WNCC Invites K-12 Teachers to Summer Space Institute

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Western Nevada Community College is hosting its second annual Astronomy Institute June 27-July 1 at the Jack C. Davis Observatory on the Carson City campus. The Institute, "Life in the Universe: Astrobiology in Education," will help K-12 teachers learn about the fascinating subject of astrobiology, an emerging multidisciplinary field that is focused on discovering "life" in our solar system and beyond at levels of interrelated complexity ranging from molecular to galactic.

The Summer Institute has been developed for local educators to learn new concepts and practice experiments that focus on space science, simulating investigations for discovering life beyond Earth. All tuition, books, lab materials and supplies will be furnished at no cost to local educators willing to use the content in their classrooms.

Teachers will get newly discovered information on our solar system, learn how life exists in the most extreme environments on Earth, and do hands-on activities that can be easily performed in the classroom to help spark student discovery, intrigue and excitement in the sciences. One day will be spent at Mono Lake to study its microbial diversity and its relation to the study of astrobiology.

Up to 30 qualified applicants will be accepted, on a first-come, first served basis.