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Colloquium

POSTPONED* Viewing the Eclipse from 109 Thousand Feet and Road to Get There

Physics Colloquium

Date:
Time:
3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Jorgensen Hall Room: 136
POSTPONED ***There will be no colloquium 9/28***

Speakers: Michael and Kendra Sibbernsen
Host: Dan Claes

Program Abstract:
The NASA Nebraska High Altitude Ballooning Program, led by Michael and Kendra Sibbernsen, was one of 55 teams across the nation to fly weather balloons within the August 21st Total Solar Eclipse and stream LIVE video to the internet. On this day, the Nebraska team launched three high altitude balloons to take scientific measurements and take photos and video of the Moon’s shadow falling on the Earth. These balloons included the NASA common video streaming payload as well as experiments from Metropolitan Community College and students from Omaha Public Schools. The launches took place at the “Gem Over the Prairie” event at the Stuhr Museum in Grand Island, and had an audience of nearly 7000. The history of this project, eclipse stories, amazing images and video, and an examination of the data from the historic flight will be shared at this program.

Biographies:
Michael Sibbernsen is a Lecturer of Astronomy here at the University of Nebraska- Lincoln, and the CEO of Branched Oak Observatory. Before working here at the university, Michael was the Science & Technology Coordinator for the Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum, and before that, the Outreach Coordinator for the NASA Nebraska Space Grant. Michael has traveled throughout the state delivering hundreds of hands-on science and astronomy demonstrations and workshops for NASA and the Nebraska Department of Education. Earlier this month, the Nebraska Association of Teachers of Science awarded Michael their “Catalyst Award,” the organization’s highest honor in recognition of significant contributions to science and science education in the state of Nebraska.

Dr. Kendra Sibbernsen currently teaches physics and astronomy at Metropolitan Community College where she is the lead online faculty member for natural science and the head of the undergraduate research group. She has taught college science classes for 20 years. Her research focuses on the fields of high altitude ballooning, cosmic ray studies, and astronomy education research. Kendra is also the CFO for Branched Oak Observatory, a non-profit astronomical park north of Lincoln, NE.

Kendra and Michael, are co-leads for the NASA Nebraska High Altitude Ballooning program launching scientific payloads created by area high school and college students. They also train new teams throughout the state to help create their own ballooning programs.

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