NASA Education Express Message — Oct. 8, 2015
New This Week!
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Free “NASA’s Journey to Mars” Planetarium/Dome Show
Audience: All Formal and Informal Educators
“Space to Ground” Episodes Available in Spanish
Audience: All Educators and Students
NIFS Virtual Career Fair
Audience: Higher Education Students
Event Date: Oct. 8, 2015, from 1- 4:30 p.m. EDT
Free NASA Educator Professional Development Webinars
Audience: In-service, Pre-service, Home School and Informal Educators
Next Event Date: Oct. 8, 2015, at 6 p.m. EDT
Mars Survival Kit: Lessons and Activities to Guide Your Exploration of Mars!
Audience: K-12 Educators
New Interactive Education Event from NASA’s Digital Learning Network: Surviving and Thriving on Mars
Audience: Educators of Grades 6-12
Event Dates: Available Through Dec. 31, 2015
Texas High School Aerospace Scholars
Audience: High School Juniors in Texas
Registration Deadline: Nov. 3, 2015
NASA Space Technology Research Fellowships — Fall 2016
Audience: U.S. Graduate Students
Proposal Deadline: Nov. 5, 2015
Student Spaceflight Experiments Program — Mission 10 to the International Space Station
Audience: School Districts Serving Grades 5-12, Informal Education Institutions, Colleges and Universities
Inquiry Deadline: Nov. 13, 2015
2016 NASA Space Settlement Design Contest
Audience: K-12 Students
Entry Deadline: March 1, 2016
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PREVIOUSLY PROMOTED OPPORTUNITIES…
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NASA Kentucky Space Grant Consortium 2015-2016 Request for Proposals
Audience: NASA Kentucky Space Grant Consortium Affiliate Institutions
Application Deadline: Oct. 8, 2015
2015 von Kármán Lecture Series — Attend in Person or View Online
Audience: All Educators and 9-Higher Education Students
Next Lecture Date: Oct. 8, 2015, at 7 pm. PDT (10 p.m. EDT)
Call for Proposals — NASA Research Announcement for Competitive Program for Science Museums, Planetariums and NASA Visitor Centers Plus Other Opportunities (CP4SMPVC+)
Audience: Formal and Informal Education Institutions
Optional Notice of Intent Due: Oct. 8, 2015
Proposal Deadline: Dec. 7, 2015
Smithsonian TechQuest: Astronaut Academy
Audience: Designed for Families With Children Ages 10 to 14, but Open to All
Next Event Date: Oct. 9, 2015, 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. EDT
2016 BIG Idea Challenge
Audience: Higher Education Students and Faculty
Notice of Intent Requested by Oct. 9, 2015
Entry Deadline: Nov. 15, 2015
#WhySpaceMatters Photography Competition
Audience: All Educators and Students
Next Deadline: Oct. 10, 2015
Get Ready for Earth Science Week: Visualizing Earth Systems
Audience: All Educators
Event Date: Oct. 11-17, 2015
Online Educator Training About NASA’s Mars Student Imaging Project
Audience: 5-12 Educators
Training Dates: Oct. 12, 14 and 15, 2015
“Where Over the World Is Astronaut Scott Kelly?” Geography From Space Trivia Contest
Audience: All Educators and Students
Deadline: Ongoing Through March 2016
Free ‘Ask an Expert’ Series Presented by Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum
Audience: All Educators and Students
Next Event Date: Oct. 14, 2015, at Noon EDT
Undergraduate Student Instrument Project — 2015 Flight Research Opportunity
Audience: Higher Education Educators and Students
Required Notice of Intent Deadline: Oct. 15, 2015
NASA Kentucky EPSCoR 2015-2016 Request for Proposals
Audience: Higher Education Institutions in Kentucky
Application Deadline: Oct. 15, 2015
NASA Swarmathon: Seeking College Students for Swarming Robotics Competition!
