Space Foundation Promotes STEM at AMOS

 The Space Foundation inspired new generations of potential space leaders at the 12th Annual Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies (AMOS) Conference in Maui, Hawai'i, by hosting a reception for young space professionals and education programs for teachers and students.

In addition, Space Foundation Vice President - Washington Operations Brendan Curry was a featured speaker at the conference, updating attendees on space policy.

New Generation Reception
A group of 65 young space professionals attended the networking reception after the first full day of the conference. The event was co-sponsored by Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB) and presented by the Space Foundation as part of its New Generation Initiative, which provides professional development and networking opportunities to college students and professionals aged 35 and under. The purpose of the reception was to help connect young space professionals with space industry veterans who ccould share career insight, mentoring and advice.

Education Programs
The Space Foundation conducted education programs, including an "Audience with an Astronaut" program featuring former NASA astronaut Dr. Leroy Chiao for 300 school children and a Space in the Classroom workshop for 30 middle and high school teachers  from the Maui area.

The Space in the Classroom workshop was co-sponsored by the Space Foundation and MEDB in association with Air Force Research Laboratory, Analytic Graphics, Inc. (AGI), The Boeing Company, Digital Bus, the University of Hawai'i Institute for Astronomy (IfA), Lockheed Martin, the Maui High Performance Computing Center (MHPCC), Northrop Grumman, Orbital, Pacific Defense Solutions (PDS) and United Launch Alliance (ULA).

The workshop showed teachers how to incorporate space activities into the classroom and was based on the Space Foundation's Space Across the Curriculum courses, which teach a variety of space-related topics that teachers can then apply in the classroom.

About the AMOS Conference
Devoted to space surveillance, the AMOS Conference presents a cross-section of military, contractor and academic participation in the field of space situational awareness. To learn more, visit www.amostech.com.

Pictured: Former NASA astronaut Dr. Leroy Chiao met with young space professionals at the New Generation Reception at the AMOS Conference in Maui in September. 

This article is part of Space Watch: October 2011 (Volume: 10, Issue: 10).