Talk about hands-on science projects!

Eighth-grade students at Wayne State University's middle school, the University Public School (UPS), operate a telescope in California's Mojave Desert twice a year to gather data for National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) research. The project is part of the Goldstone-Apple Valley Radio Telescope System.

The students show up in at 6 a.m. to work on data coming in over the Internet. Daniel Goldin, chief administrator at NASA, calls on the phone from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, Calif. and speaks with students in the UPS science room.

The students verify data entry to maneuver the radio telescope at the Deep Space Network, which is located in the Mohave Desert. Goldin relays the information from the students to the scientists at JPL and from the scientists to the students. The maneuver proceeds as planned.

Science teacher Estella Ekwueme of Detroit has scheduled the next session for March and April, 1999.

Principal Fred Borowski of Newport received a NASA achievement award recently for successfully demonstrating the project as an innovative resource for science education.

"Interactive curriculum is the name of the game in science education today," says Borowski. "This project has enabled the students to learn how to collect real scientific data and begin to learn how to analyze data as scientists. It has enabled them to experience active explorations of our solar system and the universe within the classroom.

"For educators the project has brought back the wonder and awe that many of us felt during the 60's when America raced to the moon. This is an example of what science education must look like if we are going to train a new generation of educators and future scientists and explorers who will push for the benefit all of humanity."

For more information call Borowski at the school, (313) 964-1600.