one giant leap australia

investing in tomorrow today

Month: March 2013 (page 1 of 2)

@Cmdr_Hadfield

If you are one of the over 500 000 people following him on Twitter (yes – I am a fan!) congratulations!

If not, you are really missing out!

http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2013/03/27/3724834.htm

Jenna is in possession of my Chris Hadfield moustache on a stick that I got in Houston!

Congratulations to all involved – big team effort to bring space science into everyday lives and the minds of all! Inspirational.

Want to know when the ISS will be over your place?

Go to:

http://spotthestation.nasa.gov/

and sign up for alerts.

Where do phenomenal teachers come from?

Whilst at the Space Exploration Educator’s Conference in Houston, we watched a movie. If you didn’t get at least a tear in your eye – you have a heart make of stone! http://xsciafrica.com/xsci-news/

I had a very inspirational conversation with Brad McLain afterwards. He is part of XSci, the Experiential Science Education Research Collaborative.

Here is a small article about what they are up to:

http://www.ucdenver.edu/about/WhoWeAre/Research/Pages/Xsci-grant-funds-Mt.-Kilimanjaro-climb-for-teachers.aspx

The teachers on the tour were saying how they would like to give their students this type of experience.

I thought this after I had been to Space Camp on the Honeywell scholarship in 2007 – ‘I wish my students could experience this learning!’ I do what those teachers talked about! I take teachers, parents and students for a life changing journey!

The Space Camp excursions I run from school are like the trek up Mount Kilimanjaro.

When you are 10 or 11, imagine being three plane flights from home in another country? We ‘train’ and meet for nearly 18 months BEFORE we go.

Brad and I are talking about inspiring experiences we can offer teachers. Thinking of linking everyone together for a SCUBA dive and stuff! Watch this space!

 

Space Camp Hall of Fame

Space Camp Hall of Fame members Ed Van Cise (Flight Director in Houston) and Penny J Pettigrew (PAYCOM in Huntsville) are both supporting the ISS crew tonight. You can keep up with them at this live link:

http://spacestationlive.jsc.nasa.gov/timeline/index.html

Lockheed Martin

This is the desk model I picked up from the conference. Took a little bit of time and careful construction but now it is finished.

If you want to know more – have a look at:

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/products/orion.html

I am sure you could spend a few hours reading this website!

Please share it with others – people do not understand how exciting these new phases in space exploration are!

http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/mpcv/index.html

Don’t blame me of your coffee goes cold or you are still surfing the NASA site at 3 am!!!!

Mauna Kea observatories

Beware the invisible cows!

Simon O’Toole – this place is FREEZING!

The summit is more than 14000 feet. Health warnings are in place and it makes you a little light headed and the oxygen is a bit thin!

Welcome to the mountain! (There are panoramic shots so click on the photos….)

Island helicopter ride

Tried to post this before I left but internet was too slow!

I had a great front row seat on the helicopter.

Pictures pretty much say it all! The ride was like a 3D IMAX movie!

Highly recommended!

Mauna Lani and turtles

For those people who know me well – know that when I was at university I went to Mon Repos near Bundaberg and worked as a volunteer loggerhead turtle guide.

Here am I – random selection – staying in a hotel that releases turtles into the wild on July 4th every year.

So, walking along tonight at dusk – what should I find????

Big Island bus tour

Did the bus tour yesterday and went inside a lava tube.

Saw the place Captain Cook was killed.

Also saw some teachers on an EDUCATION CONFERENCE – note to self – next year….attend this conference.

The volcano was amazing. The Black Sand Beach was pretty awesome as well.

Punahoe School, Hawaiian Science Teachers Association and the Shack!

After getting the red line and green line trolleys to do a bit of sightseeing, I boarded the number 2 bus to begin an adventure that I believe will create some amazing experiences for all involved!

After walking from the bus and asking student directions (of which included – “If it was me I would take a golf cart!”) I began climbing up ‘Rocky Hill’ to meet Gail.

What an incredible person and unbelievable program she has implemented. Gail has a native garden nursery program operating at her school that incorporates many facets of the school. I have some photos here but they really do not do it justice!

The most inspiring time with Gail and then to attend the meeting of the Hawaiian Science Teachers’ Association reinforced global science education issues! It was just like being in the NSW Science Teachers Association meetings – only less people! Sharing will cut down works loads on both committees!

I will be working with Rick Jones and Gail (and others) to foster international links. Discussions around video conferencing and guest speakers have everyone inspired and excited!

Gail took me to a great restaurant called ‘The Shack’. It has waterviews and serves great burgers! I have a feeling we will be working together on a couple of exciting global marine science initiatives. Wish I had more time here but I know that working with passionate people – distance is not an issue!

The view from Rocky Hill.

Whales, dolphins and hula

Went out on a boat, did a bit of snorkeling and then went to a luau. Beautiful day out on the water.

Guy in the grass skirt was a highlight to the whole night. What else can I say???!!!

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