Explore Alliance Ambassador - Dr. Daniel Barth
Dr. Daniel Barth is a lifelong science educator and astronomer whose career spans both academic instruction and public outreach. With a passion for making science accessible and engaging, Dr. Barth has contributed significantly to STEM education through his work with UNESCO, the University of Arkansas, and Explore Scientific.
From 2014 to 2023, Dr. Barth served as Assistant Professor of STEM Education at the University of Arkansas, where he created and led the Astronomy for Educators program. The accompanying textbook earned the Global Campus Award for Best STEM Text in 2018 and has since become the world’s most widely used astronomy activity manual—implemented in over 10,000 schools across more than 70 countries.
Dr. Barth is also the author of Star Mentor, a collection of hands-on and eyepiece-based astronomy activities designed for beginners with small telescopes or binoculars. Every activity is classroom-tested and fully illustrated, making the book a valuable resource for novice observers. (Available on Amazon and at Explore Scientific.)
In collaboration with Explore Scientific, Dr. Barth has been a featured presenter on the Global Star Party and is the creator and host of the How Do You Know? series—an educational program with over 100 episodes available online. His outreach spans across Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri, where he continues to inspire both educators and amateur astronomers.
Following his retirement in 2024 after 44 years in astronomy and physics education, Dr. Barth now owns and operates the Western Arkansas Observatory. This innovative roll-out observatory, which he personally designed, serves both as a hub for observational research and a venue for public science education events.
Whether writing, teaching, or observing under the stars, Dr. Daniel Barth is known for his clarity, warmth, and unwavering dedication to igniting a lifelong love of astronomy in learners of all ages.
