A Bridge to the Stars offers free enrollment and a confidence-building, early-college experience in a spring semester astronomy course at UMKC. Between 2012 and 2020, more than 70 Kansas City high school students have completed a first-year astronomy course for college credit with Professor Daniel McIntosh, a professional astrophysicist and award-winning educator. The program is made possible through funding by the NASA Missouri Space Grant.
Spring 2023 – Tu, W, Th 4-5:30 p.m. (Jan 17th to May 12th)
Students learn how and why everything in the universe is moving. Topics include gravity, the formation of planetary systems, exoplanets, the bizarre nature of black holes and other stellar corpses, dark matter and the expansion of the universe. Students gain scientific literacy and develop important skills such as critical thinking, teamwork, communication and problem-solving in a fun and dynamic early-college experience.
Spring 2024 – Tu, W, Th 4–5:30 p.m. (TBD)
Students learn how astronomers decipher the cosmic message in starlight. Topics include light and atoms, telescopes, the birth and death of stars, monster black holes and the Big Bang. Students gain scientific literacy and develop important skills such as critical thinking, teamwork, communication, and problem-solving in a fun and dynamic early-college experience.
“Through this program, we’re providing students with high impact exposure to science through innovative experiential learning with a professional scientist. It’s a bridge between high school and college, and it fosters student success.” — Prof. McIntosh
A distinguished professor of astronomy and astrophysics, Dr. McIntosh joined the UMKC Department of Physics and Astronomy in 2008; He is currently Professor of Physics & Astronomy in the new Division of Energy, Matter & Systems in the UMKC School of Science & Engineering. Prof McIntosh is … to all students. He has won several teaching awards including, most notably, the 2016 University of Missouri System President’s Award for Innovative Teaching.
“Because my classes are very active, meaning there are many opportunities to discuss ideas with peers, students gain an excellent understanding of scientific concepts and they really have fun learning!”
Dr. McIntosh is also an expert on how galaxies such as our Milky Way have changed and grown during cosmic history. Much of his scientific work over the last 24 years has involved using the Hubble Space Telescope to study the development of galaxies.
Learn more about Prof. McIntosh
A Bridge to the Stars is committed to actively engaging students from all backgrounds in enriching and impactful experiences related to astronomy, the physical sciences and STEM.
Educational partners
High school partners
“A Bridge to the Stars helped me see myself in a world of STEM that I thought impossible; I was surrounded by people who supported me every step of the way and it was one of the most defining programs that set me forward to pursue a degree in engineering.”-- Jazmin Renteria Gonzalez (at U Missouri, Electrical Engineering), Bridge Scholar 2019 & 2020
“A Bridge to the Stars is a great program that shows you the possibility of college and the STEM field. The course … showed me the vast possibilities of space. I highly recommend the course to anyone who loves astronomy and learning about everything beyond our world.” -- Lina Alsalman (at UMKC, Biology, pre-Med), Bridge Scholar 2020
“A great program taught by a very inspired professor!” —Dr. Larry Weible, department chair, East High School Science Department
“Students and parents need to realize this is a GREAT opportunity.” —Ms. Crystal Ward, former high school principal, Hogan Prep High School
Celebrating a Decade of Bridge to the Stars (Sept 28, 2022)
We are
now a
STEM Connect-KC organization (Oct. 1, 2019)
UMKC Today feature (Sept. 28, 2017)
University of Missouri The Connector feature
(Feb 1, 2017)
UMKC
Today feature (Sept. 15, 2016)
Questions? Email us.
Flarsheim Hall, Room 251
5110 Rockhill Road, Kansas City, MO 64110
© 2023 Missouri Institute for Defense & Energy
