Alumna Jennifer Muir and 24 other teachers from across the nation left Earth as part of a NASA-affiliated teacher-training program. She traveled on the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) as a NASA Airborne Astronomy Ambassador (AAA).
Who says Wolverines can’t fly?
UVU alumna and Draper Park Middle School teacher Jennifer Muir (’07) proved they can. She was among a prestigious group of science teachers selected to travel to the edge of space. Muir and 24 other teachers from across the nation left Earth as part of a NASA-affiliated teacher-training program. She traveled on the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) as a NASA Airborne Astronomy Ambassador (AAA). The expedition included multiple trips onboard a modified Boeing 747.
During the three 3-hour flights into the Earth’s stratosphere, Muir and other science educators used the craft’s two-and-a-half-meter telescope to capture images of Earth’s moon. The crew mapped the lunar surface, searching for water. The teachers shared the spacecraft with pilots, flight engineers, and aerospace engineers.
“It was just amazing,” Muir said. To see the telescope operators and pilots working together aboard the flight was fantastic.”
Yet Muir’s dreams of touching the edge of space didn’t always seem likely.
“I was an at-risk kid in high school,” Muir said. “I was kind of a troublemaker, so I did not graduate from high school right when I was supposed to. But I did get my act together after realizing, ‘Oh my gosh, what am I doing with myself?’ I started going to school when I was 19, though it took me a while to get my degree because I was on my own paying for college.”
Muir was working for Provo School District while attending UVU. She said she was always interested in teaching but didn’t know what course of study to pursue. Still undecided about her major, Muir’s life was changed when she took an earth science class from UVU Professor Michael Bunds.
“[Professor Bunds] was just so enthusiastic, and it made the subject matter very interesting,” Muir said. “I was terrified to take a physics or chemistry course to fill my physical science requirement. I didn't want to get into the math and all of that, but I ended up loving that class so much that I ended up taking a lot of chemistry and math classes.”
“It was a good thing for me,” Muir added. “It pushed me outside of my comfort zone, and after 16 years of being in education, I can't imagine teaching history or English. I wasn't supposed to do that. I’m supposed to be a science teacher.”
Muir also drew inspiration from Dean Danny Horns, a professor at UVU, which was at that time called Utah Valley State College.
“Danny Horns came into my class near the end of the semester and gave a little spiel about the Earth science program,” Muir recalled. “It was relatively new then, and it’s such a great program. I loved my experience in the Earth science major and had a great time getting to know all my professors. I still keep in touch with Danny today.”
Now a middle school science teacher, Muir uses her experience aboard the SOFIA to inspire and engage her students in STEM.
“In a couple of weeks, I'll start teaching what I learned to my students,” Muir said. “The scientists, pilots, and engineers aboard the SOFIA are used to talking to educators and helping us teachers get as much out of the experience as we can. I got to sit behind the pilot for landing and takeoff, which was amazing.”
Following her stratospheric voyage, Muir returned from Palmdale, California, to Draper, Utah, to recount her adventures to her eager students.
“I wore my NASA jacket to school because they've been begging me to bring that,” Muir said. “Now, of course, they want me to take a whole day just to show them pictures and talk about [the SOFIA].
Muir said she hopes her experiences and curriculum will inspire her students to reach for the stars.
“The point of the whole thing is to get as many kids exposed to NASA and STEM curriculum as possible,” Muir said. “And the best way to do that is to give teachers the experience. By me getting that experience, that information will be spread to hundreds of kids over the years.”
Learn more about the UVU Earth Science Program.
Learn more about the NASA Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors (AAA) program.
Photo courtesy of Jennifer Muir
