CfAO Akamai Observatory Short Course
UH Institute for Astronomy - Hilo
On June 3rd and 4th, the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy (IfA), Hilo hosted a portion of the Akamai Observatory Short Course, a program sponsored by the Center for Adaptive Optics (CfAO), out of the University of California Santa Cruz. The program is a 5-day intensive course pilot on the Big Island based on an ongoing program on Maui that utilizes an inquiry based learning system. 17 students from Hawaii participated this year, with five from the University of Hawaii at Hilo.

The IfA was involved in this short course by providing our auditorium and meeting rooms, and supplying materials and resources. We hope to have a larger presence in next year's event.
INFORMATION ON THE STUDENTS:
A total of 17 students completed the AOSC, 16 were Hawaii State residents.
 
 4 were Native Hawaiians
 2 were Other underrepresented minorities
 4 were Women
 
 Total underrepresented students (women & minorities) = 10
 (2/3 of enrolled students!!!)
 
 5 were UH Hilo students
 2 were Maui Community College students
 3 were Honolulu Community College students
 1 was a UH Manoa student
 4 were Hawaiian residents enrolled in mainland universities
 1 was Not currently enrolled (recent high school grad)
• More information about:

• Big Island Observatory Internship
• CfAO Approach to integrating inquiry
• Keck summer internship 2003
• Hawaii Tribune-Herald picture
• Hawaii Tribune-Herald Story
• AOSC Poster
STUDENT RESPONSE:
At the end of the AOSC, 15 of the students completed an evaluation
form. We will be giving you more thorough information shortly (and
getting the last two forms), but a quick review shows extremely
positive response from the students. Here are some examples:
 
Students were asked "Overall, how valuable has AOSC been to you?"
 
Their responses were:
 not at all valuable = 0
 somewhat valuable = 1 (7%)
 valuable = 5 (33%)
 extremely valuable = 9 (60%)
 
Here are a some quotes from the evaluation form:
 
"The short course taught me how wonderful it would be to work in an
observatory..."
 
"It gave me more motivation in trying to seek different opportunities
in the astronomy field. It was exciting to hear the different people
from astronomers, EE, optical engineers, to mech. engineers."
 "It gave me more motivation in trying to seek different opportunities
in the astronomy field. It was exciting to hear the different people
from astronomers, EE, optical engineers, to mech. engineers."
 
"This course was extremely helpful in learning about the
observatories in a way that I never knew before. I previously worked
at an observatory and didn't know half of what I know now."
 
"I realized that there are so many opportunities there besides just
astronomy and it really seemed to open a lot of doors for my future."
 
"Plus, it was so much fun, while being educational, and I would do it
again in a heart beat."
 
"Incredible. I still have to pinch myself to be reminded of the gifts
and opportunities I've discovered this week. It's ridiculous how
valuable this week has been to me...and free? Unimaginable."
 
"Gives me a new path and direction. Many new opportunities that did
not exist before."
 
"I realized I would love to work at an observatory. It gives me hope
for my future."