Search

We present the Sloan Digital Sky Survey V (SDSS-V) Local Volume Mapper (LVM). The LVM is an integral-field spectroscopic survey of the Milky Way, Magellanic Clouds, and of a sample of local volume galaxies, connecting resolved pc-scale individual sources of feedback to kpc-scale ionized interstellar medium (ISM) properties. The 4-year survey covers the southern Milky Way disk at spatial resolutions of 0.05 to 1 pc, the Magellanic Clouds at 10 pc resolution, and nearby large galaxies at larger scales totaling $>4300$ square degrees of sky, and more than 55M spectra. It utilizes a new facility of alt-alt mounted siderostats feeding 16 cm refractive telescopes, lenslet-coupled fiber-optics, and spectrographs covering 3600-9800A at R ~ 4000. The ultra-wide field IFU has a diameter of 0.5 degrees with 1801 hexagonally packed fibers of 35.3 arcsec apertures. The siderostats allow for a completely stationary fiber system, avoiding instability of the line spread function seen in traditional fiber feeds. Scientifically, LVM resolves the regions where energy, momentum, and chemical elements are injected into the ISM at the scale of gas clouds, while simultaneously charting where energy is being dissipated (via cooling, shocks, turbulence, bulk flows, etc.) to global scales. This combined local and global view enables us to constrain physical processes regulating how stellar feedback operates and couples to galactic kinematics and disk-scale structures, such as the bar and spiral arms, as well as gas in- and out-flows., Comment: 29 pages, 12 figures, accepted for publication in The Astronomical Journal

This paper reports on a small scale study undertaken at the University of Iowa to examine whether students perceive a difference as to the value of learning in General Education Requirement (GER) science classes compared to learning in science application courses. It also explores the need for a different approach to the teaching of science courses for non-science majors. Sixteen students were given a questionnaire that elicited the students' perceptions of the GER science courses and the science application courses they had taken. Results indicate dissatisfaction with GER courses when compared with science application courses. All respondents indicated that science application courses provided a better environment for developing student creativity than the GER science courses and also encouraged students to actively practice science and to apply the activities to real world situations. It was concluded that this study supports the statement that many students are turned off by the traditional science courses oriented around a lecture format with memorization of facts. Contains 14 references. (JRH)

Presents two sample partnership programs between businesses and schools that facilitate opportunities for enhanced field trips and classroom lessons, as well as opportunities for businesses to be involved in the educational process. Discusses key points to establishing partnerships, the importance of involving parents, and the rewards of the partnerships. (JRH)