Audience: Higher Education Students
Application Deadline: Oct. 15, 2015
DEADLINE EXTENDED: Solar System Ambassadors Program Accepting Applications
Audience: All Educators
Application Deadline: Oct. 15, 2015
Earth Science Week 2015 Contests
Audience: All Educators and Students
Entry Deadline: Oct. 16, 2015
Center for Astronomy Education Teaching Excellence Workshops — Fall/Winter 2015-16
Audience: Higher Education Educators and Students
Next Event Date: Oct. 17, 2015
White House Astronomy Night
Audience: All Educators and Students
Event Date: Oct. 19, 2015
Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum Presents “STEM in 30” Webcast Series
Audience: Grades 6-8 Educators and Students
Next Webcast Date: Oct. 21, 2015, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. EDT
National Science Foundation’s East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes Fellowship Program
Audience: U.S. Graduate Students
Informational Webinar: Oct. 23, 2015, at 2 p.m. EDT
Application Deadline: Nov. 12, 2015
Space Shuttle Thermal Protective Tiles Available for Educational Use
Audience: Educational Institutions, Museums and Other Education Organizations
Available While Supplies Last
White House Office of Science and Technology Policy’s Spring 2016 Policy Internship Program
Audience: Higher Education Students
Application Deadline: Oct. 30, 2015
Host a Real-Time Conversation With Crew Members Aboard the International Space Station
Audience: All Educators
Proposal Deadline: Nov. 1, 2015
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Don’t miss out on upcoming NASA education opportunities.
For a full list of events, opportunities and more, visit the Educator and Student Current Opportunity pages on NASA’s website:
— Educators http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/current-opps-index.html
— Students http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/current-opps-index.html
Are you looking for NASA educational materials to support your STEM curriculum? Search hundreds of resources by subject, grade level, type and keyword at http://www.nasa.gov/education/resources/.
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NEW THIS WEEK!
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Free “NASA’s Journey to Mars” Planetarium/Dome Show
Are you looking for ways to prepare your students for STEM-related career opportunities in the future? Do you want to spark their interest in pushing the boundaries of technology and innovation? Right now, NASA’s fleet of Mars robotic explorers is paving the way for human exploration of the solar system in the coming decades. Have your students join NASA in preparing for a monumental journey of a lifetime — to Mars!
“NASA’s Journey to Mars” is a short planetarium presentation that can be used in the educational domes of your school district, as well as local planetariums, to inspire interest in STEM. To learn more, including how you can acquire the show for use in your area, visit https://www.nasa.gov/feature/journey-of-a-lifetime-mars-education-resources/.
Please direct questions about the “NASA’s Journey to Mars” planetarium/dome show to Elsie Weigel at elsie.weigel@nasa.gov.
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“Space to Ground” Episodes Available in Spanish
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics. In honor of this historic celebration, NASA’s Johnson Space Center has launched a special four-part Spanish-language series of its popular show “Space to Ground.” This show provides a weekly look at what is happening aboard the International Space Station.
Three of the four episodes are currently available online:
Sept 21, 2015 episode — Espacio a Tierra – 21 de Septiembre, 2015
Sept 28, 2015 episode — Espacio a Tierra – 28 de Septiembre, 2015
Oct. 5, 2015 episode — Espacio a Tierra – 05 de Octobre, 2015
Future episodes will be available on YouTube. Keep an eye on the NASA Twitter account @NASA_es (en español ) for updates.
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NIFS Virtual Career Fair
The NASA Internships, Fellowships and Scholarships, or NIFS, Virtual Career Fair is scheduled on Oct. 8, 2015, from 1- 4:30 p.m. EDT. Launch your career with a NASA internship! Connect with NASA centers and engage with recruiters and former interns as you learn more about opportunities at the agency.
Points of contact for this virtual recruiting event are Ms. Carolyn Knowles, director, NIFS, carolyn.knowles-1@nasa.gov and Ms. Fawn Stanton, HQ NIFS lead, fawn.stanton@nasa.gov.
