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| Sky Power founding director Joe Jordan has worked at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View for 20+ years. During his tenure at NASA he has served on various projects, including the Kuiper Airborne Observatory (KAO), the SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy), Hubble Space Telescope design, computational studies of the atmospheric microphysics involved in the stratospheric ozone depletion problem, as well as atmospheric modeling and mission flight support for ongoing investigations of global climate change. Joe served on the international Airborne Arctic Stratospheric Expedition to the north pole in the winter of 1988-89. Other projects during his years at NASA include investigations of aerosols in Titan's atmosphere, development of multispectral geophysical image processing software in support of the Airborne Sensor Facility, calculations in support of development of a Large Deployable Reflector (LDR) orbiting submillimeter telescope, and network simulations for application to the communications environment on-board the planned space station. His recent research includes use of artificial-intelligence software to search for new types of infrared astronomical objects from satellite observational databases; the search for extrasolar planets; supernova shockwave calculations; and airborne earth/ocean/atmosphere imaging analysis. With the SETI Institute, he has done analysis and color-correction of images sent from the surface of Mars by the Pathfinder/Sojourner lander/rover. Throughout his career, Joe has also pursued an interest in science education. He has served as a teacher of observational field physics and astronomy for many public and private educational organizations, including the University of California at Santa Cruz, Cabrillo College, the University of Missouri, The Santa Cruz Natural History Association, Lyceum of Santa Clara Valley, the Santa Cruz County Office of Education, Sierra Pacific Educational Adventures, the Sequoia Natural History Association, Rancho del Oso State Park, Mt. Talalpais Interpretive Association, and the California Academy of Sciences. Joe has also contributed as a science writer to a number of science radio shows, most recently the "Field Notes" series on radio station KUSP-FM in Santa Cruz -- a program about science, technology, public affairs, and everyday personal experiences of nature. He earned a share in a national Peabody/Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Award for his writing of "The DNA Files", a radio piece (linked below) that aired across the country, on microbes living in Yellowstone hot springs and their possibly close genetic connection to the earliest life forms on this planet. Joe has served as science curriculum advisor and "scientist on-line" to the Lifelab Science Program. He has taught astronomy and led "physics-in-nature" hikes for numerous organizations. He has taught science and math in high schools, and solar/renewable energy in K-12 classrooms throughout California and currently at Cabrillo College. He has delivered his Sky Power curriculum to teachers and administrators across the country, focusing on renewable/efficient energy and its scientific background (both the environmental need and the technological opportunities). He has been a presenter and keynote speaker at a wide range of workshops, seminars and conferences, including a 25th-year special event for Environmental Volunteers (held at Stanford Univ.), REEF (Resources in Environmental Education Fair), the California State Science Teachers' Association, the National Science Teachers' Association, a Solar Schools workshop for the greater S.F. and Monterey Bay Areas, and various Earth Day events. He is an affiliate of ASES (American Solar Energy Society), NCSEA (Northern California Solar Energy Association), and CARET (Consortium for Advancing Renewable Energy Technologies). Joe serves on the Board of Directors of Ecology Action of Santa Cruz, an enviromental non-profit, and as a Public Works Commissioner for the City of Santa Cruz.
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