Barbel Sepulveda and Chris Rauschenfels

Sepulveda’s and Rauschenfels’ innovative teaching idea, “Seeing the Light,” teams local middle school physical science students with Lincoln High School astronomy students to inspire the next generation of scientists. The program is centered on investigating the properties of infrared light using teaching materials provided by NASA's SOFIA Mission. The students work in teams, together with a NASA scientist mentor, to conduct authentic research projects in astronomy. The goal is to have the high school students prepare video lessons to teach the properties of light to the middle school students. Various technology tools will be employed, allowing the students to be able to share their data with students across the country to compare, combine and communicate their findings.