Please register to attend at https://app.brazenconnect.com/events/nasa-online-fair.
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Free NASA Educator Professional Development Webinars
The NASA STEM Educator Professional Development Collaborative at Texas State University is presenting a series of free webinars open to all educators. Join NASA education specialists to learn about activities, lesson plans, educator guides and resources that bring NASA into your classroom. Registration is required to participate. Simply click on the link provided beneath the webinar description to register.
Journey to M*A*R*S (Martian Advanced Resources for Survival): Getting Dirty on Mars
Audience: Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades K-12
Event Date: Oct. 8, 2015, at 6 p.m. EDT
Get the scoop on soil. This webinar will use comparison to teach the similarities and differences between soil properties on Earth and Mars. The focus will be on working in cooperative groups to collect and study soil samples, similar to investigations done by NASA’s robotic Phoenix Mars Mission. Key concepts will include understanding the properties of soils and examining soils for their ability to sustain organisms. This webinar will include a discussion of NASA resources on soil and Mars. The activities promote problem solving, communication skills and teamwork while engaging the students in learning that is both fun and relevant to their everyday lives. Register online to participate. https://www.etouches.com/139283
Journey to M*A*R*S (Martian Advanced Resources for Survival): Habitats and Radiation
Audience: Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades 5-9
Event Date: Oct. 13, 2015, at 6 p.m. EDT
Survival is the key when traveling to new locations, especially if that location is the Red Planet. Discover what NASA engineers are designing to house astronauts on Mars. Learn about radiation, and how Mars and Earth compare and contrast. Register online to participate. https://www.etouches.com/143047
Journey to M*A*R*S (Martian Advanced Resources for Survival): Solar System and the Periodic Table
Audience: Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades 3-Higher Education
Event Date: Oct. 14, 2015, at 6:30 p.m. EDT
This webinar features a lesson that gives an excellent introduction to our magnificent solar system! Learn the basics of what the periodic table is and why it is important to us. The featured lesson includes a game and a short writing-for-understanding exercise. Prior to the webinar, please download a copy of the table from http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sr/documents/toe5.pdf and have crayons or colored pencils available. Register online to participate. https://www.etouches.com/137338
Moving Through Space: Multidimensional Kinematics
Audience: Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades 8-12
Event Date: Oct. 15, 2015, at 6:30 p.m. EDT
NASA education specialists will present participants with an overview of resources for describing motion in multiple dimensions. Discussion will include modifications of activities and accommodations. This webinar addresses the Next Generation Science Standard PS2. Register online to participate. https://www.etouches.com/138143
Earth Right Now: Review NASA Wavelength Digital Library of STEM Resources
Audience: Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades 4-10
Event Date: Oct. 19, 2015, at 6 p.m. EDT
Explore the NASA Wavelength website! This online catalog features NASA Earth and space science resources that have undergone a peer-review process through which educators and scientists ensure the content is accurate and useful in an educational setting. NASA Wavelength lets users locate resources quickly and easily, connect the resources to other websites using atom feeds, and even share the resources with others through social media and email. Register online to participate. https://www.etouches.com/139285
Earth Right Now: Measuring Precipitation Across the Globe
Audience: Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades 6-8
Event Date: Oct. 20, 2015, at 6:30 p.m. EDT
Learn how data is gathered during hurricanes and how essential it is for scientists to forecast how much precipitation to expect. The lessons and activities discussed in the webinar are aligned to Next Generation Science Standards. Register online to participate. https://www.etouches.com/141386
Earth Right Now: Investigating the Climate System
Audience: Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades 5-8
Event Date: Oct. 21, 2015, at 6:30 p.m. EDT
Get an overview of the Investigating the Climate System educator guide. This guide features problem-based learning investigations that address Next Generation Science Standard ESS2. Discussion will include modifications of activities and accommodations. Register online to participate. https://www.etouches.com/138142
Earth Right Now: Aerosols, Clouds and Climate
Audience: Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades 2-9
Event Date: Oct. 22, 2015, at 6 p.m. EDT
Discover NASA-inspired activities that help students experience hands-on learning and participate in scientific research related to clouds and aerosols and their impact on Earth’s climate. Activities will include the new Aerosol GLOBE Elementary book; the Students’ Cloud Observation On-Line project, also known as S’COOL; and the National Climate Assessment. Register online to participate. https://www.etouches.com/144180
For a full schedule of upcoming NASA Educator Professional Development webinars, visit http://www.txstate-epdc.net/events/.
