Fred Marschak Planetarium Educator & Volunteer

Fred's Photo Gallery

Fred's Accomplishments

Education * B.S in Earth & Space Sciences Education from the Pennsylvania State University. * M.A. in Education (Astronomy emphasis) from University of California, Santa Barbara. * M.A. in Geography (Impact Cratering) from University of California, Santa Barbara Teaching Experience * 48 total years of teaching over 50,000 students* A decade of teaching experience at the elementary/secondary level Earth and Space Sciences including: astronomy, geology, geography, oceanography, and meteorology mainly at Hollidaysburg School District.* 38 years of experience teaching college-level Earth Sciences: astronomy, space exploration, geography, planetary geology, and meteorology. * Other teaching experience includes preschool, elementary, middle school, and graduate school. Honors* Named in "Outstanding Secondary Educators in America" in 1975. * Received the SBCC Faculty Excellence Award in 2007 * Named Research Associate at Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History* Honored by having the new 20" telescope named the 'Marschak Telescope' in the Palmer Observatory at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History in October 2015.* Honored as a Hollidaysburg Area School District Distinguished Alumni in 2019. Educational Program Development and Presentations * Developed and implemented the entire curriculum for:… the Earth Sciences/Astronomy at Hollidaysburg Area Schools … the Planetarium portion of K-12 in Hollidaysburg Area Schools … the Laboratory Teaching Assistant position at SBCC* Designed and implemented new programs in:… Planetary Geology at SBCC with Dr. Robert Gray… the S.B. Museum of Natural History's Astronomy Programs… Astronomy for adults and teachers through SBCC. * Designed and presented workshops for: ...teachers at all levels in Santa Barbara County (with NASA) …State Park Rangers as part of their Environmental Interpretation Program in PA. * Hosted educational events and professional conferences for: …a county-wide Earth and Space Resources presentation for Blair County including NASA Specialists and a Moon Rock …the five-state Pacific Planetarium Association meeting.* Coordinating with the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History in remodeling the Gladwin Planetarium and the Observatory in the 1980's * Conducted several Astrofests through SBCC and the Museum including a touchable Moon Rock & a full scale Lunar Rover.* Coordinating with the author of several children's space science books.* Created a club from 1984 through 1995, the Astronomical Unit, cosponsored by SBCC and the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History which: … conducted the public astronomy programs in the area … provided a number of field trips throughout the southwest … provided over $300,000 for astronomy education … encouraged students to participate in public events. ...This club continues in Santa Barbara.* Cooperated with the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History in the selection and supervision of a new person to coordinate the astronomy programs at the museum and assist SBCC with the evening labs. Participation in Astronomy Education * Presented more than 500 classroom astronomy programs to local schools 1995-1997.* Participated in selecting National Science Foundation grant proposals in Washington, D.C. in 1978 and 1979.* Joined professional organizations such as the Pacific Planetarium. .Association and the International Society of Planetarium Educators. * Attended scores of workshops sponsored by NASA, Caltech and JPL. * Assisted the 'Save the Planetarium at Hollidaysburg' committee to raise over $200,000 from 2016/2017 to purchase a new planetarium instrument.* Assisted the team at Hollidaysburg Area Schools to implement the new Spitz 2400 digital planetarium instrument into the curriculum. Goals* To provide astronomy programs for teachers either as workshops or as a resource within the classroom. * To provide scholarships for students who wish to continue in Astronomy through the Marschak Astronomy Scholarship at Santa Barbara City College. * To provide ways to raise money to fund new shows for the Hollidaysburg Planetarium.