Auger Collaboration Meeting, Malargüe, April 2002 Education/Outreach Report, Gregory R. Snow 1

PIERRE AUGER OBSERVATORYCollaboration Meeting

Education and Outreach

Report

Malargüe, April 26, 2002

Auger Collaboration Meeting, Malargüe, April 2002 Education/Outreach Report, Gregory R. Snow 2

Outline

• Activities during and since October 2001 collaboration meeting

• Public Lectures• School Visits• Visitor Center in New Building• Visitor Center Library• Eureka Science Museum in Mendoza

• Miscellaneous Related Efforts• 2002 Department of Energy PR brochure• Michigan Technological University Scholarship• High School Based Cosmic Ray Detector

Networks

• Education and Outreach Funding

Auger Collaboration Meeting, Malargüe, April 2002 Education/Outreach Report, Gregory R. Snow 3

WELCOME

The Education and Outreach Taskwelcomes

Beatriz Garcia (UTN Mendoza)as Deputy Task Leader

effective now.

We also thankJohn Swain (Northeastern)

for his contributionsin this role to date.

Auger Collaboration Meeting, Malargüe, April 2002 Education/Outreach Report, Gregory R. Snow 4

Public Talks and School Visits duringthis collaboration meeting

• Tuesday• “Comienzos del la investigación de la radiación cósmica en Argentina”

• Juan Roederer, University of Alaska• Wednesday

• Ceremony to name Escuela No. 4 - 190 after Jim Cronin• Instituto Cultural Inglesa Malargüe and Escuela Manuel Nicolas Savio (80 students and teachers)• G. Snow, L. Villaseňor, B. Garcia

• Thursday• General Alvear science teachers and students• R. Lopez, L. Villaseňor, A. Zepeda

• Starting Friday• Course in Malargüe: Astronomía y Astrofísica• High school teachers, 38 hours total, every two weeks• B. Garcia

• Saturday• Astronomy Club in Mendoza• G. Snow, R. Lopez, L. Villaseňor, A. Zepeda

Auger Collaboration Meeting, Malargüe, April 2002 Education/Outreach Report, Gregory R. Snow 5

Visitor Center in Auger Center Building

10 x 12 m2 Visitor Center

• Flexible space accommodating both fixed displays and lectures/seminars to school groups and the public

• Team with representatives from each participating country developing Visitor Center: displays and materials

Auger Collaboration Meeting, Malargüe, April 2002 Education/Outreach Report, Gregory R. Snow 6

Auger Center Building InaugurationOctober 2001

Auger Collaboration Meeting, Malargüe, April 2002 Education/Outreach Report, Gregory R. Snow 7

Visitor Center in Auger Center Building

In place for building inauguration• 12 posters in Spanish on the Auger Observatory and collaboration mounted on free-standing tripods (from U.S. Embassy reception)• New posters from Karlsruhe, Mexico• 1000 updated color brochures with recent images• Phototube, electronics card, radio displays• Tank outside building

Over 700 people toured Visitor Center after inauguration

Auger Collaboration Meeting, Malargüe, April 2002 Education/Outreach Report, Gregory R. Snow 8

Visitor Center in Auger Center Building

There has been a steady stream of visitors to the VisitorCenter since its opening

73 entries in Visitor Center register bookIndividuals and groups

Tour reservations and scheduling are handled by the Tourist Office

Guides have been trained and “examined” by:I. Allekotti, C. Bonifazi, E. CasimiroB. Garcia, C. Hojvat, G. Snow

Many thanks to our Visitor Center tour guides:Silvia Soledad RivasVanina CaraAnalía CáceresFernando SánchezLeonardo Darío Bax

Auger Collaboration Meeting, Malargüe, April 2002 Education/Outreach Report, Gregory R. Snow 9

Visitor Center in Auger Center Building

Displays foreseen

• Professionally produced posters in Spanish/English on cosmic rays and the Auger Observatory and collaboration• Video loop on Auger experiment• Commissioned artwork• Sample detector components with explanations• Geiger counter or spark chamber display• Model or simulation of detector array with tanks illuminated for online or simulated triggers• Large scoreboard registering accumulated events• Audio-visual equipment for presentations • PCs for visitor use• Consumable materials – brochures and souvenirs• Surface Detector tank outside with signage• Fluorescence Detector prototype from Los Leones• Telescope for public viewing

Auger Collaboration Meeting, Malargüe, April 2002 Education/Outreach Report, Gregory R. Snow 10

Visitor Center in Auger Center Building

Lucite box to enclose PMT display

Portable Geigercounter display

Auger Collaboration Meeting, Malargüe, April 2002 Education/Outreach Report, Gregory R. Snow 11

