Exploring the Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS)
Jesse Alexander and 3 students from the first Wave (cohort) at the HamSCI.org citizen science conference [Photo, ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio]
Danielle Rowland NRAO Program Manager and 3 Wave (cohort) 2 students building crystal radios at the Green Bank Observatory Science Center 11/18/2023.
Wave 2 Information Session Video
Hands on Activities
The Application Period is now closed.
The 2023 "Wave 1" Cohort is complete
The 2023 "Wave 2" Cohort is in Flight!
National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) and the Office of Diversity & Inclusion (ODI) is excited about the funding that we have received from Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) to deliver a new 2-year project, “Exploring the Electromagnetic Spectrum (EMS)”.
This innovative project will educate high school and college students about the electromagnetic spectrum while sharing the excitement of amateur (ham) radio among BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ students.
The EMS Ham Radio Project:
Help your community in an Emergency
"When everything else fails. amateur radio often times is our last line of defense...When you need amateur radio, you really need them."
NRAO was selected for this project because of our proven track record of bringing together excellent content experts and best equity practices to bring underrepresented minority students to the sciences.
While perhaps unfamiliar to many, amateur radio (also known as 'ham radio') provides a hands-on entry point to understanding the radio spectrum and its practical uses. Thus, it can be an entry to a career in sciences, a life-long citizen scientist hobby, or an important part of community emergency infrastructure and response.
We know it’s not enough to just “invite” BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ students to the table. In addition to technical knowledge and experience, we will also provide the following support structures to all student participants:
Jesse Alexander, he/him, WB2IFS/3 Ham Radio Project Lead
This project is made possible by a generous grant from the Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC).
We would also like to thank the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) for donating license manuals and other learning materials and acknowledge the Tuscon Amateur Packet Radio and the Young Amateurs Radio Club for their administrative and technical support in this endeavor.
NRAO Diversity