The Cosmic Ray Observatory Project: A Statewide Outreach and Education Experiment in Nebraska

TL;DR

The Cosmic Ray Observatory Project (CROP) engages Nebraska high schools in constructing and operating cosmic-ray detectors, fostering education and research through a statewide network that promotes student involvement in cosmic-ray air shower studies.

Contribution

This paper introduces a novel statewide educational and research network involving high schools, university collaboration, and real-time cosmic-ray data sharing for the first time.

Findings

29 schools participated in the project.

Students successfully shared data via the Internet.

The project enhanced both scientific understanding and professional development.

Abstract

The Cosmic Ray Observatory Project (CROP) is a statewide education and research experiment involving Nebraska high school students, teachers and university undergraduates in the study of extensive cosmic-ray air showers. A network of high school teams construct, install, and operate school-based detectors in coordination with University of Nebraska physics professors and graduate students. The detector system at each school is an array of scintillation counters recycled from the Chicago Air Shower Array in weather-proof enclosures on the school roof, with a GPS receiver providing a time stamp for cosmic-ray events. The detectors are connected to triggering electronics and a data-acquisition PC inside the building. Students share data via the Internet to search for time coincidences with other sites. Funded by the National Science Foundation, CROP has enlisted 29 schools with the aim of expanding to the 314 high schools in the state over several years. This report highlights both the scientific and professional development achievements of the project to date.