Raquel Jarabek selected as NASA Airborne Astronomy Ambassador

Raquel Jarabek, astronomy instructor at Minneapolis College, is one of only 24 teachers nationwide to be selected as a 2022 NASA Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors (AAAs). AAA is a professional development program for science teachers to improve science teaching and enhance student learning and STEM engagement.

The SETI Institute, which partners with NASA and the National Science Foundation, chose 24 teachers from middle schools, high schools and community colleges to receive nine months of training in astrophysics and planetary science, and a week-long STEM immersion experience at a NASA astronomy research facility, such as the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) based in Palmdale, California or the Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) on Mauna Kea in Hawaii.

“This program recently expanded to include community college professors,” said Jarabek. “I love that NASA is realizing the importance of involving populations from community colleges. I think my students will realize that NASA appreciates students from places like Minneapolis College by investing in their professors through this program.

“I am excited to participate in doing astronomy and collecting data as a community college professor. This opportunity through NASA gives me access to telescopes that would not be possible except through this program. I will be exposed to new environments and new equipment that I can share with others.”

After their training, the AAAs teach a physical science curriculum module created by the SETI Institute that connects curriculum concepts to NASA-enabled research. Past controlled study evaluations of the AAA program have shown statistically significant improvements in student learning and engagement among students whose teachers participated in the program.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for me that I will have the privilege of sharing with my students. The program makes learning about light from objects in space come alive. This is a real-life example of how we use light waves and learn information from stars and galaxies. Students will get to see how what they learn in astronomy class gets used every day at NASA.”