Who We Are

Katy Buckaloo buckaloo@lpi.usra.edu / 281-486-2106

My first experiences with the Lunar and Planetary Institute came as I worked nearby as a project coordinator for the Universities Space Research Association (of which LPI is a member). I assisted with meeting coordinations, provided administrative and technical support for education programs and activities, and more. My Bachelor's degree in Humanities included advanced writing, which will be useful as I help create and edit content for our educational materials for LPI.

I joined the LPI Education team in September 2005. I am the main point of contact for our Education staff, assisting in the communication that keeps our team running smoothly. I oversee our resources and program schedules, preparing materials and schedules for our workshops. I am also the primary contact for the annual teacher Field Trip. I wear several hats in this department, but enjoy helping everyone on the team with their many tasks. I am thrilled with the thought that I am helping pave the way for space science education in formal and informal educational settings. I have a new awareness of the importance of teaching space science due to my involvement with the LPI and hope to positively influence the next generation of scientists and astronauts.

Keliann LaConte laconte@lpi.usra.edu / 281-486-2166

I am the point-of-contact for the Lunar and Planetary Institute’s Explore! program for librarians and after-school providers, a job which happily entails serving as a workshop leader, developing and updating Explore! activity modules, and creating publications. I also work with the other education team members to develop and deliver educational products to teachers, informal educators, and the general public. My training is in chemistry, astrobiology, and environmental science, but my passion is for science education. I have worked for a museum, aquariums, and most recently, as a park naturalist. I joined the education team in March 2009, and I am honored to be a part of their efforts in connecting diverse audiences with lunar and planetary science.

Stephanie Shipp shipp@lpi.usra.edu / 281-486-2109

I joined the Education Team as Manager in June of 2003, expanding my horizons significantly. My background is in glacial geology – training that is pertinent to some of the celestial bodies in our solar system! While working on my degree in Geology and Geophysics at Rice University, I became interested in making a connection between the public and the scientific research in which I was involved. I collaborated with the Education Development Center and the American Museum of Natural History to develop an Internet-based middle-school curriculum — Antarctica: The Farthest Place Close to Home - that centered on Antarctica as a theme to engage students in earth science. For eight years, I also directed the Teachers Experiencing Antarctica and the Arctic Program (TEA), a program in which K-12 teachers work in the field with polar researchers and transfer the experience of research to the classroom. Working closely with educators taught me the value of collaboration between researchers and teachers in the development of strong science educational materials and programs.

My involvement in the education programs at LPI ranges from oversight to design to development and implementation. We have several exciting programs and an energetic, talented staff that is devoted to creating innovative, high quality educational experiences and environments for teachers, students, and the general public.

Christine Shupla shupla@lpi.usra.edu / 281-486-2135

Before joining the Lunar and Planetary Institute, I spent 16 years in the planetarium field, concluding with the great joy and challenge of managing the Dorrance Planetarium at the Arizona Science Center. I've greatly enjoyed teaching astronomy to hundreds of thousands of visitors, and the details involved in creating new planetarium shows. Eventually, it was time for a new challenge.

I joined the education team at LPI in October of 2005. My primary responsibilities are designing and implementing our in-service professional development efforts, developing some of our classroom activities, and working with others to lead our pre-service education initiatives. I also help with new education program development and our other programs as needed. It is very rewarding to be part of such a talented team, bringing space science to educators and our community.