Demonstrating Exoplanet Cloud formation in the Class: O. Marshall at the OAE’s 5th Shaw-IAU Workshop
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Demonstrating Exoplanet Cloud formation and Lighting in the Classroom
This was a talk given at the 5th Shaw-IAU Workshop on Astronomy for Education, organised by the IAU Office of Astronomy for Education (OAE, http//astro4edu.org).
Using exoplanets as a context for teaching may be an interesting way for students to think about the scientific principles at the core of a subject that hold universally, regardless of the planet being considered. For this project two classroom experiments have been developed that use simple and affordable materials such as recycled food containers and hairspray to allow students to explore the phenomena of clouds and lightning by creating their own in the classroom. The experiments have been developed as part of the CHAMELEON exoplanet research network and are accompanied by supporting lesson materials. These materials are designed for STEM students aged 16-18 and make use of the inquiry-based learning 5E model focusing on student-led learning.
About Oriel Marshall:
Oriel Marshall is a third year joint PhD student at the universities of Copenhagen and Antwerpen. She is part of the CHAMELEON innovative training network which focuses on modeling exoplanets and protoplanetary disks. Her role within this network is creating and assessing teaching materials based on the topics within the network. Oriel has worked with and developed hands-on astrophysics learning materials in many capacities prior to her current PhD project. These include the thesis project of her astrophysics masters project at the University of St Andrews, and during her time working with Sloan Digital Sky Survey, and subsequently for the ESA CHEOPs mission.
About the 5th Shaw-IAU Workshop:
This year’s Shaw-IAU Workshop on Astronomy for Education focuses on two themes: one special practical astronomy education topic and one scientific topic. The special topic is astronomy education outside the classroom, looking at how astronomy can be taught in a diverse range of environments such as science centers, planetaria and youth clubs. The scientific topic is planetary atmospheres, both in the solar system and exoplanets as well as our own Earth. The workshop was organised by the IAU Office of Astronomy for Education (http://astro4edu.org/). More details can be found on: https://astro4edu.org/shaw-iau/5th-shaw-iau-workshop/schedule/
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