Tomoko Matsuo News

Giving high school students hands-on STEM experiences

Jeff Zehnder — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 16:23:32 +0000

Giving high school students hands-on STEM experiences Jeff Zehnder Mon, 08/19/2024 - 10:23

Jeff Zehnder

PhD student Kawther Rouabhi helping two high school students troubleshoot their camera.

Roaming outdoors with homemade multispectral cameras, high school students are getting a hands-on look at engineering remote sensing.

Tomoko Matsuo, an associate professor in the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder, is leading a special summer program giving 9th-12th graders a unique STEM experience.

“They’re going through a whole arc: building an instrument, a field campaign, data collection,” Matsuo said. “It’s great to be with these aspiring young students. They’re so curious.”

The module was developed as part of Matsuo’s National Science Foundation CAREER Award grant. This year it is offered as part of a CU Science Discovery Camp, an educational outreach program designed to connect public audiences with the STEM research happening at CU Boulder. Roughly two dozen teens are participating in the activity as part of a weeklong program exploring different aspects of science and engineering.

Matsuo’s day-to-day research is in remote sensing, the science of investigating aspects of the earth and space environment from a distance, typically using instruments aboard aircraft or satellites. It often involves monitoring conditions not visible to the naked eye. The teens in the camp are getting a basic primer with more easily accessible technology – digital cameras.

But these are not off-the-shelf Nikons. The project involves assembling do-it-yourself cameras consisting of an ultra-tiny Raspberry Pi Linux computer, batteries, a camera lens, and special multi-spectral filters to see beyond visible light into the UV and infrared spectrum.

Two high school students testing their multispectral camera on objects in nature.

While humans cannot perceive such light under ordinary circumstances, some animals and insects can. The camera makes it possible to view how the world appears through those eyes.

Assisting with the lesson was recent PhD graduate John Marino (ElEngr MS’16, AeroEngr PhD’24), who saw the project as an opportunity to build excitement for science and engineering.

“I hope one of the kids comes away learning something they didn’t know and wanting to know more. It’s nice to be able to generate programs like this for kids,” Marino said.

The camera originated as a personal side project of Marino’s. After demonstrating the technology to Matsuo and the ability to see things in UV and infrared, they adapted it into an educational module.

“I just wanted to see if I could build a multi-spectral camera for fun, but Tomoko saw the potential as an enrichment activity,” Marino said.

The experience included more than just assembling and using the camera. Kawther Rouabhi, a third-year aerospace PhD student led the teens step by step through one of her favorite activities: programming.

“They’re building the cameras, learning a little bit about their inner workings, and getting hands-on experience with the Linux command line and Python. Everything that makes it work. My first experience with programming was when I was about their age, and I really like solving problems this way,” Rouabhi said.

As a student in Matsuo’s lab, Rouabhi spends much of her time analyzing remote sensing data with machine learning, but she is thrilled to share her knowledge with teens.

“These types of programs were very important for me to get excited about STEM as a young person,” she said. “I want to make things like this more accessible. It’s been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember. Working with teens, they’re all super motivated and excited. It’s really fun.”

CU Boulder’s Science Discovery Camps are an annual series of weeklong summer programs open to K-12 students. Find out more at the Science Discovery website.

PhD graduate John Marino working with two high school students in the lab.

Prof. Matsuo helping two camp attendees with their camera.

Roaming outdoors with homemade multispectral cameras, high school students are getting a hands-on look at engineering remote sensing...

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CU Boulder, Johns Hopkins APL team advance in NASA space weather competition

Anonymous — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 16:01:21 +0000

CU Boulder, Johns Hopkins APL team advance in NASA space weather competition Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 06/20/2024 - 10:01

DYNAMIC targets the Lower Thermosphere Ionosphere (LTI) altitude region where the thermosphere’s neutral gas interacts with the coexisting plasma population of the ionosphere, influenced by forcing from above and below. Poorly understood multiscale ripples in this area, as depicted in the gray-scale ground track, are a result of atmospheric wave forcing from below. (Image Credit: University of Colorado Boulder, Johns Hopkins APL)

A joint proposal of the University of Colorado Boulder and Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland has earned a $2 million award for a NASA mission concept study.

The team is one of three concept teams chosen by NASA competing to develop Phase-A proposals to enact the space agency’s Dynamical Neutral Atmosphere-Ionosphere Coupling (DYNAMIC) mission. Each of the three winning teams will receive funding for a Phase-A, nine-month concept study, after which NASA will select a single winning proposal.

The mission will ultimately design and build a satellite with science payloads to explore fundamental gaps in our understanding of how changes in the lower atmosphere influence the upper atmosphere and low Earth orbit.

