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Online Workshops for Astronomy & Physics Educators
Note (January 2026): This program was funded from 2024–2025 and has now concluded.
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The AAS, in partnership with the American Physical Society (APS), is pleased to bring a series of online interactive workshops on education to the astronomy and physics communities! With the support of an American Institute of Physics Venture Grant, we are delivering a two-year series of virtual workshops on the following topics:
- Inclusive classroom teaching techniques, presented by the AAPT/APS/AAS Physics & Astronomy Faculty Teaching Institute (FTI);
- Equitable mentoring practices, presented by Inclusive Graduate Education Network (IGEN) & Equity in Graduate Education; and
- Undergraduate recruitment and retention, presented by Effective Practices for Physics Programs (EP3)
Fall 2025 Workshops
October 10, 1–3pm ET: "Fostering Wellbeing through Mentoring," facilitated by Equity in Graduate Education.
Research has shown that graduate students struggle with mental health issues such as anxiety and depression at higher rates than the general population. Graduate students of color are often exposed to additional risks. While some stress and uncertainty is unavoidable in graduate training, research mentors have a direct impact on the wellbeing of members of their research group. In this two-hour virtual workshop, participants will develop skills to recognize and have open conversations about mental health, wellbeing, and racism and learn to proactively affirm and engage students’ cultures in research contexts. These workshops will be led by Equity in Graduate Education Consortium facilitators Denzil Streete and John Vasquez.
This workshop date has passed.
November 13, 2–4pm ET: "Teaching Strategies that Work," facilitated by Physics and Astronomy Faculty Teaching Institute (FTI).
Looking for ways to help your students to improve their understanding of course topics, as well as their critical thinking and problem-solving abilities? In this two-hour online workshop, led by facilitators from the AAPT/APS/AAS Physics and Astronomy Faculty Teaching Institute (FTI), participants will learn principles of teaching and learning to guide teaching choices, gain access to valuable instructional resources, and get support to plan a feasible classroom change that will improve learning for all students. This workshop is appropriate for any instructor of any level of experience, regardless of whether your classes are large or small, introductory level or upper division, or in-person, virtual, or hybrid. We look forward to working with the broader AAS education community on structuring their learning environments to support the success of all learners. Presenters: Rachel Scherr (University of Washington Bothell) and Ed Prather (University of Arizona).
This workshop date has passed.
November 20, 3–5pm ET: "How to create a supportive research environment for graduate students," from Effective Practices for Physics Programs (EP3) Initiative.
How does your program support graduate students as they navigate their growth as a researcher? How do you structure the experience of graduate students in research groups to support their needs? How does the mission and vision of your graduate program contribute to the goals of you, your students, and your institution? How does it shape your mentoring of graduate students? In this two-hour, interactive virtual session, individuals associated with the Effective Practices for Physics Programs (EP3) Initiative will facilitate a panel discussion on strategies and practices for effective leadership of scientific research groups. The panel includes experts from a range of disciplines (physics, education research, and astronomy) and group sizes. Discussion topics will include the mission and vision of graduate programs and research groups; expectations for group leaders and members; career pathways for research students; mentoring and professional development of graduate students; transitions into and out of research groups; research group management; and group culture and environment. Participants will have opportunities throughout the session to ask questions to learn from the panelists’ expertise. (Please note: the workshop will not directly address seeking grant funding, student financial support, or graduate program admissions.)
Past workshops
Fall 2024 Workshops
Nov 1, 11 AM ET: “How to facilitate a culture of ethical conduct,” facilitated by the Effective Practices for Physics Programs (EP3) Initiative, which is designed to empower program leaders (current and future) to create and sustain effective departmental change. In this two-hour, interactive session, individuals associated with the EP3 Initiative, APS, and other facilitators will share principles and practices that will help astronomers and physicists at all career stages support a culture conducive to ethical conduct.
Dec 5, 2 PM ET: “Inclusive classroom teaching techniques,” facilitated by the AAPT/APS/AAS Physics and Astronomy Faculty Teaching Institute (FTI), which is a professional development program for physics and astronomy faculty focused on effective and inclusive teaching practices. In this two-hour, highly interactive session, FTI leaders Ed Prather and Rachel Scherr will give you experience with teaching methods that are energizing, equitable, and fun.
Spring 2024 Workshops
April 19: Inclusive Teaching, facilitated by the AAPT/APS/AAS Physics and Astronomy Faculty Teaching Institute (FTI), which is a professional development program for physics and astronomy faculty focused on effective and inclusive teaching practices. In this two-hour, highly interactive session, FTI leaders Rachel Scherr and Ed Prather will give you experience with teaching methods that are energizing, equitable, and fun. This session will emphasize effective teaching strategies including think-pair-share and collaborative active learning with worksheets.
May 3: Equitable and Inclusive Classrooms, facilitated by the AAPT/APS/AAS Physics and Astronomy Faculty Teaching Institute (FTI), which is a professional development program for physics and astronomy faculty focused on effective and inclusive teaching practices. This session will demonstrate equitable course design and classroom facilitation in the context of quantitative problem-solving.
May 15: Departmental Leadership, facilitated by the Effective Practices for Physics Programs (EP3) Initiative, which is designed to empower program leaders (current and future) to create and sustain effective departmental change. In this two-hour, interactive session, co-chairs of the EP3 Initiative David Craig and Michael Jackson along with Christine O’Donnell, Senior Program Manager at the American Physical Society, will share principles and practices that will help astronomers and physicists at all career stages lead inclusive and equitable programmatic change.
Spring 2025 Workshops
April 22, 1–3pm ET: "Intro to equity minded mentoring," facilitated by Equity in Graduate Education.
Research has shown that faculty interactions with students in the classroom, laboratory, and advising meetings influence students’ professional socialization, academic performance, and persistence in higher education. In this two-hour virtual workshop, faculty will reflect on their current advising and mentoring practice, learn how to develop equity-minded mentoring relationships, and establish shared expectations between mentors and mentees. These workshops will be led by Equity in Graduate Education Consortium facilitators Dr. Denzil Streete and Dr. John Vasquez. Funding is provided by a Venture Fund grant from the American Institute of Physics.
April 29, 3–5pm ET: "How to design a curriculum for the modern world," facilitated by the Effective Practices for Physics Programs (EP3) Initiative.
Is your program's curriculum responsive to the needs of a variety of students? Does it align with your department’s mission and vision? Are you looking for tools to help your department design a curriculum that prepares students for the wide range of career options available to astronomers and physicists? In this two-hour, interactive virtual session, individuals associated with the Effective Practices for Physics Programs (EP3) Initiative will share principles and practices that will help participants structure the conversations needed to reflect on and improve their department’s curriculum. Participants will create a template for how to design, implement, and sustain curricular transformations in your department. These workshops are funded by a venture grant from the American Institute of Physics. Presenters: Christine O'Donnell, American Physical Society, Laurie McNeil, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Michael Jackson, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, David Craig, Oregon State University.