Skip to content

Solar Max International Animal Eclipse Behaviour Research Project

Solar Max Research Protocol

Meet Solar Max Lead Researcher Dr. Adam Hartstone-Rose, Biology Professor from North Carolina State University. He describes his previous eclipse animal behaviour research paper from 2017 and gives advice on how we will collect data for the Great North American Eclipse on April 8th 2024. For more info or to join in on this groundbreaking research opportunity for teachers and students, please visit https://scistarter.org/solar-max

HR Macmillan Space Center Ask an Astronomer interview featuring grade 11 Solar Max students Reilley Pfrimmer and Seth Fung:

THIS IS YOUR Invitation to JOIN the Solar Max International Animal Behaviour Eclipse Research Project April 8, 2024 

This is your invitation to inspire children through science and STE(A)M, sparking lifelong imagination and curiosity while helping to lead the world’s LARGEST EVER scientific study of animal behavior during a total solar eclipse. The main goal of the Solar Max project is to gather over 10,000 students, educators and scientists all across the U.S., Canada and Mexico to observe live animal behaviour data using our custom app during an extremely rare Total Solar Eclipse.

  • Engage Students in Science and STE(A)M: Take advantage of unique opportunity to ‘Do Science’ while forming deep connections with living things and the natural cycles of the earth. Students will be trained in research methodology, data collection protocols, and proper observational techniques.
  • Conduct Novel Research: Solar Max research contributors will gather the greatest collection of observations on the widest variety of living things ever as they respond to the unique environmental conditions during the eclipse. Previous eclipse studies are notably rare and often conflicting. This will close the gap in our fundamental understanding of the natural world and have implications for fields such as agriculture, ecology, biology, and astronomy. Our results will be compiled and published in a Peer-Reviewed Journal.
  • Evaluate the Impact of this Endeavor on Feelings of STE(A)M Interest, Competency and Academic and Career Trajectory:Students (ideally grade 10/11) are at an age when students from historically underrepresented backgrounds start to move away from STEAM fields. Participating in such a high impact and intense research project could reverse that trend for these students.

How can you get involved? We are seeking more partners. Specifically, we are looking for:

Solar Max Research Team:

  • Terry Fox Secondary School – Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada
    • Edward Csuka – Solar Max Project Leader – 2022 Canadian Association of Physicists Award for Excellence in Teaching Physics.
      • 30 Fox Students travelling to the Dallas Zoo to help run Central Operations
  • Royal Astronomical Society of Canada
    • Victoria Kramkowski – Co-chair of the RASC’s Eclipse Task Force
  • SFU’s Institute for Environmental Learning
    • David Zandvliet – UNESCO Chair Professor
  • Canadian Collaborative for Equity in STEM
    • Katherine Weber – President and Co-Founder
  • St Paul’s School – New Hampshire
    • Mark Hermano – School leader
      • 560 students travelling to a local farm
  • Assumption College Catholic High School – Windsor, Ontario
    • Adam Mills – CAP Award winning Physics teacher
      • 50 students participating at Toronto Zoo
  • Brebeuf Jesuit Prepar – Indianapolis
    • Andrew Slater – School leader
      • 20 Astronomy students participating at the Indianapolis Zoo
  • Additional Researchers:
    • Cam Mckillican – Eclipse Photographer
      • attempting to confirm Einstein’s theory of General Relativity

Conclusion: The Solar Max International Research Project represents a truly once in a lifetime opportunity to engage students, teachers, and academics in valuable, real-world research that will contribute to our understanding of the natural world. We believe this endeavour will spark curiosity, build a strong scientific foundation, create a deep connection to the fragile planet we call home, and empower the next generation to take on the world’s biggest challenges. Ultimately, the full long-term impact of a project this large will be immeasurable and delightfully infinite.

We are excited to work with research partners and funders to make this project a reality. Our partners will have the opportunity to contribute to the ground-breaking research, access the Custom Solar Max App and professional training, engage with students, and gain exposure through media coverage of the project. Please reach out to discuss and review this incredible opportunity.

We are excited to work with research partners and funders to make this project a reality. Please reach out to discuss and review this incredible opportunity  ecsuka@sd43.bc.ca

Join the project here: https://scistarter.org/solar-max

More info/Project Prospectus: Solar Max Prospectus

Sincerely,

Edward Csuka

Terry Fox Secondary STEAM Coordinator

 

 

 

Skip to toolbar