlightening presentation of the Universe around us. Will post presentation and pictures soon... (done)

A few Qik videos of Dr. Wheeler's presentation

Friday Presentation

As part of the RGVSA Fall Conference, Dr. Craig Wheeler with be providing two presentations at the Biblioteca Las Americas located at the Mercedes location of South Texas I.S.D. He will be presenting to students from around the Valley at 10:00 a.m. and then at 7:30 p.m. to the public.
Before the evening presentation, the students that participated in the Girls in Science Blast Off program this summer will give a small presentation of their summer activities.

TWC - Connecting a Million Minds

Time Warner Cable provided presentations to the students at Austin Middle School. This is part of their Connecting a Million Minds initiative.

Thanks to Our Sponsors

We would like to extend a Big Thank You to our Sponsors for this year's Girls in Science Blast Off

Students Working on PowerPoints

Girls working on powerpoints for their NASA presentations

Welcome Home!!

Finally home!!

The Grand Opera House of the South

While visiting with Mr. Gielen, he took us to the opera house that he and his wife restored and donated. Mr. Gielen talked about the history of the opera house and its current operation. You can get more info at
http://www.thegrandoperahouse.org/
And you can find them on Facebook. Thanks again for the Great hospitality Mr. Gielen!

With Honor

Rio Grande Valley girls honor Mr. L.J. Gielen with a token of appreciation for his kindness and generosity during our stay at Crowley.  Our adventure was all the better due to his hospitality.

Breakfast at Rice Palace

Stopped at our favorite restaurant in Crowley for breakfast.

Heading Home!

All set for a 24 hour trip... Hoping it goes that way... :-)  Texas here we come!

On the Teacups

Girls enjoyed riding the teacups

At Disney!!!

Lets take a group picture :-)

Ending the Day with a Movie

After a great day at Kennedy Space Center, the students were taken to the movies to watch Despicable Me in 3D.

Space Trainer Model

Karina tries out the model of the a space trainer module.

Astronaut Hall of Fame

After KSC, we visited the Astronaut Hall of Fame.

Quick Group Picture

Decided to take a quick picture as we were leaving Kenney Space Center

Rocket Garden

After the IMAX movie, we visited the rocket garden.

After Shuttle Launch Experience

A quick little picture in the gift shop after the launch simulator

First Thing for Today!!

Girls will be getting on the Space Shuttle Experience :-)

Breakfast!!

Having a good breakfast before heading out for another fun day at Kennedy Space Center.

Looking for Seashells

Girls are going down by the beach looking for seashells at Cocoa, FL.

Dinner!!

Dinner at Florida's Seafood and it was provided by the Texas Space Grant Consortium, Margaret Baguio

Robotics Demo

First robotics demo teams showed their current robot projects.

Circuit Boards

Students working with a circuit board to make different types of circuits.

Creating a Robotic Arm Model

Girls will be making a model of the robotic arm that is on the Space Shuttle.

Astronauts!! Leland Melvin & Mike Foreman

Interacting with astronauts. Living the Dream!! Do what you can to accomplish your dreams.

Lunch at the Forum

Taking a break during forum to eat some lunch.  Afterwards, a talk with astronauts and then a hands-on activity

Trailblazers Panel Discussion

Panel composed of Dr. Ellen Ochoa, Raquel Redhouse, Christyl Johnson, Kelvin Manning, Leland Melvin and Vernon Wessel with Nichelle Nichols as moderator

Brianna Asks a Question

Brianna asks Ms. Katherine Johnson a question during panel discussion.

Our Moderator - Nichelle Nichols

The moderator for Legends & Trailblazers panel discussions is Nichelle Nichols from Star Trek

Start of Forum

Listening to the start of forum.  STEM  fields are challenging but exciting!

Poster for Forum

Former and current astronauts will be making presentations along with other NASA staff.

Ready for Today

Today's shirt.  Heading to NASA's education forum.  Lots of fun activities planned for the students

Bowling!!!

After a day of learning, its time for the girls to have a little fun :-)

Done at Kennedy for Today

Students done with their first day at Kennedy Space Center. Will be back tomorrow. Thanks to Clara for being an Awesome tour guide!

Mock-up of International Space Station

Students going through module in ISS

Another Group Picture - VAB

Set up in front of VAB

Group Picture - Launch Pad

Students took group picture in front of shuttle launch pad - 39A

VAB Building

Building where rockets or shuttle can be stored.

Our Tour Guide

A materials engineer at NASA will be our tour guide.  We will be traveling on the bus to different sections of the Kennedy Space Center

Welcome to Kennedy Space Center!!

Girls are welcomed to Kennedy Space Center and told to take lots of pictures and ask lots of questions

Driving up to Kennedy Space Center

Driving up, the girls saw several rockets, a Space Shuttle and booster rockets

Kennedy Space Center

Girls have arrived at Kennedy Space Center.

Arrived at Cocoa Beach

Girls will freshen up and grab some breakfast and them head off NASA. Day will be filled with activities. Postings will be done throughout the day.

Rice Palace Restaurant and Days Inn - Crowley, LA

Thank you to the City of Crowley and their generous hospitality on our brief stay in their city.
We greatly appreciate the staff of the Days Inn and Rice Palace Restaurant for giving us the royal treatment.
A special Thanks to L.J. Gielen, owner of Rice Palace, for accomadating all our little astronauts along with his generous donation to help us along.

Mission Control we are back online and heading to our destination!

Thanks to Louisiana State Police and Acadia Parish Sheriff Dept

Houston, We have a Problem! The bus broke down but Thanks to Louisians DPS mission control our mission is still a go! :-)

Lots of Thanks to Louisiana State Police and Acadia Sheriff Dept for their assistance during our unscheduled stop. Girls are all safe and sound along with a great story to tell. All this and we will still be on schedule for meetings at NASA.

Quick Meal at Whataburger

First nice long stop of the journey at Whataburger for dinner.

Working on First Mission :-)

Students were given a quick, fun activity to work on during the first part of their journey. They were to create a tiny paper astronaut. Check out the results at the end of slideshow.

Departure from UTPA

Parents brought their future astronauts to the UTPA campus to leave for Florida. Girls set up for group pictures per district and then with everyone. They are ready for their 24 hour journey to NASA :-)

Getting Ready for Girls in Science Blast Off

Preparing blog to chronicle the Girls in Science Blast Off program. Program is sponsored by NASA through a proposal by The University of Texas Pan American, Rio Grande Valley Science Association, and Texas Space Grant Consortium (info)

During the journey, photos and videos will be posted here.

Big Thanks to our sponsor...

Setting Up

This blog will be used to share any activities or information dealing with the Rio Grande Valley Science Association (RGVSA). Videos and pictures of any activities relating to RGVSA will be posted here along with any documents.