Please direct questions about this series of webinars to Steve Culivan at stephen.p.culivan@nasa.gov.
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Mars Survival Kit: Lessons and Activities to Guide Your Exploration of Mars!
Audience: K-12 Educators
NASA is embarking on a journey to Mars! Are your students ready to join in the adventure? Spark excitement in your classroom with the Mars Survival Kit.
The Mars Survival Kit is a collection of educational activities for students in grades K-12. Each educational activity includes a brief description, as well as information about how the activities and lessons align to the Next Generation Science Standards.
Start your classroom’s journey to Mars at http://go.nasa.gov/1NnZ0Rg.
To learn more about NASA’s Journey to Mars, visit http://www.nasa.gov/topics/journeytomars/index.html.
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New Interactive Education Event from NASA’s Digital Learning Network: Surviving and Thriving on Mars
NASA’s Digital Learning Network, or DLN, is presenting a new videoconferencing event focusing on the challenges that must be met in order to survive a long-duration stay on the planet Mars.
Join the DLN via a virtual classroom to explore the movie “The Martian,” and discuss some of the challenges NASA astronauts must overcome to survive on the Red Planet. Throughout the program, we will reference scenes from the movie to determine if the events presented are science fiction or science fact. The lesson focuses on why we want to travel to Mars, the shelter that is needed to survive there, the protocols needed to maintain health during long-duration space travel and the communication technologies necessary in order to survive and thrive on the fourth planet from the sun.
As schedules allow, subject matter experts from NASA’s Mars investigations will join interactively with those classrooms participating in these modules.
Prepare your students for this event by accessing lessons and activities in NASA’s Mars Survival Kit at http://go.nasa.gov/1NnZ0Rg.
To learn more about this module and other offerings from NASA’s Digital Learning Network, visit http://www.nasa.gov/dln.
Please direct questions about this opportunity to dlinfochannel@gmail.com.
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Texas High School Aerospace Scholars
The Texas High School Aerospace Scholars project is a NASA-unique opportunity for Texas juniors who are interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM. Selected students will participate in an interactive, online course during the school year that culminates in a free trip to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in the summer.
During the online course, students will investigate space exploration challenges by creating technical drawings, solving math problems and participating in discussion forums with NASA engineers and scientists. Texas teachers guide students through the online curriculum and grade their work. Students with the highest scores are invited to to spend six days at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, where they will work with NASA mentors to complete engineering design challenges and plan a mission to Mars. Students will be briefed on the past, present and future of space exploration by NASA engineers, scientists and special guests while touring NASA’s facilities.
Applications are due Nov. 3, 2015.
For more information, visit http://has.aerospacescholars.org.
You can also learn more about the project by viewing the “High School Aerospace Scholars: A Journey of Discovery” video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3HeXYi9Z5Q.
Please direct questions about this opportunity to jsc-aeroscho@mail.nasa.gov.
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NASA Space Technology Research Fellowships — Fall 2016
NASA is seeking applications from U.S. graduate students for the agency’s Space Technology Research Fellowships. The research grants, worth as much as $74,000 per year, will coincide with the start of the 2016 fall academic term. Grant awards resulting from this competitive selection will be made to accredited U.S. universities.
NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate seeks to sponsor graduate student researchers who show significant potential to contribute to NASA’s goal of creating new and innovative space technologies for the nation’s science, exploration and economic future. Selected candidates will perform research at their respective colleges or universities and at selected NASA centers. In addition to a faculty advisor, each student will be matched with a technically relevant and community-engaged NASA researcher who will serve as the student’s research collaborator.
