Twelve Years of Education and Public Outreach with the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope

TL;DR

Over twelve years, NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has conducted extensive education and outreach activities to enhance public and student understanding of high-energy astrophysics, promote STEM diversity, and increase awareness of its science and technology.

Contribution

This paper documents the twelve-year history and scope of Fermi's Education and Public Outreach program, highlighting its multi-faceted approach and impact.

Findings

Engaged diverse audiences including K-14 students and the general public.

Increased awareness and understanding of high-energy astrophysics.

Promoted diversity in STEM fields.

Abstract

During the past twelve years, NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has supported a wide range of Education and Public Outreach (E/PO) activities, targeting K-14 students and the general public. The purpose of the Fermi E/PO program is to increase student and public understanding of the science of the high-energy Universe, through inspiring, engaging and educational activities linked to the mission's science objectives. The E/PO program has additional more general goals, including increasing the diversity of students in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) pipeline, and increasing public awareness and understanding of Fermi science and technology. Fermi's multi-faceted E/PO program includes elements in each major outcome category: Higher Education; Elementary and Secondary Education; Informal Education and Public Outreach.