Project SUN (Students Understanding Nature)

Project SUN was initiated via a small grant from NASA´s Mission to Planet Earth. It was designed to be an educational program that was driven by scientific requirements. The basic science aim is to produce long term, scientifically valid, time resolved, survey data of Earth surface solar radiation in both the visible and erythemal UV (see below) ranges. At the same time, this data is correlated with detailed local weather information. The student teams aim to produce data good enough to allow eventual peer reviewed publication. Educationally, Project SUN´s goal was to allow students to learn science via on-the-job training; that is to learn science by doing real science. In addition to the survey effort, students are encouraged to use the data collected for their own research interests. Project SUN also sought to elevate the appreciation of scientific research in the minds of teachers and students