Energy Team
Ruth Paglierani
I am a Coordinator of Public Programs at the Center for Science Education, Space Sciences Laboratory, UC Berkeley. A lot of my work focuses on coordinating and implementing education and public outreach products and programs that feature NASA Sun-Earth Connection discoveries, missions, and research for three of my favorite audiences: elementary teachers, their students and the general public. I have been fortunate to work with a great team of teachers and scientists on the development of three NASA curricula-Eye on the Sky, Reading Writing and Rings! and The Solar System Through the Eyes of Scientists. I am proud of them as each one shows how language arts and science can be effectively linked in the classroom. And since I earned my Teaching Credential from UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Education and an M.A. in English with an emphasis in language acquisition, I'm please to be putting my background in language to work in a science education setting.
In the area of Informal Education, I am part of the leadership team for the Earth to Sky project partnering NASA, the National Park Service and the US Fish and Wildlife Service to provide interpreters and environmental educators with training on NASA's amazing climate science. I have also been very involved in an NSF-funded project, Cosmic Serpent, which brings together museum professionals and Native knowledge holders. And last, but certainly not least, I am working with another great team on the Energy from the Sun, Solar Science and Solar Energy project doing teacher workshops. When I'm not working on projects or making presentations, I love to garden, travel with my husband and take our giant dog for walks.
Dr. Bryan Mendez hails from Traverse City, Michigan where the dark sky enthralled him from a very early age and inspired him to study astronomy. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1997 with degrees in Astronomy, Physics, and Saxophone Performance. Bryan continued his education at the University of California at Berkeley, where he researched the large scale flow of galaxies in the nearby Universe by measuring their distances. He received a Ph.D. in Astrophysics from UC Berkeley in 2002. Bryan now works at the Center for Science Education at UC Berkeley’s Space Sciences Laboratory to educate and inspire others about the wonder and beauty of the Universe. His work in space science education and public outreach involves developing programs for the public through the web and museums, developing classroom materials for students in K-12 classrooms, and conducting professional development for science educators.
Kyle Fricke is a Coordinator of Public Programs at the Center for Science Education at UC Berkeley's Space Sciences Laboratory. Before joining the CSE team in August 2010, he spent 3 & 1/2 years as Education Outreach Coordinator for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory. He also has previous employment experience in K-12 classrooms, informal science education centers, as well as a stint as a naturalist/guide in Alaska. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelors degree in Astronomy. Kyle works on a variety of Mission E/PO programs as well as other projects.
Josh Rubin
Josh earned his bachelor's degree in mathematics from UC-Santa Cruz and his master's degree in cross cultural education from National University. He grew up in a family and community where education was highly valued. Following in his brother's footsteps, he pursued coaching - both swimming and water polo from the age of 15. He learned how to work with people of all ages, and discovered how much he enjoyed watching their growth throughout the years. The enjoyment he found in helping people led him to teaching. Over the last 8 years teaching mathematics, he has brought real-life applications to the students he teaches. He focuses on energy concepts that the National Energy Education Development Project brings to the classroom through their energy curriculum.
Caryn Turrel
I grew up an educator’s daughter in Romeo, Michigan, and while I was encouraged to pursue an education in engineering because of my aptitude in math and science, I came full circle back into education. Graduating from Michigan Technological University with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, I started working as a research assistant at Wayne State University. Following several years as a stay-home mom, I started working at a small private school part-time teaching science classes, and I was hooked. I went back to school, got my teaching license, and taught chemistry and an integrated chemistry and physics class in Greenwood, Indiana, for 8 years. While at GHS, I used materials published by The National Energy Education Development Project (NEED) and absolutely fell in love with the curriculum. Last summer, the opportunity to work for NEED full-time came my way, and I am now a Program Associate, doing teacher training and curriculum development.
Barry Scott serves as the California State Coordinator for the National Energy Education Development, (the NEED Project) and as the Education Coordinator of the Pacific Gas and Electric Solar Schools Program, a multi-million dollar effort directed toward providing resources, teacher training and grants, and photovoltaic systems to public schools within the PG&E service territory. In furthering the goal of creating a more energy-aware citizenry, Barry works with hundreds of schools, principals, teachers, and school boards.
He also works in concert with public agencies, such as the California Energy Commission and Department of Education, and with other organizations including the California School Boards Association, the California Science Teachers Association, and the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy. Barry also coordinates Energy Education, Career Technical Education, and Sustainable Schools efforts for the San Joaquin County Superintendent of Schools, Mick Founts.
Barry comes from an eight year career as a classroom teacher, which followed careers in architecture and industrial design. He has a Bachelor of Architecture degree and a Master of Educational Technology degree.
Karen Meyer is an Education Project Manager at the Center for Science Education, Space Sciences Laboratory. She has worked in NASA Space Science Education for fifteen years. She was fortunate to be involved when NASA Space Science first launched a major initiative in science education, and joined with scientists and educators in shaping the early vision and direction. Ms. Meyer served as Project Manager for the first version of the Space Science Education Resource Directory, an on-line resource tool that serves the needs of K-12 educators. She enjoyed receiving the NASA Group Achievement on behalf of the Resource Directory Team while she was 8 months pregnant! Her current projects include "Energy from the Sun--Solar Science/Solar Energy", an atmospheric mission to Mars called MAVEN and Lunar mission called ARTEMIS. In her free time, Karen loves to garden with her kids, play in the ocean, and watch the SF Giants play ball!
Hal Aronson, Ph.D.
Hal Aronson, co-founder of The Solar Way Forward, has been teaching solar electricity and designing solar electric systems for over thirteen years. Most recently, Hal helped establish solar training programs for electricians and general contractors at several public and private colleges in the San Francisco Bay Area as well as solar training programs for inner city young adults in Detroit and Richmond (CA). In this same time period he also Co-Founded WE CARE Solar www.wecaresolar.com to enhance health care in developing countries through the use of solar electricity. Hal's solar electric systems are in use in Nigeria, Haiti, Tibet, India, Rwanda, Kenya, Mexico, Burma, Tanzania, and Uganda.
In 2001, Hal co-created the California-based Solar Schoolhouse program which brings renewable energy education to 3rd to 12th grade students through training school teachers. As part of this work Hal created hands-on projects, solar teaching kits, and co-authored the well-received Your Solar Home Guidebook. Additionally, Hal leads trainings for Solar Energy International in Colorado and the Bonneville Environmental Foundation in Oregon. In 2000, Hal started the California Youth Energy Services (CYES) as a program of his non-profit organization, Rising Sun Energy Center. CYES now employs over one hundred youth in thirteen communities to improve the energy efficiency of homes and apartments. As one of the early solar "guys," Hal built the first legally permitted solar house in Santa Cruz County in the early 1980s.
Hal was awarded a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 1997. His research focus was Environmental Justice and Social Movements.