Visitor Center in Auger Center Building

• CNEA-owed 6-inch Newtonian reflector telescope now available for visitor use• Three eyepieces for different magnifications purchased• Training in telescope use will be given to Visitor Center guides

Auger Collaboration Meeting, Malargüe, April 2002 Education/Outreach Report, Gregory R. Snow 12

Visitor Center in Auger Center Building

Near Future Do-List

• FD prototype (German/Czech frame and mirrors) to Visitor Center• Only a portion will fit into Visitor Center space

• Purchase PCs, connect to Internet

• Poster critical review and graphic artist input

• Shower animation/visualization, event display• Input from Pierre Billoir, Lukas Nellen, Jan Ridky

• NASA Education materials – input from Scott Nutter

• Hess Nobel Prize brochure, satellite cosmic ray experiment hardware – Mike Duvernois

• Arrange for Library cabinets or shelves in rear alcove

Auger Collaboration Meeting, Malargüe, April 2002 Education/Outreach Report, Gregory R. Snow 13

Toward more professional posters

Auger Collaboration Meeting, Malargüe, April 2002 Education/Outreach Report, Gregory R. Snow 14

Toward more professional posters

Auger Collaboration Meeting, Malargüe, April 2002 Education/Outreach Report, Gregory R. Snow 15

Visitor Center Library

Library books will be located in the small alcove at the backof the Visitor Center

Auger Collaboration Meeting, Malargüe, April 2002 Education/Outreach Report, Gregory R. Snow 16

Visitor Center Library

• Many thanks to those who contributed $$ or books to the Library!!• Letter of thanks to Universities Research Association• Books on hand now:Enrique Gaviola y el Observatorio Astronómico de Cordoba O.A. BernaolaBalas Cósmicas R. Clay, B. DawsonJ.A. Balseiro: Crónica de una Illusión A. López Dávalos, N. BadinoEl Secreto Atómico de Huemul M. MariscottiGuía de Campo de las Estrellas y Planetas J.M. Pasachoff, D.H. MenzelCosmos C. SaganEl Mundo de las Particulas B. Southworth, G. Bioxader

La Lumiere des Neutrinos M. Cribier, M. Spiro, D. VignaudLe Monde des Particules B. Southworth, G. Bioxader

Der Multimensch P. Waloschek

The New Cosmos A. UnsoldCosmic Bullets R. Clay, B. DawsonAn Instant Guide to Stars and Planets P. Forey, C. FitzsimonsThe Universe in a Nutshell S. HawkingCambridge Guide to Stars and Planets P. Moore, W. TirionCambridge Guide to Stargazing with your Telescope R. ScagellCosmic Rays M. FriedlanderCosmic Rays and Particle Physics T. GaisserA Tour of the Subatomic Zoo C. SchwarzParticle Physics Pocket Booklet Particle Data Group

Spanish

French

German

English

Auger Collaboration Meeting, Malargüe, April 2002 Education/Outreach Report, Gregory R. Snow 17

Eureka Science Park in MendozaParque de la Ciencia y la Tecnología

• Plans being finalized for Auger exhibit at Eureka

• Outside: Mexican SD tank outdoors with explanatory sign

• Inside: Italian FD prototype from Los Leones, posters, brochures, PC with interactive activities

• Meetings this Saturday and Sunday with director Prof. Lilia M. Dubini

Auger Collaboration Meeting, Malargüe, April 2002 Education/Outreach Report, Gregory R. Snow 18

Eureka Science Park in MendozaParque de la Ciencia y la Tecnología

• Location of SD tank outside main building• Transport of tank from Malargüe to Mendoza early June on Brazilian truck bringing new tanks to Malargüe• Rebeca Lopez has made draft of explanatory sign• UTN Mendoza will outfit with accessories

Auger Collaboration Meeting, Malargüe, April 2002 Education/Outreach Report, Gregory R. Snow 19

Eureka Science Park in MendozaParque de la Ciencia y la Tecnología

• Red curved wall for Auger exhibit poster set• Ceiling too low here for full FD prototype frame• Will discuss FD location in main building atrium with high ceiling on Sunday• Customs issues for FD move to Mendoza needs to be solved

Auger Collaboration Meeting, Malargüe, April 2002 Education/Outreach Report, Gregory R. Snow 20

Eureka Science Park in MendozaParque de la Ciencia y la Tecnología

We hope to have an opening ceremonyof the Auger exhibit at Eureka

at the time of the November 2002Collaboration Meeting

Auger Collaboration Meeting, Malargüe, April 2002 Education/Outreach Report, Gregory R. Snow 21