“We’re grateful and overjoyed for this opportunity to work together to make our vision of DYNAMIC a reality. With these measurements, we can finally gain an understanding of the critical link between Earth’s atmosphere and space,” said Tomoko Matsuo, principal investigator (PI) on the project and an associate professor in the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences at CU Boulder.

Additional partners joining CU Boulder and APL include NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Haystack Observatory in Westford, Massachusetts, Clemson University in South Carolina, Arizona State University, the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado.

The team’s project will fulfill science goals recommended by the 2013 Decadal Survey for Solar and Space Physics published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.

When launched, DYNAMIC is expected to provide comprehensive measurements of the upper atmosphere in the very low Earth orbit (VLEO, below 300 km) range — the new frontier for spacecraft operation. This will provide a deeper understanding into how space weather — events generated by activity on the Sun and the Earth’s weather — can interfere with satellites, navigation systems and other technology.

“We have been looking forward to a mission such as DYNAMIC for many years, and are grateful for the NASA step 1 selection,” said Jason Kalirai, APL’s mission area executive for Space Formulation. “Our PI, team at the Lab, and partners across the nation are excited to push forward on a new Heliophysics mission that will answer fundamental questions about how space weather affects our planet.”

A joint proposal of the University of Colorado Boulder and Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland has earned a $2 million award for a NASA mission concept study. The team is one of three concept teams chosen by NASA competing to...

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Seminar: A Journey from the Earth to Geospace - Oct. 6

Anonymous — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 06:00:00 +0000

Seminar: A Journey from the Earth to Geospace - Oct. 6 Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 10/04/2021 - 00:00

A Journey from the Earth to Geospace: Exploring Predictability of Near-Earth Space Environments Through Ensemble-Based Probabilistic Modeling, Data Assimilation, and Observing-System Design
Tomoko Matsuo
Assistant Professor, Smead Aerospace
Wednesday, Oct. 6 | 12:00 P.M. | Zoom Webinar

Abstract: Prediction serves as the ultimate test of our scientific understanding of geophysical systems. Accurate forecasting of near-Earth space environmental conditions is critical to radio communication, navigation, positioning, and satellite tracking. Effective numerical prediction of the region’s conditions allows us to better protect important space assets and related systems in the event of natural hazards. My research group aims to advance the science and engineering of forecasting, as applied to the Earth’s atmosphere from the ground to near-Earth space environments, while developing fundamental understanding of the predictability of a coupled system of the whole atmosphere, ionosphere, and magnetosphere. Prediction of constantly changing environmental conditions, affected by both space and terrestrial weather, requires a systematic integration of observations with a first-principles models using data assimilation. Data assimilation reduces uncertainties in initial conditions and drivers, extending the predictive capability of numerical models of near-Earth space environments. The data assimilation and ensemble-based probabilistic modeling framework being developed can be used for designing of future missions and targeting of observations to maximize scientific returns of observing systems. This seminar showcases the latest research results and future plans.

Bio: Tomoko Matsuo is an Assistant Professor in the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences. As a Principal Investigator with funding from the NSF, NASA, NOAA, ESA, and Air Force Office of Scientific Research, she has developed original and independent research programs, and has authored and co-authored over 60 refereed publications. She has received an NSF CAREER award for her work into the predictability of the whole atmosphere from the ground to geospace. She has served on high-level external committees, including the NASA Heliophysics Advisory Committee (2017-), NASA Geospace Dynamics Constellation Science and Technology Definition Team (2018-2019), and the ESA Daedalus Mission Advisory Group (2018-2020). Before joining the Department in 2017, she worked at NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center and NCAR's Institute for Mathematics Applied to Geosciences. She has a PhD in Atmospheric Sciences from SUNY Stony Brook, and Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Physics from Nagoya and Hokkaido Universities in Japan.

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Qualitative Data from Citizen Scientists Enhances AMGeO’s Auroras Research

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 16:18:05 +0000

Qualitative Data from Citizen Scientists Enhances AMGeO’s Auroras Research Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 03/10/2021 - 09:18

In response to solar storms, electrons and ions are produced in the Earth’s magnetosphere that collide with the upper atmosphere’s oxygen and nitrogen. This collision causes a release of energy in the form of a magnificent glow of light - an aurora. Only visible in high-latitude regions, auroras have long been perceived as quite mysterious. One such aurora, seen near Alberta, Canada, as shown in the accompanying image, is called the Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement (STEVE) and was discovered by a group of citizen scientists via their collaboration with the Aurorasaurus project.

When the AMGeO (Assimilative Mapping of Geospace Observations) project team at the University of Colorado at Boulder caught wind of STEVE and how much qualitative citizen science data the Aurorasaurus project had collected, they decided to create an informal collaboration to see how they could work together to better understand these magical phenomena.

