Third-graders at Waiakeawaena Elementary sat back in their seats Monday, imagined themselves as astronauts, and prepared to launch on a virtual journey through the solar system.
“Are you guys ready to go to the edge of the universe?” Emily Peavy, an astronomer from ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center, asked a class of roughly 18 students as they stared into a simulation featuring planets, galaxies, meteors and billions of stars.
“Here we go!” she shouted, as the “astronauts” with tiny hands clapped from behind their desks.
The students shot through space and time and made pit stops on planets, learning about the different types, how they orbit around the sun, and imagined together what aliens might look like if some were found underneath the icy surface of Jupiter’s moon Europa.
The students transformed into curious explorers, shouting questions they’ve always wanted to ask.
“How far does space go?“ one asked from the front row. “Why do some stars twinkle and others don’t?” another shouted from her seat. “Is Pluto a planet or a meteor?” a boy asked from the back of the class.
Peavy answered all of them with enthusiasm and sincerity as the group explored the depths of space together.
“It’s an amazing program, and I always enjoy being a part of it,” Peavy told the Tribune-Herald later Monday. “When you’re able to be in front of students, be an acrobat and dance around and be really interactive, the kids are really with you, and they’re excited about it.”
The event was just one presentation in a weeklong series known as Journey Through the Universe, an exploratory program now in its 19th year hosted by the NOIRLab/Gemini, the TMT International Observatory, and the state Department of Education.
The program has expanded since it launched in 2005, and this year, 49 different astronomy educators from Hawaii and the U.S. mainland are visiting over 160 classrooms across the Big Island and Maui to share their knowledge with curious students.
“The Journey Through the Universe partnership continues to be the longest and most impactful that I know of for the Hilo-Waiakea Complex,” said Esther Kanehailua, complex area superintendent who attended the presentation at Waiakeawaena. “The dedicated science educators from the Maunakea Observatories and beyond have visited our classrooms with incredible energy and a passion for exploration on our island and beyond, inspiring our future leaders.”
Presenters returned in-person after a two-year virtual hiatus due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Volunteers were more excited than ever to be back in-person, sharing slides, leading workshops and hosting interactive activities to inspire students and teach them about science, technology, engineering, and math, or STEM education.
“I’m thrilled to see the Journey Through the Universe program return to classrooms across Hawaii this year,” said Christopher Phillips, NOIRLab’s engagement and education manager who co-leads the program. “These critical collaborations, both local and from across the nation, are a demonstration of the commitment to our community and the future of science education for students in Hawaii and beyond.”
In addition to classroom visits, the program is also hosting a career panel this year for high school students to learn more about local career opportunities in the fields of science and astronomy.
For the first time, both career panels will feature former Hilo and Waiakea graduates, showing how influential past programs have been in inspiring local careers.
“The older this program gets, and the longer the observatories have been here doing outreach, the more we start to see the kids who receive this programming their whole lives actually enter the STEM field,” said Leinani Lozi, a co-leader of the program who works for TMT International Observatory. “This year, alumni from Hilo High School and Waiakea High School are on the career panels to talk about working in the observatory.”
The programs all lead up to an annual Astro Day event on May 6 at the Prince Kuhio Plaza, also hosted by the Maunakea Observatories. The event will feature a variety of presentations and activities with information about science in Hawaii. There’s even a competition students can enter to submit a design for an Astro Day coin.
More information on the event and competition can be found by visiting: www.mkaoc.org.
“It’s all about any way that we can show off the amazing, active science happening so close to where they’re living, and be able to learn about these fascinating discoveries made right here on our island using these amazing observatories we have,” Peavy said. “We just want to inspire them in whatever ways we can.”
Email Grant Phillips at gphillips@hawaiitribune-herald.com.