About

The Youth Astronomy Apprenticeship (YAA) is a science out-of school time (OST) initiative specifically designed to reach out youth of age 14-19. The strategies implemented in YAA reflect the following understandings:

1. There is a growing consensus that science activities in OST can support STEM learning in particular for youth from underrepresented and underserved groups.

2. Among populations underrepresented in STEM, older youth are often underserved by OST programs because they require programming conditions, both programs offered and expertise of adult staff involved, different from those that serve younger children.

3. Teenage youth identify effective programs as those that engage them in challenging but fun activities, and that contribute to their learning and social development. Youth are looking for opportunities for skills and knowledge development that are otherwise unavailable to them, and for positive relationships with adults, including skilled professionals and experts, who provide mentorship and who can serve as role models.

The Youth Astronomy Apprenticeship is one of the OST programs run by the Education and Outreach Group at the Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research at MIT (MKI). This conference is funded through NSF grant #0610350.

To learn more about the YAA program or the Education and Outreach Group, contact Irene Porro, Public Education and Communications Officer for the MIT Kavli Institute (MKI) and Director of the MKI Education and Outreach Group. She can be reached by phone 617.258.7481 or email yaa@mit.edu.