Dr. Sten Odenwald is an astronomer at the NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center, and the Director of STEM Resource Development at the National Institute of Aerospace. He received his PhD from Harvard University in 1982, and has been involved with investigations of the star formation, galaxy evolution, and the nature of the cosmic infrared background, as well as the modeling of space weather impacts to commercial satellite systems.
He is an active science popularizer and book author, and participates in many NASA programs in space science and math education. His most recent popular science article is on solar superstorms, which may be found in the August 2008 issue of Scientific American, and on String theory with Astronomy Magazine in 2013. He has a number of websites promoting science education including 'The Astronomy Café' (www.astronomycafe.net) and 'Space Weather' (www.solarstorms.org). He has also appeared on National Geographic TV specials. His most recent research involves chronicling the historical, human impacts of space weather. He also produces weekly blogs for The Huffington Post.
Currently he is the Director of the Space Math @ NASA project which is NASA-based, ‘STEM’ education program that develops K-12 math problems featuring scientific discoveries from across NASA. SpaceMath achieved its 9 millionth problem download by teachers and students in May, 2014 (http://spacemath.gsfc.nasa.gov).
Sten F Odenwald
(ASTROPHYSICIST)
| Email: | sten.f.odenwald@nasa.gov |
| Org Code: | 670 |
| Address: |
NASA/GSFC Mail Code 670 Greenbelt, MD 20771 |
| Employer: | ADNET Affiliate |
Brief Bio
Positions/Employment
Director of STEM Resource Development
National Institute of Aerospace - Hampton, Virginia
May 2012 - Present
He is the Director of the Space Math @ NASA project which is NASA-based, ‘STEM’ education program that develops K-12 math problems featuring scientific discoveries from across NASA. He also does teacher Professional Development to train teachers to integrate space science concepts into their mathematics curriculum.
Director of SpaceMath@NASA
ADNET Corporation - Greenbelt, Maryland
October 2008 - 2012
Working under a NASA Education Grant, I created the SpaceMath@NASA program which provides teachers and students with math content related to NASA mission science and discoveries.
Education and Public Outreach Lead
QSS Corporation - Lanham, Maryland
November 2005 - November 2008
Developed education resources for the HINODE solar mission; wrote and updated website; created Space Math Problem of the Week featuring mathematics problems related to mission content
Education and Public Outreach Lead
Raytheon ITSS - Lanham, Maryland
June 1996 - November 2005
Developed education resources for the IMAGE satellite program, and supported the Sun-Earth Day program; developed mathematics-based resources and science content for space weather concepts; conducted workshops and teacher PD sessions; wrote essays for Sun-Earth Day
Teaching Experience
1978 Tufts University - "Introductory Astronomy"
1977-1978 Harvard University "History of Astronomy"
1978-1979 Harvard University "Cosmic Evolution"
1978-1980 Harvard University Summer Session - 'Introductory Astronomy'
1980-1981 Harvard University, "Space, Time and Motion"
1978-1981 Cambridge Center for Adult Education, 'Astronomy'
1985-1987 Smithsonian Resident Associates Program, 'Cosmology and Astronomy'
1997-1998 Johns Hopkins Odyssey Program, ' Understanding Space and Time'
2002-2003 Johns Hopkins Odyssey Program, 'The Mystery of Space and Time'
1977-1978 Harvard University "History of Astronomy"
1978-1979 Harvard University "Cosmic Evolution"
1978-1980 Harvard University Summer Session - 'Introductory Astronomy'
1980-1981 Harvard University, "Space, Time and Motion"
1978-1981 Cambridge Center for Adult Education, 'Astronomy'
1985-1987 Smithsonian Resident Associates Program, 'Cosmology and Astronomy'
1997-1998 Johns Hopkins Odyssey Program, ' Understanding Space and Time'
2002-2003 Johns Hopkins Odyssey Program, 'The Mystery of Space and Time'
Education
1982 Harvard University, Ph.D 'A Far-Infrared Survey of the Galactic Center'
Grants
SpaceMath@NASA - II
NASA ROSES/EPOESS for 2010 - NASA Science Mission Directorate - Awarded: 2010-11-15
Dates: 2011-05-31 - 2014-05-31
Coverage: 1.0
Amount 800,000
SpaceMath@NASA I
NASA ROSES/EPOESS for 2008 - NASA Science Mission Directorate - Awarded: 2008-11-15
Dates: 2008-05-31 - 2011-05-31
Coverage: 1.0
Amount 800,000