Teaching History

Aga Khan Historic Cities Programme

ArchNet and the Aga Khan Museum provide syllabi on Islamic architecture and links to resources for conservation and preservation.

Lowcountry Digital History Initiative

Online exhibitions about the history of slavery in the Atlantic world.

So Bill Gates Has This Idea for a History Class …

The New York Times reports on the history of a Big History course taught in some American, Dutch, and Australian high schools.

New AP History Course Outline Takes Flak from the Right

Historian Will Thomas offers a thoughtful and informed commentary on the continuing debate over the new Advanced Placement US History framework.

What We’re Listening To

Recovering Lost Voices

Rob Townsend, former AHA deputy director, discusses divisions in the historical enterprise and issues in graduate training and publishing at Remapping Debate.

The Art of Explaining Science … and Why It’s So Hard to Do

Efforts to improve communication between the scientific community and the general public have increased understanding, but also controversy.

Third Rock from the Sun

NASA announced the recipients for Commercial Crew Program contracts on Tuesday, with SpaceX and Boeing both winning contracts for their proposed “space taxis.” The promotional videos to each are linked below and detail the capabilities necessary for a 21^st-century crew capsule.

Credits: ESA/Rosetta/MPS for OSIRIS Team MPS/UPD/LAM/IAA/SSO/INTA/UPM/DASP/IDA

SpaceX Dragon V2 | Unveil Event

Boeing Unveils America’s First Space Taxi, Unlocks Possibilities for Future

Elsewhere in the Solar System

“J” Marks the Spot for Rosetta’s Lander

The European Space Agency’s spacecraft Rosetta is preparing for a November landing on its target, Comet Churyumov–Gerasimenko.

NASA Mars Spacecraft Ready for Sept. 21 Orbit Insertion

NASA’s latest orbiter mission to Mars, MAVEN, is almost ready to add to the wealth of Martian knowledge.

This post first appeared on AHA Today.