STEAM Program: binationally boosting scientific curiosity during the annular eclipse.*

Since the beginning of time, eclipses have captivated human imagination. Thus, the recent annular eclipse, which passed through sections of Mexico   partially over Guatemala, provided the ideal opportunity to promote STEM-related career options among the next generation.

STEAM Program is a binational effort led by the authors  in México and Guatemala, has reached over 17,000 K-12 students, 11,000 teachers and 1.5 Million participants with the online  Leon Lederman seminars. During the annular eclipse on October 2023, 4 sites in Mexico  and 6 sites in Guatemala  were stablished to follow the astronomical spectacle while  promoting interest in Science, as well as virtual seminars and workshops in collaboration with the GLOBE Program-NASA to train citizen scientists, teachers, and students  to measure temperature,wind speed and cloud measurements using NASA GlobeObserver and the  established protocols.  J. Felix presented the Concert Conference Physics of Music and Astronomy at several locations, including  at the Universidad de las Artes de Yucatán,  the  historical  teather Francisco de Paula y Toro  and at the CVDR  IPN México.  Workshops were delivered at the American Center  and at the UNIVERSUM Museum. 

Thanks to the sponsorship of CAEN, STEAM Program, and Astronomers Without Borders, we were able to provide participants with suitable solar eclipse paper glasses, solar observations and workshops.  

Over 4,000 participants were benefited of these activities. Results obtained from these observations, include light rainfall,decresed air temperature and  wind speed after the totallity of the annular phase).  These observations have contributed to our preparations for the total eclipse of april 2024.