Ana LarsonAna Larson received a double bachelor's degree in physics and astronomy from the University of Washington in 1990. She obtained her PhD from the University of Victoria, Victoria, B.C., Canada, in 1996, and it was during her time ther that she started developing activities for the undergraduates to enhance their lectures in astronomy. Upon her graduation, she joined the University of Washington, where she is now a senior lecturer in astronomy. On average, she has taught introductory astronomy at least twice a year for the past 17+ years, most frequently for the large lecture-based course. Her developing and thorough testing of introductory, lecture-related activities has been an on-going effort for over a decade. Having recognized that students need to see connections between what is read in the textbook, taught in class, and practiced, she has made sure that the activities remain relevant as well as challenging. Ana is also the director of the Jacobsen Observatory on the University of Washington campus and guides undergraduates in all majors in their educational outreach efforts as they give their talks and introduce the night sky to the public during public viewing nights. Read More Read Less