Digitalization of Planetarium Enhances Education and Research (DOPLEER)
Abstract
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year (FY) 2017, under authority of 10 U.S.C. ยค 2362 and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OASD(R&E)), allocated $21.0 million to assist Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-Serving Institutions (HBCU/MI) with equipment and instrumentation enhancements to improve their research and education capabilities in scientific disciplines important to the defense mission. The program aims enhance the capacity of HBCU/MI to participate broadly in defense research programs and activities and to increase the number of graduates, including underrepresented minorities, in fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) seeks to enhance its curriculum and research capabilities in space science by acquiring a Digistar 6 fulldome 3D projection system. This system consists of a Digistar 6 SP2 HD 120Hz active stereo, AstroFxAurora advanced LED lighting system, AstroFXAudio standard 5.1 surround sound audio system, HD video input, workstation and a Digistar 6 Producer. Funds are being requested to acquire this user-friendly and cost-effective equipment. The Digistar system will be housed in the Khan Planetarium which has a seating capacity of 60. The new equipment provides high resolution detail and 3D terrain which will be used to investigate the impact of weather changes by students enrolled in the aviation science program. In addition to the visual, real-time photographs that can be captured on the 30-foot dome by the Keyhole Mark Language feature of this equipment; students will gain experience in managing big data. The research focus of this project will consist of an integration of solar system analysis as it relates to changes in the Polar Regions. Existing research on the contribution of melting ice sheets to the rise of sea level will be expanded to include the examination of correlations between the noted changes in sea levels and the solar system. As a result of the purchase of the Digistar equipment, real-time analysis will provide opportunities to identify solar markers and patterns that could possibly answer questions related to sea level changes. The educational opportunities that will be afforded through this collaboration between ECSU and DOD are numerous. Students who are majoring in science or math education will be trained on equipment that will enable them to create learning activities for secondary education students. Undergraduate science and mathematics majors will be able to learn and gain knowledge in data analytics through hands-on activities. Students enrolled in eighteen space science, aviation, astronomy and geology courses will be directly impacted by the enhanced learning opportunities that the Digitar equipment will provide. The global relevance of space science and the collection of big data is a primary focus for all student participants in both the teaching and applied research training tracks.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 20, 2018
- Source ID
- W911NF1710489
Entities
People
- Gloria Payne
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Elizabeth City State College
- Office of the Secretary of Defense