Supplemental Instruction
The Supplemental Instruction (SI) Program, coordinated with the assistance of Vivian Johnson in the Division of Natural Science and Mathematics at Augsburg College, is an academic assistance program that increases student performance and retention through small-group, out-of-class, peer-facilitated study sessions. Last year's program provided services to over 300 students in this Division. SI underwent some changes this year. Dr. Vivian Johnson, Science Coordinator, continues to supervise the SI leaders in the Division, but overall program coordination has been turned over to Dr. Randi Quanbeck. Dr. Quanbeck's salary is paid by a grant from the Augsburg College Faculty Development Office. Dr. Johnson and Dr. Quanbeck are working this summer to recruit and train SI leaders for the Division. Once again, the MnSGC is making a difference in higher education in Minnesota.

Space Science Presentations
Several of the MnSGC Affiliates give presentations to students of varying ages each year in addition to their public lectures. For example, John Annexstad visited fifth graders at Northern School and gave a talk on "The Planetary System." Richard Peterson has visited Twin Cities Metro Area High Schools and invited others to come to Bethel to hear him talk about holograms and how to make them. Dick will travel to ten high schools next year to give talks on space-related research.

Math Science Bridge Proposal Program
On January 13, 1995, the Fund for the Improvement of Post Secondary Education (FIPSE) informed Dr. Vivian Johnson that her preliminary proposal for the Augsburg College Bridge Program was one of 275 of the 2,200 preliminary applicants selected to go to full proposal. The full proposal was submitted in March 1995 and in mid-July, Vivian will be notified of whether or not it was selected for funding. The purpose of this three-year curriculum development project is to develop an integrated Mathematics/Science Bridge Program for students between the 60-80% of their high school graduating class and who have a strong interest in pursuing a career in mathematics and science. The students will become members of a cohort and enter a program that includes a support system built into their first and second years of course work. All Bridge courses will be designed according to a constructivist paradigm and the principles described in the major standards documents in mathematics and science. In addition, Bridge courses will include a substantial study skill component and the courses will link science to the "real" world. Over a five-year college career, they will gain the academic preparation necessary to successfully complete the courses in these majors but at the financial cost of a four-year program. This grant writing activities are possible because of support from the MN Space Grant Consortium.

UM-TC Summer Aerospace Workshop
The UM-TC affiliate is once again co-sponsor the University of Minnesota's Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics "Summer Aerospace Workshop for Elementary and Secondary Teachers" this year. This workshop, offered with the help of NASA Lewis Space Center, the Civil Air Patrol Liaison Personnel, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Office of Aeronautics) and the MnSGC, is designed to provide teachers with a first-hand knowledge of the dynamics of flying and aerospace studies, which enable the teachers to give advice to interested students who have questions about the field of aerospace, in addition to enhancing the overall creativity of their classroom programs. Teachers tour local aerospace facilities, learn flight dynamics through instructive flying experience, learn to launch model rockets and hot air balloons and prepare classroom exercises for their students. A visiting teaching specialist from NASA Lewis directs part of the workshop, in which participants learn more about NASA's facilities, it's research and accomplishments.

This year, 30 teachers have already pre-registered for the workshop; the first workshop is held in late-June and the second in early-July. Last year, 30 teachers participated in the workshop as well. Over the past several years, workshop participants have expressed their overwhelming appreciation of the chance to learn more about aerospace and the space sciences. By exposing teachers in Minnesota to these areas of study/research, the Consortium hopes to provide for students role models who will be able to provide information and guidance as they begin to think about their possibilities for the future.

Science Fair
The 1995 Twin Cities Science Fair took place on March 10 and 11 in Si Melby gym, Augsburg College. A total of 359 middle school and high school students participated in the two-day event. Augsburg science majors participated in setting-up the facilities and in selling refreshments to Science Fair Participants. Augsburg College also provided each Science Fair participant with a colorful free poster describing the April 24 lecture by Dr. Lucy McFadden on the Comet Collision of Shoe-Maker Levy 9 with Jupiter and encouraged them to attend.

Regional Space Grant Meeting
John Annexstad (BSU) and Chris Moore (MnSGC Program Coordinator) attended the first meeting of the Great Midwest Regional Space Grant Consortium. The regional consortium includes the consortia from Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri and Minnesota. The meeting was a terrific success, providing information about a variety of Space Grant activities that have been and are successful. Each member of the Consortium presented at least one of their key programs that has worked well in their state, with a question and answer session following each presentation. Those that attended came away with new ideas for programs, possibilities for future collaborations and new acquaintances from neighboring and not-so neighboring states. All attendees agreed that the regional meeting should be an annual event.

Science Museum of Minnesota
With support from the MnSGC, in early April of this year, the first prototype computer simulation from the Atmospheric Explorations: Participatory, Computer-Based Simulations of the Weather hit the floor of the Experiment Gallery of the Minnesota Science Museum. The National Science Foundation awarded a grant to Dr. Bill Jasperson from Augsburg in cooperation with the Center for Atmospheric and Space Science. In working with Dr. Jasperson, Vivian Johnson played an important role in bringing this hands-on exhibit to life. In July, Robert Garfinkle, Science Museum of Minnesota staff, and Dr. Johnson will begin their formative evaluation of this simulation. Over the next nine months, two additional simulations will be added to the Experiment Gallery.