Besides staying connected to friends and colleagues, being active on social media can have some major perks. Just ask Penn State Brandywine Associate Professor of Earth Sciences Laura Guertin. She is one of only 20 people chosen by NASA to take part in its upcoming NASA Social.
The NASA Social, which will be held on December 10, at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Fall Meeting, is a gathering of a select group of people who use social networking sites. The selected social media aficionados will be provided a behind-the-scenes look at the AGU Fall Meeting, which is one of the world's largest science conferences. During the NASA Social, participants will share their unique experience with others through their favorite social networking sites.
The AGU Fall Meeting, which annually attracts roughly 20,000 attendees to the Moscone Center in San Francisco, Calif., brings scientists together from around the world who study solar system and Earth science. Conference attendees will hear from NASA scientists about revolutionary research, network with thousands of fellow physical science experts and attend workshops.
"This conference is a time for me to learn, that's my classroom," said Guertin. "I can bring that information back to my students and share with them the latest scientific discoveries and investigations that are happening around the world."
While at the Fall Meeting, among a number of activities, Guertin will co-lead a workshop on undergraduate research that is designed for university faculty members from around the country. The session will aid faculty members that are just starting to take part in undergraduate research and help them mentor students.
As one of the 20 people chosen for the NASA Social, Guertin will take part in a Q&A session with NASA Chief Scientist Ellen Stofan and NASA Associate Administrator for Science and veteran astronaut John Grunsfeld. She'll also talk with a small group of high profile scientists from NASA missions such as Cassini, Voyager and the soon-to-launch Global Precipitation Measurement mission
"I feel incredibly honored to be selected to participate in this very unique opportunity," said Guertin. "Overall, I don't think there can be a better source of class information for my students than from my direct conversations with NASA during this NASA Social. How often do students get to hear from a faculty member that has spoken to a NASA astronaut?"
To learn more about the event, follow Guertin on Twitter (@guertin) or read her blog, as she shares her NASA Social experience live.