The deadline for submitting proposals is Nov. 5, 2015.
For more information, visit http://go.nasa.gov/1K2gK0n.
Questions about this opportunity should be directed to hq-nstrf-call@mail.nasa.gov.
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Student Spaceflight Experiments Program — Mission 10 to the International Space Station
The National Center for Earth and Space Science Education and the Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Space Education, in partnership with NanoRacks LLC, announce an authentic science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, opportunity for school districts across the U.S. and space station partner nations. The newest flight opportunity, Mission 10 to the International Space Station, or ISS, gives students across a community the ability to design and propose real experiments to fly in low-Earth orbit on the ISS. This opportunity is part of the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program, or SSEP.
Each participating community will receive a real microgravity research minilaboratory capable of supporting a single microgravity experiment and all launch services to fly the minilab to the space station in fall 2016 and return it to Earth. An experiment design competition in each community — engaging typically 300+ students — allows student teams to design and propose real experiments vying for their community′s reserved minilab. Content resources for teachers and students support foundational instruction on science in microgravity and experimental design. Additional SSEP programming leverages the experiment design competition to engage the community, embracing a learning community model for STEM education.
This competition is open to students in grades 5-12 and college. Informal education groups and organizations are also encouraged to participate. Interested communities must inquire about the program no later than Nov. 13, 2015. The National Center for Earth and Space Science Education is available to help interested communities in the U.S. secure the needed funding.
To learn more about this opportunity, visit the SSEP Mission 10 to International Space Station National Announcement of Opportunity at http://ssep.ncesse.org/2015/10/new-flight-opportunity-for-school-districts-announcing-student-spaceflight-experiments-program-ssep-mission-10-to-the-international-space-station-starting-february-2016/.
SSEP is enabled through a strategic partnership with NanoRacks LLC working with NASA under a Space Act Agreement as part of the utilization of the International Space Station as a national laboratory. The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (http://www.iss-casis.org/) is a national partner on SSEP. To view a list of all SSEP national partners, visit http://ssep.ncesse.org/national-partners/.
If you have any questions about this opportunity, please email SSEP National Program Director Jeff Goldstein at jeffgoldstein@ncesse.org.
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2016 NASA Space Settlement Design Contest
Design a space settlement! Space settlements are permanent communities in orbit, as opposed to a place to work for a few months and go home. Designing a space settlement involves physics, mathematics, space science, environmental science and many other disciplines.
The NASA Space Settlement Design Contest is for K-12 students throughout in the world. Individuals or teams may enter. Grade levels are judged separately, except for the grand prize. A certificate will be sent to each participant.
Submissions must be received by March 1, 2016.
For more information about the NASA Space Settlement Design Contest, visit http://settlement.arc.nasa.gov/Contest/.
Please email questions about the contest to Al Globus at aglobus@mail.arc.nasa.gov.
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PREVIOUSLY PROMOTED OPPORTUNITIES…
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NASA Kentucky Space Grant Consortium 2015-2016 Request for Proposals
The NASA Kentucky Space Grant Consortium is seeking proposals for programs supporting STEM areas that are of interest to NASA and Kentucky. Space Grant promotes networking and cooperation among education, industry, and local, state and federal government. Space Grant also focuses on the recruitment and training of U.S. citizens, especially women, underrepresented minorities and persons with disabilities, for careers in aerospace science and technology.
Space Grant Consortium programs support faculty, students and outreach through graduate fellowships, undergraduate fellowships, team fellowships, research initiation and mini-grant awards.
Proposals will be accepted from NASA Kentucky Space Grant Consortium Affiliate Institutions. A list of these affiliate institutions may be found at http://nasa.engr.uky.edu/space-grant.
Applications are due Oct. 8, 2015.
