Justine Schaen, Senior Education Specialist, NSF NOIRLab will be presenting on “NSF NOIRLab and Rubin Observatory classroom activities for data analysis and discovery”

Abstract: NSF NOIRLab, the US national center for ground-based, nighttime optical astronomy, and its Programs, including Vera C. Rubin Observatory, are shaping data discovery in the classroom through interactive learning and user-friendly investigation tools. NOIRLab’s Teen Astronomy Café – To Go! program introduces students to Python Notebooks to analyze, simulate, and make sense of astronomical phenomena. These activities are appropriate for high school and college-level classes teaching astronomy, earth and space science, and physics as they foster critical thinking and analytical skills using the same tools as astronomers. Additionally, Rubin Observatory’s online investigations empower educators to integrate authentic data and scientific discovery into their curricula, providing students with experiences that enhance their understanding of the Universe. These programs inspire the next generation by bridging classroom learning and cutting-edge astronomical research.