PARISH, NY – On Dec. 5, Jessica Halsey’s seventh-grade science class at c was facilitated by an unlikely teacher – Dr. Matthew Bonnema of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Bonnema is a NASA earth scientist, using satellites and other technologies to monitor the earth itself. Bonnema and his team focus specifically on studying surface water levels, noting changes as a result of – among other things – climate change.
He is also a member of the NASA cohort responsible for the upcoming SWOT mission, which seeks to further measure surface water and study ocean topography.
Bonnema met with the class virtually, presenting his own work before answering questions from Halsey’s seventh-grade students. Students questioned him on everything from climate change evidence and SWOT’s upcoming endeavors to why stars disappear during daylight hours.
The conversation was made possible largely by the class’s teacher, Jessica Halsey. Halsey is part of NASA Connects, a program implemented by NASA to provide professional development and connection opportunities for STEM educators.
Though numerous schools around the country participated in the lesson, Halsey’s class was one of only three who were given the opportunity to remain on camera and ask questions of Dr. Bonnema.
“It’s important for students to hear from scientists because it helps students understand what scientists truly do,” Halsey said. “It also shows them that anyone can be a scientist.” She pointed to the case of Dr. Bonnema, who never suspected he would work in such a role.
She also appreciated Bonnema’s role as an earth scientist within the organization. “NASA is so much more than sending people to space,” she noted. “The smaller projects don’t always make it to the headlines.”
The SWOT program’s highly-anticipated satellite is set to launch Dec. 15 from Vandenberg Space Force Base.
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