Eclipse Ambassadors Prepare Communities Off the Paths
Do you love eclipses and want to share the wow of space science with your community? Apply to become a NASA Partner Eclipse Ambassador!
In 2023 and 2024, two eclipses will be happening across the United States. In an exciting new partnership, Undergraduate Students and Amateur Astronomers will engage their local communities, providing solar viewing glasses as well as context for underserved communities off the central paths.
Eclipse Ambassadors will receive everything they need to get the word out to your community - virtual training, resources including glasses, partnerships and a supportive community of eclipse enthusiasts. As a NASA partner, you will be recognized for your commitment to astronomy public engagement and supplied with educational materials as well as community connections. Note: all engagement is done to prepare your community before the 2024 eclipse - there is no obligation to host eclipse day events.
Eclipse Ambassadors will:
- Become undergraduate + amateur astronomer partnerships (we can help!)
- Take a self-paced online online course together (total about 12 hours coursework)
- Engage your community with eclipse resources - partnerships each reach 200+ people, with at least half of those from underserved communities
Become an Eclipse Ambassador!
Program Benefits and Participation Requirements
Benefits for Ambassadors:
- Prepare your community off the central paths to enjoy two partial eclipses
- Make new connections through partnerships with community organizations
- Learn best practices in eclipse engagement strategies and activities
- Receive a generous set of activity materials for use during the community event(s)
- Earn official recognition from NASA as an Eclipse Ambassador, including a badge, certificate, and letter to your school or club
- Create connections with NASA scientists through offices hours and networking opportunities
- All partners receive a one year membership to the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
- Apply for an opportunity to travel to the central paths of each eclipse for an official NASA event (limited spots available)
- Undergraduates partners receive a $100 stipend upon completion of the program requirements
- Undergraduates have opportunities to continue their NASA journey with field study of the aurora and other opportunities (limited spots)
Requirements for All Ambassadors:
- Must be at least 18 years old and living in the US at the time of application
- Willing to undergo a Been Verified background check
- Partnership: Partner with a local amateur astronomer undergraduate student
- Participate in the same training workshop cohort as your partner
- Meet with your partner as needed either in person or virtually
- As a team, plan your local community event including reaching out to a community venue to host the event. Program staff are available to provide support in this area.
- Training: Attend all training sessions and complete all coursework
- The self-paced workshop takes about 12-15 hours to complete, with two live virtual meetings.
- Asynchronous assignments during the workshop including: learning activities for use during the community event, viewing videos, reading articles, etc.
- Events: Create one or more community events, with your partner, that serve a total of 200 people
- Goal to have at least 50% of your participants to be from underserved communities such as Title I schools, libraries serving recent immigrant populations, or other identified underserved audiences in your area
- Program staff will be available to support with connections to underserved communities
- Reporting: For each event, submit an Event Report which includes basic attendee information, photos, and description
- Complete program evaluation documentation and surveys
Note: Solar System Ambassadors are not being accepted into this program currently, but are encouraged to share the information with others in their communities. Thanks for understanding.
If you have questions for the team, please email us at: eainfo@astrosociety.org
Eclipse Ambassadors Off the Paths is funded by NASA SMD Cooperative Agreement 80NSS22M0007
