MONS (Mars Outreach for NC Students)
Program Description
MONS (Mars Outreach for North Carolina Students) is a unique and innovative year-round program at Durham Academy for high school students. During their involvement in the MONS program, students take part in several ongoing research projects studying the red planet. The program has grown out of a long-standing collaboration between Dr. Jeffrey Moersch of the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and Durham Academy’s Upper School science teacher, Howard Lineberger. Dr. Moersch is a veteran science team member of several of NASA's Mars missions, including the THEMIS (Thermal Infrared Emissions Spectrometer) instrument aboard the Mars Odyssey spacecraft and of the MER (Mars Exploration Rover) science team.
MONS students conduct original experimental design and research that contributes to the ongoing study of the red planet. MONS staff, which consists of veteran scientists and educators, is uniquely qualified to carry out this extraordinary program. Through the work of the MONS staff and interested scientists, 53 Triangle students have learned how real research is done and 38 Triangle students have authored or coauthored published scientific works. MONS students work at high academic college levels and some have become independent researchers although they are high school students.
Format
Year-round program
Eligibility
Offered to academically talented ninth grade students in Durham Public Schools, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools and Wake County Schools
Contact
David Howard Lineberger, Jr.
Teacher
Durham Academy
3601 Ridge Road
Durham, NC 27705-5599
Phone: 919/490-0193