The SETI Institute is a participating lab site in the California State University’s STEM Teacher and Researcher (STAR) program for aspiring and early career science teachers summer program. STAR aims to produce excellent K-12 STEM teachers by providing aspiring teachers with opportunities to do authentic research while helping them translate their research experience into classroom practice.

The SETI Institute, a non-profit science research institute located in California’s Silicon Valley, invites for aspiring and early career science teachers to apply for a summer STAR Program placement at the Institute or at the nearby NASA Ames Research Center to work on projects spanning the field of astrobiology, from microbiology to observational astronomy.

Students will also participate in local field trips to places such as the Hat Creek Radio Observatory, field sites, and other nearby locations of scientific interest; will also attend seminars, lectures and discussion on astrobiology and pedagogy. At the end of the summer, project presentations are given.

Three main research areas will be emphasized, with projects including:

• Biochemistry and the Origin and Evolution of Life on Earth
  • Biologically accessible carbon
  • UV resistant microbes
• Planetary Science and the Search for Life in the Solar System
  • Europa geology
  • Mars geomorphology and spectroscopy
• Astronomy and the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI)
  • Meteor showers and their parent comets
  • SETI and radio astronomy

STAR projects will be similar to the REU projects detailed at http://www.seti.org/reu

Applications and program details at
http://star-web.cosam.calpoly.edu/apply

Check out this video by 2023 STAR Student Christine Bui, "Creating a Library for Space Civilization Seekers"

For more information contact:
Pamela Harman
pharman@seti.org