Yes, Black Scientist

When it comes to studying the reaches of the galaxies, NASA takes the lead. Using some of the most powerful tools available, NASA scientist gain insights into the formation of stars in space. Now, they’re sharing a rare opportunity for teachers from across the country to be a part of their learning mission. Recently, Ira Harden was one of 26 U.S. educators selected for research flights aboard SOFIA, NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy. As participants in the Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors program, the educators collaborated with professional astronomers using SOFIA for scientific observations in 2012 and 2013.

SOFIA, NASA’s flying observatory is a very specialized Boeing 747 plane houses a high-powered infrared telescope and flies above the moisture barrier to gather data from space. Using SOFIA, NASA scientist collect infrared images of our solar system and stars.

The observatory enables the analysis of infrared light to study the formation of stars and planets; chemistry of interstellar gases; composition of comets, asteroids and planets; and supermassive black holes at the center of galaxies“Infrared telescope is able to concentrate on things cooler than stars like stars that are forming planets that are forming and so on,"said Dana Backman,  manager of SOFIA’s education and public outreach program.

Onboard an eight-hour mission flight above the Pacific,Harden and other teachers gathered data to use in personalized experiments for their students.

“The students will be extremely excited about it to know more about what goes on in the universe,” said Ira Harden, who is a chemistry and physics teacher from City Honors College Preparatory in Inglewood, CA. Harden is famous among his students for his science rap videos, Harden’s not new to experimental learning methods.

“The students will be extremely excited about it to know more about what goes on in the universe,” said Harden. Before his selection, Harden was in an article on TakePart.com titled, Clip of the Day: Teacher Raps His Way Through Chemistry Lessons. The article said that Ira makes stoichiometry cool for his high school chemistry class at City Honors College Preparatory Charter School by rapping about it.