Alexis Ann Acohido and Manuel Paredes
Exploring, Learning, and Fun:
Gemini Outreach Events Span
Both Hemispheres!
Gemini staff have been busy in both hemispheres leading local
outreach events that foster public awareness in astronomy,
support STEM content in classrooms, and inspire the next
generation of explorers.
Journey Through the Universe 2017
From March 13-17, over 70 observatory professionals and informal STEM educators extend-
ed their reach to dozens of schools across the Big Island of Hawai‘i, visiting over 8,000 stu-
dents in the 13th year of the Journey Through the Universe (Journey) program. The Journey
program extended beyond the main week of events with several outstanding outreach
programs, including classroom visits for students in grades 2-12 (Hilo-Waiākea, Honoka‘a,
Pa‘auilo, and Waimea) and StarLab Portable Planetarium shows for students in K–1 (Hilo-
Waiākea).
Journey also featured workshops for teachers, including one for 40 teachers from the
Ka‘ū-Kea‘au-Pāhoa Complex area. This important event — to support the integration of
April 2017
GeminiFocus
Figure 1.
Devin Chu shares his
career story at the
Journey Through the
Universe/Chamber of
Commerce Educators’
Reception at the Naniloa
Hotel in Hilo.
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