Chelen Johnson
The goal of SHIPs (Searching Herschel Images for Protostars) is to find and identify stars in the earliest phases of formation in NGC 281, a.k.a. "the pac-man nebula". These stars will help us understand the history of the star formation process in that region.
[My favorite part of NITARP is] Getting a chance to participate in cutting edge research. As an educator you don't always get those opportunities, since you're always focused on teaching, teaching, teaching, so it’s exciting to see the science that's happening in the present moment.
I already have more energy in the classroom and feel the need to pinch myself constantly.
For me, [this project] was a real partnership between scientists and educators. All questions and suggestion were taken seriously and with respect.