“One of the goals of our open source data science tool, called AMGeO, is to make it easier for geospace community members to easily fuse data obtained from an array of diverse instrumentation,” said Tomoko Matsuo, AMGeO principal investigator and assistant professor at the University of Colorado Boulder’s Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences Department. “While we successfully use multiple types of heterogeneous data in AMGeO, thanks to machine learning techniques for examining various aspects of the coupling of the Earth’s magnetosphere and atmosphere, including auroras, it is very challenging to make use of auroral sighting reports by citizen scientists.”

Read the full article at Earth Cube...

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Meet our Faculty: Tomoko Matsuo

Anonymous — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 22:36:40 +0000

Meet our Faculty: Tomoko Matsuo Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 11/21/2019 - 15:36

After completing training in Physics and Atmospheric Sciences in 2003, Tomoko Matsuo invested time to build expertise in statistics and data assimilation. She has received unique training in statistics as part of an NSF program to build collaborative research and training between statistics and the geosciences at NCAR's Institute of Mathematics Applied to Geosciences.

Matsuo joined Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences as a faculty member in 2017 and earned an NSF CAREER Award in 2019. She has developed original and independent research programs centered on data assimilation of remotely sensed and in-situ data of the Earth's upper atmosphere and near-Earth space. Because of the interdisciplinary nature of data assimilation research, she collaborates widely across disciplinary boundaries with space physicists, atmospheric scientists, engineers, and statisticians.

[video:https://youtu.be/_1dkwisH1K0]

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Seminar - From Earth to the Edge of Space: How Data Assimilation Advances the Science and Engineering of Forecasting Near-Earth Space Environments - Sept. 18

Anonymous — Mon, 09 Sep 2019 06:00:00 +0000

Seminar - From Earth to the Edge of Space: How Data Assimilation Advances the Science and Engineering of Forecasting Near-Earth Space Environments - Sept. 18 Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 09/09/2019 - 00:00

Tomoko Matsuo
Assistant Professor, Smead Aerospace
Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019 | AERO 111 | 2:30 P.M.

Abstract: Prediction serves as the ultimate test of our scientific understanding of geophysical systems. Accurate forecasting of near-Earth space environmental conditions is critical to radio communication, navigation, positioning, and satellite tracking. Effective numerical prediction of the region’s conditions allows us to better protect important space assets and related systems in the event of natural hazards. My research group aims to advance the science and engineering of forecasting, as applied to the Earth’s atmosphere from the ground to near-Earth space environments. Prediction of constantly changing environmental conditions, affected by both space and terrestrial weather, requires a systematic integration of observations with a first-principles models using data assimilation. Data assimilation reduces uncertainties in initial conditions and drivers, extending the predictive capability of numerical models of near-Earth space environments. The data assimilation and ensemble-based probabilistic modeling framework being developed can be used for designing of future missions and targeting of observations to maximize scientific returns of observing systems. This reappointment seminar will showcase the latest research results and future plans along with my professional journey.

Bio: Tomoko Matsuo is an Assistant Professor in the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences. As a Principal Investigator with funding from the NSF, NASA, ESA, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research and the Air Force Research Lab, she has developed original and independent research programs centered on data assimilation of Earth and geospace observations, and has authored and co-authored over 50 refereed publications. She is a recipient of the 2019 NSF CAREER award. She has served on high-level external committees, including the NASA Heliophysics Advisory Committee (2017-). Before joining the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences in 2017, she worked at NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center as a CIRES Research Associate and at NCAR's Institute for Mathematics Applied to Geosciences as a Visiting Scientist. She has a PhD in Atmospheric Sciences from SUNY Stony Brook, and Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Physics from Nagoya and Hokkaido Universities in Japan.

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High school students explore remote sensing at the Mountain Research Station

Anonymous — Tue, 13 Aug 2019 06:00:00 +0000

High school students explore remote sensing at the Mountain Research Station Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 08/13/2019 - 00:00

Jeff Zehnder

Tomoko Matsuo leading a discussion about infrared, visible, and ultraviolet light.

Science, engineering and nature are coming together for Colorado high school students at a unique summer camp.

The 2019 CU Science Discovery Mountain Research Experience, a weeklong sleepaway camp program held at the University of Colorado Boulder Mountain Research Station, north of Nederland, is a chance for kids to learn about the possibilities of scientific research outside the traditional school setting.

Remote sensing is the science of investigating aspects of the environment from a distance, typically using instruments aboard aircraft or satellites. It often involves monitoring conditions not visible to the naked eye. That is where the camp project comes in. Working from the Mountain Research Station’s Megaron Cabin, a one-room log cabin that is simultaneously rustic and technology-rich, the students are building special digital cameras to explore the world in visible, infrared and ultraviolet light.

