In order to intelligently talk about the future of The INSPIRE Project, Inc. we need to talk a little about its past. About a transition. "Transition is a noun and can refer to "passage from one place or another or change."
When co-founder and president of INSPIRE Dr. Bill Taylor died suddenly in July of 2005 this project could have become something of the past. However, the colleagues of Bill Taylor who worked with him on INSPIRE and other related science projects immediately agreed that INSPIRE should continue as his legacy. Dr. Taylor was not only a renowned space physicist but since his post doctoral work he was dedicated to providing education and public outreach activities in science and technology.
Through the remaining months of 2005 and to May of 2007 INSPIRE was in a time of serious transition. A new president was elected. New Board members were put in place. The responsibilities that had been Bill's were divided among colleagues and tweaked as necessary. The INSPIRE Project, Inc. was re-branded and the team outlined a new broader mission statement.
In the June 2007 INSPIRE team meeting the first item on the agenda was to discuss the transition months that we had been through. We all agreed that our learning curve had had its challenges. However, we remained effectively working together through these months and everyone reconfirmed their commitment to continue with the project.
Now, what about our future? The INSPIRE Project, Inc. will be developing new creative collaborations for space exploration with corporate and public partnerships.
We will continue, rallying around opportunities for observations of special events, but with a base of activity to make U.S.-wide observations of natural and manmade phenomena.
In relation to this observing this phenomena we are inviting members of other physical sciences to uncover the common "threads" between their discipline and INSPIRE.
Additional internet resources will be added to the INSPIRE website, including more streams of INSPIRE data.
The INSPIRE Journal continues to be important. Issues will be published in November and April. The content will reflect INSPIRE news, activities and results but we will be adding new features and a new design.
We will continue to encourage high school physics classes to participate in INSPIRE, to learn about space and NASA through the study of the ionosphere, lightning, electronics, mechanical and electrical construction techniques, data gathering procedures, and data analysis. Spring and fall observing campaigns will be organized to observe natural and manmade phenomena.
Their will be a campaign to recruit college, university and graduate students to become involved in INSPIRE.
INSPIRE plans to hold at least two Workshops each year. One of our goals is to have a workshop integrated into a formal high school day moving away from the traditional Saturday held workshops. Other site options for workshops are charter schools, community colleges, colleges and universities.
INSPIRE will continue be included in the International Space University curriculum. To date INSPIRE lab based workshops have be held in France, China, Japan, Italy, and the U.K .
We will be changing the organization of our INSPIRE workshops and content to be more inclusive to other physical sciences.
We have the traditional elements of The INSPIRE Project, Inc. to honor and to carefully intertwine some very thoughtful changes. Even through we are evolving our responsibility stays the same. Highlighting the importance of science and technology in the future through education and public outreach.
Kathleen Franzen
President, The INSPIRE Project, Inc.
