Present PositionEducation & Outreach Specialist, SP Systems, Inc.In support of Beyond Einstein, Suzaku, and other Astrophysics Science Division EPO programs. Brief BioSara Mitchell is an Education and Outreach Specialist for the Astrophysics Science Division (ASD) at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Since 2003, she has supported a variety of formal education, informal education, and public outreach programs. Sara's educational background includes both astrophysics and communication, and working at Goddard provides her with a unique opportunity to apply her scientific, technical, and creative knowledge to initiatives including websites, booklets, videos, posters, and presentations. Her previous experiences include work with undergraduate physics curricula, summer K-12 student programs, and independent film and video.Educational BackgroundBachelor of Arts with Honors, English Language and Literature, 2002Degree focus in Film and Visual Studies University of Maryland, College Park, MD Research Interests
Current ProjectsAt Goddard, Sara serves as a "translator" between the ASD's scientists and engineers and education and public outreach (EPO) audiences. She works with several missions and programs, contributing to materials such as booklets, posters, videos, CDs, and online resources. Sara co-produced "Building the Coolest X-ray Satellite," an award-winning video about the Suzaku satellite mission, and co-authored the accompanying educator guide. Sara is also the director of Blueshift, a new media project of podcasts, blogs, and other multimedia produced by the ASD. This project is a "backstage pass" to the science, missions and people in the Division. Sara is also a regular contributor to Spark, the education newsletter of the American Astronomical Society.Each year, Sara represents the ASD at national education and scientific conventions, including National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), American Astronomical Society (AAS), and Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP) meetings. She has created workshops for educators and students about the ASD's programs and materials, and workshops for EPO practitioners about tools and methodology. This portion of her work gives her a unique opportunity to interact directly with the end users of products and programs. Sara's projects are primarily focused on informal education and public outreach - programs and materials directed toward audiences outside of the classroom. In 2006, she co-founded the NASA Family Science Night (FSN) program, a series of hands-on events for middle schoolers and their families held monthly at the Goddard Visitor Center. This unique out-of-school project harnesses the influence of parents and other family members on student achievement and career choices. The FSN team received a Robert H. Goddard Award in 2008 for exceptional achievement in outreach. Sara has also been involved with the Afterschool Universe program, a curriculum developed for use in afterschool programs, summer camps, and other out-of-school-time venues. Each year, Sara assists with program development and refinement, as well as the training sessions and informational workshops offered at Goddard and conferences around the country. The Afterschool Universe team was awarded a 2009 NASA Public Service Group Achievement Award for "dedication and innovation in bringing NASA into the lives of thousands of individuals who might not otherwise be engaged in space science." Selected PublicationsMitchell, Sara E., Drobnes, Emilie, Sol Colina-Trujillo, M., & Noel-Storr, Jacob 2008, Advances in Space Research NASA Family Science Night: Changing perceptions one family at a timeKrishnamurthi, A., Eyermann, S. E., Mitchell, S. E., & Lochner, J. C. 2008, Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series Afterschool Universe: Bringing Astronomy Down to Earth Mitchell, S. E., Barbier, S. B., Krishnamurthi, A., & Lochner, J. C. 2008, EPO and a Changing World: Creating Linkages and Expanding Partnerships Portfolio on a Shoestring Noel-Storr, J., Drobnes, E., & Mitchell, S. E. 2008, EPO and a Changing World: Creating Linkages and Expanding Partnerships Family Astronomy: Improving Practices and Developing New Approaches Drobnes, Emilie & Mitchell, S. E. 2008, Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society You Can't Flush Science Outreach Mitchell, Sara E. & Krishnamurthi, A. 2008, Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society Blueshift: Bringing the Universe Closer to the Public Through Podcasting Lochner, J. C., Mitchell, S., & Keeney, P. 2006, Building the Coolest X-ray Satellite, NASA GSFC Barrett, Paul, Singh, Kulinder Pal, & Mitchell, Sara 1999, Annapolis Workshop on Magnetic Cataclysmic Variables The Soft X-Ray Luminosity Function of Polars
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A service of the
Astrophysics Science Division (ASD) at
NASA's
GSFC
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