Hands On Learning

“They’re going to learn a little about microcontrollers, programming, working in the terminal and how things look outside the visible light spectrum,” said Tomoko Matsuo, who is leading the day’s lesson.

Two students taking a selfie with their camera.

Matsuo is an assistant professor in the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences at CU Boulder whose research is in remote sensing.

“We want to give them an appreciation of the science and technology and the hands-on work that you can do. We also want them to know that anyone has the capability to do this,” said Nick Dietrich, an aerospace PhD student, one of several undergraduate and graduate students advised by Matsuo assisting with the camp for the day.

While the high schoolers are there to learn and have fun, Matsuo has brought her college students to help them sharpen their skills as educators.

“I want them to have experience interacting with high school students,” Matsuo said. “I want them to be able to explain things. If you understand the material really well, you should be able to explain it to others in simple terms.”

Investigating flowers in ultraviolet light with PhD student Clayton Cantrall.

Inside and Out

After a brief lesson on remote sensing, the students assembled their cameras - comprised of ultra-tiny handheld Raspberry Pi Linux computers, batteries, a camera lens, and additional filters for UV and infrared light. They then set out to explore a series of stations around the cabin and surrounding alpine forest to see how things appear using the different filters.

“Part of the fun is just troubleshooting,” said Valerie Svaldi, a Colorado School of Mines metallurgical engineering senior who is completing a summer research program with Matsuo. “We want the kids to do as much problem-solving as possible when something goes wrong or isn’t working -- that's part of engineering.”

Inside the cabin, the students snap photos of objects ranging from sunscreen to dollar bills in UV and infrared. Once outdoors, they explore the appearance of flowers, other plants and minerals. There are many things in nature that glow in ultraviolet light, including some insects and arachnids - scorpions are likely the best known, although the Mountain Research Station is at a high enough elevation they are thankfully not much of a worry.

The day’s program was just one part of a weeklong experience for the high school students, who spent time each day with an array of scientists and researchers to learn more about what they do.

Matsuo working with two high school students.

“�鶹��Ժ get reasonable exposure to science in their high school classes, but it’s limited to science in a laboratory,” said Alexandra Rose, CU Science Discovery’s Broader Impacts Liaison and Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research Ecologist. “There is very little outdoor work. This camp is about exposing them to as many different ways of doing science out-of-doors as possible.”

For Kara Jansen, a rising senior at Peak to Peak Charter School in Lafayette, it was an exciting summer experience.

“I want to be outside and connecting with people who have the same passions for nature and environmental biology that I do,” Jensen said. “I wanted to be part of a group that wasn't just playing video games all summer.”

Science, engineering and nature are coming together for Colorado high school students at a unique summer camp. The 2019 CU Science Discovery Mountain Research Experience, a weeklong sleepaway camp program is a chance for kids to learn about the possibilities of scientific...

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Matsuo awarded prestigious NSF CAREER award

Anonymous — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 17:49:17 +0000

Matsuo awarded prestigious NSF CAREER award Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 03/14/2019 - 11:49

Josh Rhoten

Assistant Professor Tomoko Matsuo has received a CAREER award from the National Science Foundation for her work on the predictability of the atmosphere from the ground to near-Earth space.

These prestigious awards support early career faculty who have the potential to become leaders in research and education in their fields. Matsuo, who earned her PhD from Stony Brook University, New York, has been a faculty member since 2017 in Smead Aerospace Engineering Sciences.

Her project, titled “Predictability of the Whole Atmosphere from the Ground to Geospace,” would allow for accurate forecasting the conditions of the near-Earth space, which low-Earth-orbit satellites travel through. Those conditions are affected by both ground-level activity, such as hurricanes and tornadoes, and activity on the surface of the sun. This necessitates a better understanding of the entire sun-Earth system to make accurate predictions. Her research will integrate large volumes of atmosphere, ionosphere and magnetosphere observations with a high-dimensional computer model of the whole atmosphere and geospace using an approach called data assimilation.

Forecasting near-Earth space conditions is critical to radio communication, navigation, positioning and satellite tracking. Accurate prediction of the region's conditions will enable better protection of important space assets and related systems here on Earth.

The award continues work Matsuo has been doing with the extension of tropospheric numerical weather forecasting to space, which started during her time at the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center. Her long-term research goal is to construct an forecasting system that will ultimately be capable of assimilating observations from the ground to geospace. She says that she is excited to start work under the new award.

“I am very excited it was reviewed favorably by the peer reviewers because I took a bit of a risk with the proposal and didn’t know how it would be received,” Matsuo said. “This is really encouraging and will allow me to build my team and continue my work. That’s important, because I can’t do this alone.”

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