June 20, 2012 — Morehead State University’s Space Science Center, in partnership with the American Association of University Women (AAUW), will offer SpaceTrek, an immersive one-week camp for girls entering their junior or senior year of high school.
The camp is scheduled for July 14-21 and 13 girls from high schools throughout the Commonwealth will participate. The girls were selected by the AAUW management team by a competitive process. The uniqueness of this camp is that not only are the girls spending one week on campus learning about science, math and engineering concepts but they will have an opportunity to earn college credit. Starting June 4, the girls began the online component of Introduction to Satellites Space Systems course that will continue through the camp followed by a week of post-camp lectures and exams.
Activities and objectives during the camp will include stargazing and observing orbiting satellites, learning about the physics of the space environment, developing skills in mechatronics, building electronic systems and fabricating miniature robots. Launching student-built devices in a high altitude balloon will be the culminating activity of the program.
The camp will be led by professor Robert Twiggs, world-famous satellite engineer and inventor, along with Dr. Ben Malphrus, chair of the Department of Earth and Space Sciences. Eric Thomas, director of MSU’s Star Theater, along with AAUW Kentucky members, are managing the program.
Two high school physics and astronomy teachers, Jennifer Carter from Rowan County Senior High School and Lana Swartz from Menifee County High School, will serve as instructors in the online component of the course and will assist in the curriculum during the camp. Graduate and undergraduate students also will participate in the training and instruction delivered during the camp. AAUW members will participate in the noncurriculum based activities as volunteers.
SpaceTrek was spearheaded by AAUW Kentucky.
The program is funded by a grant from MSU’s Center for Regional Engagement and donations from AAUW fundraising. The tuition for the course was waived by MSU.
Additional information may be obtained by calling the Space Science Center at 606-783-2381.
