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K. Ferrari (NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory)
The Solar System Ambassadors Program is an informal education program designed to work with motivated volunteers across the nation. These competitively selected volunteers communicate information about NASA and JPL’s space exploration plans and discoveries to members of their local communities. Currently, there are 375 volunteer Solar System Ambassadors in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia who seek to inspire general public audiences with information about NASA’s space exploration missions. Each Ambassador participates in web-based telecon training sessions that provide interaction with NASA scientists, engineers and project team members. As such, each Ambassador's experience with the space program becomes personalized. Training sessions provide Ambassadors with general background on each mission and educate them concerning specific mission milestones, such as launches, planetary flybys, first image returns, arrivals, and ongoing key discoveries. In addition to on-line information, Ambassadors are given DVDs, slides, pamphlets, posters, postcards and lithographs in support of their public engagement.. In addition to participating in on-line trainings with Ambassadors, scientists have the opportunity to partner with, and mentor Ambassadors to strengthen their knowledge of space science and exploration, thereby improving the message that goes out to the general public through these enthusiastic volunteers. Integrating volunteers across the country in an informal education program helps optimize project funding set aside for education and outreach purposes and establishes a nationwide network of regional contacts.
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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 36 #4
© 2004. The American Astronomical Soceity.