Project HALON: Engaging Secondary Students in High-Altitude Balooning Experiments

Authors

James M. Taylor Jr, The Peter Kiewit Institute, University of NebraskaFollow
Derrick A. Nero, University of Nebraska at OmahaFollow

Date of this Version

4-4-2017

Document Type

Article

Citation

Poster Session, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Research Fair, April 4-5, 2017

Comments

Copyright © 2017James M. Taylor Jr. & Derrick Nero

Abstract

Project HALON Overview

•Fewer US STEM graduates

•Shortage of STEM educators

•Lack of engaging, high quality STEM material in the classroom

•Potentially results in lower global economic competitiveness

Experiment Constraints

•Project brings together STEM major mentors and educators

•Builds understanding of research and operational challenges

•Students get excited about more complex experiments (CubeSATs)

HALON: High Altitude Learning Over Nebraska

•High altitude balloon lift platform

•Student-designed experiments tailored to student team abilities

•NASA-inspired near-space systems engineering process for tradeoffs

•Engagement / mentoring for pre-service and in-service educators