Current Members

• NASA Goddard Space Flight Center – Heliophysics
  • Space Weather Living HistorySpace Math
• University of Alaska Fairbanks
  • The Museum of the North
• IEI
• American Association of Physics Teachers

Team Formation and History

NASA’s Heliophysics Education Activation Team (HEAT) has been at the forefront of NASA’s public engagement efforts for the 2017, 2023, and 2024 solar eclipses. From coordinating national programming that brought the 2017 total solar eclipse into millions of homes to playing a pivotal role in the October 2023 annular and April 2024 total solar eclipses, HEAT has worked to ensure safe, and meaningful experiences for all. Their efforts extended beyond public events to include educational outreach, citizen science initiatives, and partnerships with community organizations, to inspire the nation. For more information on eclipses, visit science.nasa.gov/eclipses.

In coordination with NASA’s Science Mission Directorate and the Science Activation community, HEAT also led critical elements of the Heliophysics Big Year (HBY), a year-long celebration of solar science. By leveraging partnerships across NASA centers and external organizations, the team focused on outcome-driven programming that emphasized the process of science, engaged new audiences, and fostered deeper STEM engagement. These efforts have created lasting opportunities for the public to connect with heliophysics beyond the eclipses and the HBY, strengthening awareness of NASA’s science missions and their relevance to everyday life.

Past Members

• ARISA Lab
• Astronomical League
• Aurorasaurus
• International Society for Technology in Education
• Montana Space Grant Consortium
• Museum of Science Fiction
• NASA Goddard Space Flight Center – Astrophysics
  • NASA Family Science Night
  • Afterschool Universe
  • NASA STEAM Innovation Lab
• NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
• National Society of Hispanic Physicists
• Radio JOVE
• Rice University
• Science Friday Initiative
• University of California, Berkeley
• University of North Texas

Mission, Vision, and Values

HEAT’s mission: Increase heliophysics literacy and deepen public understanding about NASA Science by uniting existing NASA resources with educators, learners of all ages, and communities across the country. 

HEAT’s vision: launch learners of all ages on a trajectory towards scientific discovery through heliophysics.

HEAT’s Core Values:

• Promoting science educational excellence​
• Ensuring the well-being of all our team members and partners
• Encouraging safe public engagement in science

HEAT has four primary aspects to realize its vision: 1. Facilitate NASA scientists to communicate their research with learners, 2. Provide accessible educational content for both formal and informal educators, 3. Create and sustain heliophysics interest in a broad national audience, and 4. Specifically engage underserved communities across the US in STEM education. NASA HEAT provides these audiences with outcomes based educational experiences that incorporate NASA resources, missions, Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), and authentic learning explorations based on the following essential heliophysics questions:

• What causes the Sun to vary?
• How do Earth, the planets, and the heliosphere respond to the changing Sun?
• What are the impacts on humanity?

Learn More

Discover more about our dynamic Sun and the science behind space weather, solar eclipses, and the Sun’s impact on Earth through NASA’s heliophysics resources:

NASA Heliophysics: Explore how NASA studies the Sun-Earth connection and space weather’s influence on our technology, atmosphere, and future space exploration missions. Learn about NASA’s ongoing efforts to better understand the Sun’s behavior and its effects throughout the solar system. Visit: science.nasa.gov/heliophysics
NASA’s Sun Science: Dive into the latest discoveries about the Sun, its magnetic field, solar storms, and their impacts on Earth. Find resources to learn more about solar eclipses, auroras, and citizen science opportunities. Visit: science.nasa.gov/sun

Project Websites

NASA Heat

Eclipses and NASA Science
NASA HEAT (@NASAHEAT) on X

Publications

Christensen, R. & Knezek, G. (2021). Maggie Goes to Mars: Adapting Innovative Technology Activities for Remote Learning Opportunities. Journal of Computers in Mathematics and Science Teaching, 40(4), 331-346. Waynesville, NC USA: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE).

Chu, X., et al., (2019). Identifying STEVE’s Magnetospheric Driver Using Conjugate Observations in the Magnetosphere and on the Ground. Geophysical Research Letters, 46, 12665– 12674. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL082789

Cline, T., et al., (2020). The STEAM Innovation Laboratory: Beyond the Makerspace Paradigm. Journal of Computers in Mathematics and Science Teaching, 39(4), 291-313. Waynesville, NC USA: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE).

Des Jardins, A., et al., (2020). Space Public Outreach Team: Successful STEM Engagement on Complex Technical Topics. Journal of Computers in Mathematics and Science Teaching, 39(4), 339-359. Waynesville, NC USA: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE).

Fung, S., et al., (2020). Propagation Teepee: A Possible High-Frequency (15-30 MHz) Remote Lightning Signature Identified by Citizen Scientists. Geophysical Research Letters. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL087307

Hunnekuhl, M., & MacDonald, E. (2020). Early ground-based work by auroral pioneer Carl Størmer on the high-altitude detached subauroral arcs now known as “STEVE”. Space Weather, 18, e2019SW002384. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019SW002384

Knezek, G. & Christensen, R. (2020). Researching Impact: Measuring Technology Enhanced Outcomes from the NASA Space Science Education Consortium. Journal of Computers in Mathematics and Science Teaching, 39(4), 399-420. Waynesville, NC USA: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE).

Knezek, G.A., Christensen, R.W. & Ng, C.Y. (2020). Inspiring STEM Engagement: Space Science Education in the 21st Century. Journal of Computers in Mathematics and Science Teaching, 39(4), 285-290. Waynesville, NC USA: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE).

Kornei, K. (2021), Academic citations evolve to include Indigenous oral teachings, Eos, 102, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021EO210595. Published on 9 November 2021.

Lopez, R., et al., (2020). Space science as a context for science education. INTED2020 Proceedings, 516-522.

Milotte, C. H. & Mitchell, S. E. (2020). Adapting Hands-on Family Learning to a Virtual Platform.ASP2020: Embracing the Future: Astronomy Teaching and Public Engagement, 531, 68. http://www.aspbooks.org/publications/531/068.pdf

Ng, C., Sasser, L., Stephenson, B., Mirel, P., Knezek, G. & Christensen, R. (2021). “NASA STEAM Innovation Initiatives: Technology Resources for Teacher Educators”. In E. Langran & L. Archambault (Eds.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference (pp. 822-826). Online, United States: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE). Retrieved May 11, 2021, from https://www.learntechlib.org/primary/p/219223/

Odenwald, S., Davis, H. & Bowers, S. (2020). A Retrospective Analysis of the Impact of SpaceMath@NASA on Student Performance in Math and Science. Journal of Computers in Mathematics and Science Teaching, 39(4), 315-338. Waynesville, NC USA: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE).

Odenwald, S.F., (2021), “Can Smartphones Detect Geomagnetic Storms?”, AGU: Space Weather, April 2, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020SW002669

Semeter J., MacDonald, E.A., Hunnekuhl, M., Hirsch, M., Zeller, N. (2020). The Mysterious Green Streaks Below STEVE. AGU Advances. AGU access, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020AV000183.

Shonfeld, M., Cotnam-Kappel, M., Judge, M. et al. (2021), “Learning in digital environments: a model for cross-cultural alignment”. Education Tech Research Dev. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11423-021-09967-6

Viggiano, G., Davis, H., Ng, C. & Sweeney, M. (2020). The Effects of a Museum of Science Fiction Event on Participant Knowledge and Interest in Science. Journal of Computers in Mathematics and Science Teaching, 39(4), 361-382. Waynesville, NC USA: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE).