During this Space STEM Day in Little Rock, AR., students from grades 1 through 12 engaged in an immersive exploration of space through a series of workshops. The activities covered various topics, including the four states of matter, rockets and rocketry, particle detection, and innovation creation. This event was designed to inspire and educate students from 1st to 12th grade with engaging, hands-on activities in space science.

Image Credit: University of Alabama, Huntsville

FTPP had the privilege of facilitating a workshop for Tech Trek, engaging 64 seventh-grade girls from Alabama. The workshop featured a Canva presentation titled 'An Out Of This World Presentation' on Particle Detection, complemented by an interactive activity. The students displayed great enthusiasm and participation throughout the session. To conclude, they orchestrated a simulated graduation ceremony, presented each student with a goody bag containing an IMAP sticker, a pencil, a highlighter, and a personalized mini certificate as 'An Out Of This World Attendee'.

Image Credit: University of Alabama, Huntsville

Future Technologies & Enabling Plasma Processes participated in Science Week at Columbia Elementary, a Madison, Alabama-based public school. 12 FTPP GRA's from the Center for Space Plasma and Aeronomic Research at The University of Alabama in Huntsville helped coordinate an engaging "Achieving Orbit" activity, which guided 4th and 5th graders through a lesson on rocket principles while assisting them in creating a two-stage rocket simulation using balloons. In total, they reached an audience of 300 individuals with this interactive educational experience.

Image Credit: University of Alabama, Huntsville

Future Technologies and Enabling Plasma Processes (FTPP) successfully hosted its second Solar Eclipse Viewing event in Huntsville, Alabama, drawing a crowd of over 1000 enthusiastic attendees. Students and families joined them to witness this extraordinary event and engage in various activities, including using solar viewers, solar funnels, pinhole projectors, and visiting a solar tent. The event was made possible through partnerships with The University of Alabama in Huntsville Center for Space Plasma and Aeronomic Research, NASA's IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe) Mission, and The SHIELD DRIVE Science Center. Huntsville experienced approximately 90% coverage during the eclipse, adding to the excitement of the occasion.

Image Credit: University of Alabama, Huntsville

IMAP Outreach Team members Lindsay Bartolone and Andi Pearl traveled to Dallas, TX. to participate with the NASA HEAT team at the Dallas Arboretum for the 2024 Solar Eclipse and to share all things IMAP to a sold out crowd of 10,000 eclipse fans. They shared the wonders of the heliosphere, gave model demonstrations, and shared the excitement of the upcoming IMAP mission. As the eclipse began, hopes were boosted as clouds parted for short glimpses of the Moon's transit in front of the Sun. All demonstrations and Q & A's paused for everyone to look up (using IMAP solar viewers, of course!) and witness the event. Moments before totality, the clouds departed, leaving clear viewing for the rest of the eclipse and sunny conditions for the rest of the event.

Image Credit: Princeton University

Challenger Colorado was happy to host local families for a Second Saturday Family Science event. Approximately 140 guests participated in IMAP outreach activities focused on the "how" of communications between the IMAP probe and Earth, and vice versa. Families tried their hand at "doodles" by attempting to draw a picture with a singular marker and 4 "operators", each with a string to help guide the marker to complete a simple drawing. Groups were also treated to a planetarium show, overviewing the Colorado sky tonight, adding homework on to their Saturday events!

Image Credit: Challenger Learning Center of Colorado

Space Foundation Discovery Center included IMAP activities at their onsite event in which they had approximately 600 people participate in viewing the annular solar eclipse through solar viewing glasses and telescopes fitted with solar viewing lenses. Participants also created a DIY Solar Viewer and listened to guest speaker Dr. Ruskin talk about the Great Solar Eclipses of 1878 and 2024.

Image Credit: Space Foundation Discovery Center