NASA Bridges Astronomers and Community Colleges Nationwide

Bringing Astronomy to Community Colleges: A Collaborative Initiative

The NASA Community College Network (NCCN) has joined forces with the American Astronomical Society (AAS) to launch an innovative program that introduces leading astronomy researchers to community college classrooms across the nation.

The Evolution of the Harlow Shapley Visiting Lectureship

Originating in the 1950s, the Harlow Shapley Visiting Lectureship Program, named after the renowned astronomer Harlow Shapley, initially supported scientists in delivering astronomy lectures at higher education institutions. In 2024, the AAS expanded this initiative by partnering with NCCN, leveraging its network of 260 instructors in 44 states and 120 Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to connect community colleges with astronomers.

The Role of Community Colleges in STEM Education

Since 2020, NCCN has been pivotal in promoting astronomy education at community colleges, which play a crucial role in STEM fields. With one-third of students being first-generation college attendees and 64% balancing part-time studies with work and family, community colleges are essential. Notably, 40% of students taking introductory astronomy courses do so at these institutions, underscoring the importance of NCCN and AAS’s efforts.

Expanding the Reach: 2024-2025 Collaborations

In 2024, a pilot program matched Chattanooga State Community College in Tennessee and Modesto Junior College in California with SMEs from the University of Virginia and Stanford University. By 2025, nine NCCN experts are collaborating with 14 community colleges across six states. Participants include:

Joe Masiero (Caltech) at Grossmont Community College, CA
Vivian U (Caltech) at Scottsdale & Chandler Gilbert Community Colleges, AZ
Dave Leisawitz (NASA) & Michael Foley (Harvard) at Elgin Community College, IL
Michael Rutkowski (MN State) at Dallas Area Colleges (five colleges), TX
Joe Masiero (Caltech) at Mt. San Jacinto College, Menifee Campus, CA
Quyen Hart (STScI) at Casper College, WY
Nathan McGregor (UCSC) at Yakima Valley College, WA
Patrick Miller (Hardin-Simmons) at Evergreen Valley College, CA
Kim Arcand (Harvard-Smithsonian) at Anne Arundel Community College, MD
Natasha Batalha (NASA) at Modesto Junior College, CA

Engaging Communities Through Astronomy

Each AAS Shapley Lecturer visit is distinct, centered around a public lecture that is widely promoted within the community. Host institutions also organize various activities, such as star parties, classroom interactions, and meetings with faculty, to maximize the impact of the visit.

Transformative Impact on Education

James Espinosa, an astronomy instructor at Weatherford College, remarked, “The visit from the Shapley Lecturer has permanently changed my teaching approach, allowing for ‘honors’ projects for ambitious students. I plan to maintain contact for years, benefiting both current and future students.”

Partnerships Driving Scientific Engagement

Dr. Tom Rice, AAS Education Program Manager, expressed pride in the collaboration, stating, “The Harlow Shapley Visiting Lectureship Program is a powerful way for astronomers to share knowledge with a broad audience. Partnering with the SETI Institute and NASA enhances our reach to community colleges.”

Supporting Science Activation

Funded by NASA under cooperative agreement award number 80NSSC21M0009, NCCN is part of NASA’s Science Activation Portfolio. Discover how Science Activation connects NASA experts with communities to foster scientific understanding: https://science.nasa.gov/learn/about-science-activation/.