Members of the STAR_Net team will be exhibiting and providing talks at the upcoming ALA Conference in Chicago from June 22-27.

Visit Us at the NASA Booth!

We will be at the NASA Booth (#4051), so make sure to stop by to attend our informative NASA Hyperwall presentations on the upcoming 2017 Eclipse and Strange New Planets in addition to a variety of other activities.

NASA Booth Hyperwall Presentations

2017 Solar Eclipse: Science and Resources

Friday, June 23rd (Opening Reception), 5:40 p.m. – 5:55 p.m.
Presenter: Paul Dusenbery

Libraries Participate in the Solar Eclipse

Saturday, June 24th, 11:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Presenters: Paul Dusenbery, Keliann LaConte, Anne Holland, and Jude Schanzer

Hands-on Activity: Strange New Planet 

Sunday, June 25th, 11:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Presenters: Keliann LaConte and Brooks Mitchell

Other NASA booth participants include:

ASU/Infiniscope Explorers Wanted: Infiniscope seeks explorers in their FREE web-based, interactive, learning experiences. Click here to visit their website for more info.

ARES Lunar and Meteorite Sample Disk Program Learn how you can teach patrons about the formation of the Solar System – a story 4.56 billion years in the making – by bringing a disk with actual Moon and meteorite samples to your library! Click here to visit their website for more info.

Check Out Our Sessions!

Daytime Astronomy at Your Library

Saturday, June 24 from 1:00pm to 2:30pm, Hyatt Regency McCormick, Grant Park/CC 12AB

Celebrate science with fun, hands-on and multimedia activities that you can use immediately in your library to explore the Sun and Moon. Get ready for the the celestial event of the century, the August 21, 2017 Solar Eclipse. During this national event, the shadow of the moon will sweep across the United States in a narrow band from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean in a spectacle that hasn’t occurred in decades. In fact, the last total solar eclipse for the United States was nearly 40 years ago. It is aptly named the Great American Eclipse. The rest of the U.S. and North America will see a partial eclipse, with the Moon covering up only part of the Sun. Receive tips for hosting a safe solar viewing event and learn to use astronomy tools for engaging your community in science all year long.

High-impact STEM Events to Foster Collaboration

Sunday, June 25 from 1:00pm to 2:30pm, McCormick Place, W196C

By working together toward common goals, we have the potential to make a “collective impact” toward 21st learning skills. In order to foster longer-term collaborations, it is critical for new collaborators to have a “short-term win.” Hear about the process that brought the Chicago Public Library (CPL) and the Museum of Science and Industry (MSI) into close collaboration, beginning with identifying a common audience, hosting a events at the museum for library patrons, and offering joint professional development to secure buy-in. These small steps led to institutional commitment that continues with summer learning programs and more. NASA, Earth, and celestial events also have high enough visibility to attract the attention of the broader local community and bring resources together for a common purpose. These high-profile events might include the 2017 solar eclipse, International Observe the Moon Night, Earth Day, NASA mission events, NASA traveling exhibits, “NASA Science Saturdays”, and afterschool programs or clubs. Each event is an opportunity for library staff and their collaborators to celebrate “short-term wins” in engaging their communities in NASA science and exploration.

Join us and take home NASA resources for hosting your own high-impact events with collaborators in your community!