Maria Frewert

Frewert’s winning program, “The A3 Project: Learning Aerospace and Aviation through Astronomy”, was created to develop an aerospace and aviation curriculum for ninth through 12^th grade students at E-TECHS Charter High School. Using an astronomy foundation, the program will give students an opportunity to engage in hands-on, team-based activities that require design, construction, and development skills. Through astronomy projects, students will use robotic telescopes to chart the sky and other instruments to analyze the atmosphere. For the aerospace part of the program, participants will design rockets, experience aerial buoyancy in an underwater scuba activity, and build models of a space station. They will also experience aerial surveying and author space science information platforms. The aviation component, Aviation Private Pilot, will allow students to fly in simulations, build cockpit instrument dashboards, repair an aircraft engine, and build an experimental aircraft. With the experience gained from the program, students will develop skills in flight operation, aircraft maintenance, traffic management, safety, policy, and technical support. Frewert, who lives in Carson City, hopes teachers will utilize space sciences to encourage and inspire students to look into careers in the fields of aerospace science and engineering.