U.S. Department of Energy“Exploring Energy and Matter”

Brochure

• Each year the U.S. DoE Office of High Energy and Nuclear Physics prepares a public relations brochure covering its premier programs

• The Auger Observatory is one of 9 projects highlighted in the 2002 brochure

• Photo of Carmen and Miranda against the Andes

• Half a page of text on Auger in the 6-page brochure

• A few copies of the brochure are available – see me

Auger Collaboration Meeting, Malargüe, April 2002 Education/Outreach Report, Gregory R. Snow 22

Michigan Technological UniversityScholarship

Dave Nitz and student Angelo Chialva at MTU with artwork for Auger visitor

center in (Malargüe)

• One student from Malargüe supported for 4-year program every other year

• Tuition, room and board, fees covered

• Students selected by Malargüe’s school principals and mayor

• First student selected and enrolled at MTU autumn 2001

All collaborating institutionsare encouraged to investigatesponsoring similar scholarship

programs.

Auger Collaboration Meeting, Malargüe, April 2002 Education/Outreach Report, Gregory R. Snow 23

Networks of High School Based CosmicRay Detectors

CROP

Pierre Auger northern hemisphere site in Utah

SCRODSALTA

CHICOS

WALTA ALTA

NALTAThe North American Large-Scale

Time-Coincidence Array

Auger Collaboration Meeting, Malargüe, April 2002 Education/Outreach Report, Gregory R. Snow 24

The Cosmic Ray Observatory Project (CROP)

in Nebraska

• NSF-supported with $1.34 million grant (Education and HEP)• 11 high schools enlisted to date• 6 more schools will join in summer 2002 17 total• 314 high schools in the state

Auger Collaboration Meeting, Malargüe, April 2002 Education/Outreach Report, Gregory R. Snow 25

The Cosmic Ray Observatory Project

• CROP uses retired detectors from the Chicago Air Shower Array (CASA)

• Over half of CASA array recovered in May 2001 (2000 scintillator panels, …) Equipment recovery trip

to Dugway, Utah

Auger Collaboration Meeting, Malargüe, April 2002 Education/Outreach Report, Gregory R. Snow 26

The Cosmic Ray Observatory Project

Equipment recovery trip to Dugway, Utah, May 2001

Auger Collaboration Meeting, Malargüe, April 2002 Education/Outreach Report, Gregory R. Snow 27

The Cosmic Ray Observatory Project (CROP)

in Nebraska

• GPS receiver gives time stamp for locally-detected showers

• Data collected by PC inside school

• Students share data over the Internet to search for showers from ultra-high energy cosmic rays

Typical high school set up

Auger Collaboration Meeting, Malargüe, April 2002 Education/Outreach Report, Gregory R. Snow 28

The Cosmic Ray Observatory Project

Individual school measurements

Barometric Pressure (mmHg)727 747

4-F

old

Coi

nci

den

ces

/ 2 h

ours

3000

4200

Tilting detector telescope built byparticipating school

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Publication by Participating School“The Science Teacher”, November

2001

Auger Collaboration Meeting, Malargüe, April 2002 Education/Outreach Report, Gregory R. Snow 30

The Cosmic Ray Observatory Project

Several schools have installeddetectors on their rooftops

and are studying coincidencerates vs. separation

Auger Collaboration Meeting, Malargüe, April 2002 Education/Outreach Report, Gregory R. Snow 31

CROP data acquisition electronics card

Programmablemicrocontroller

Programmablegate array

TDCTime-to-digital

converter

DiscriminatorsAmplifiers

Barometer,temperature

GPSAnaloginputs

Auger Collaboration Meeting, Malargüe, April 2002 Education/Outreach Report, Gregory R. Snow 32

The Cosmic Ray Observatory Project

• 15 prototype cards being stuffed and tested

• Production run mid-summer

• Plan to link schools with data stamped with GPS time by end of summer 2002

5 VoltDC power

To PCserial port

Four analog PMT inputs

Discriminatorthreshold

adjust

Developmentarea (GPS)

Eventcounter

Programmablelogic device

Auger Collaboration Meeting, Malargüe, April 2002 Education/Outreach Report, Gregory R. Snow 33

Auger Education/Outreach Funding

• Substantial funds remaining from University of Chicago investment in Auger Center Building for Visitor Center expenditures

• Accounting in progress: current and upcoming expenses

• Few thousand $$ per year in Operations budget for Education/Outreach

• Consumable materials• Ongoing expenses