9509277 Meech A workshop on the theme of "Toward Other Planetary Systems" (TOPS) will be held at the Hawaii Preparatory Academy in Kamuela, Hawaii June 11-18, 1995. Sixteen top science teacher-student pairs from high schools statewide in Hawaii will participate in the workshop. The purpose of the workshop is to introduce students and teachers to areas of planetary science that are pushing the limits of ground-based and space-based astronomical technology. There will be discussions of how astronomers use the Mauna Kea telescopes and space-based facilities to search for evidence of planet formation in other solar systems. This, (i) will create a new awareness of the forefront research of astronomical science in Hawaii, (ii) will provide an exciting basis for young students to consider careers in astronomy, and finally (iii) will provide a wealth of new teaching materials to be used by science educators at the high school level. The workshop will involve collaboration between many research scientists, telescope support staff, and high school educators. The format of the workshop is arranged to allow discussions, demonstrations, hands-on activities, an observatory tour, and night time observing opportunities for the participants. The teachers will be able to develop astronomy activities, based on the workshop materials, for use in their classes in the future. This will be the third consecutive year of the program. Educational materials, for suggested astronomy classroom activities, will be published and distributed to schools statewide after the end of the grant period.