For more information and instructions for submitting a proposal, visit http://nasa.engr.uky.edu/files/2015/08/RFP-16-001.pdf.
Please direct questions about this request to Jacob Owen at Jacob.Owen@uky.edu.
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2015 von Kármán Lecture Series — Attend in Person or View Online
The Theodore von Kármán Lecture Series, named after the founder of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and presented by JPL’s Office of Communication and Education, share the excitement of the space program’s missions, instruments and other technologies.
Lectures take place twice per month, on consecutive Thursdays and Fridays. The Thursday lectures take place in JPL’s Theodore von Kármán Auditorium, and Friday lectures take place at Pasadena City College’s Vosloh Forum. Both start at 7 pm. PDT (10 p.m. EDT). Admission and parking are free for all lectures. No reservations are required, but seating is limited. The Thursday evening lectures are also streamed live for viewing online. Archives of past lectures are also available online.
The next lecture in the series is:
Unveiling an Alien World: Dawn at Ceres
Event Date: Oct. 8 and Oct. 9, 2015, at 7 pm. PDT (10 p.m. EDT)
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/events/lectures_archive.php?year=2015&month=10
Before the Dawn spacecraft’s arrival earlier this year, the dwarf planet Ceres was the largest unexplored world in the inner solar system. Recent observations tell us that the nearly 1,000-km-diameter Ceres is a unique object, straddling the boundary between the rocky bodies of the inner solar system and the ice- and water-rich moons of the outer solar system. Join Dr. Carol Raymond, Deputy Principal Investigator for the Dawn mission, for a discussion about the mysterious Ceres.
For more information about the Theodore von Kármán Lecture Series, including a complete list of upcoming lectures, visit http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/events/lectures.php.
Questions about this series should be directed to the http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/contact_JPL.php.
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Call for Proposals — NASA Research Announcement for Competitive Program for Science Museums, Planetariums and NASA Visitor Centers Plus Other Opportunities (CP4SMPVC+)
The NASA Office of Education invites proposals from museums, science centers, planetariums, NASA Visitor Centers, youth-serving organizations, and other eligible nonprofit institutions via this 2015 NASA Research Announcement: Competitive Program for Science Museums, Planetariums and NASA Visitor Centers Plus Other Opportunities (CP4SMPVC+), Announcement Number NNH15ZHA001N. Proposals must be submitted electronically via the NASA proposal data system NSPIRES or Grants.gov.
Proposers may request a grant or cooperative agreement to support NASA-themed science, technology, engineering or mathematics education, including exhibits, within these congressionally directed topics: space exploration, aeronautics, space science, Earth science or microgravity. CP4SMPVC+ is a competitive, high-quality, national program. The basic goal of the CP4SMPVC+ solicitation is to further NASA Strategic Objective 2.4: “Advance the Nation’s STEM education and workforce pipeline by working collaboratively with other agencies to engage students, teachers, and faculty in NASA’s missions and unique assets.”
Eligible institutions do not need to have the words “museum,” “visitor center,” “science,” “planetarium,” or “youth” in their official name, but they must be located in the United States or its Territories. See the NRA for full eligibility requirements and other limitations. Check the NSPIRES website once a week to learn if amendments or frequently asked questions have been added. Amendments and FAQs also will be announced via the NASA Education EXPRESS listserv.
Notices of Intent Due (optional but strongly encouraged): Oct. 8, 2015
Full proposals are due Dec. 7, 2015.
For more information about this opportunity, visit NSPIRES at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method=init&solId={6105DEEC-925A-A216-322B-8E3B34FA2B07}&path=open.
If you have any questions about this opportunity, please direct your questions to the Points of Contact listed within the NRA.
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Smithsonian TechQuest: Astronaut Academy
Smithsonian TechQuest: Astronaut Academy, at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, is a free alternate-reality game that will challenge you to become an astronaut-in-training for a future trip to Mars. Choose what role you will play on the mission; engage in fun interactive activities; and explore the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics skills you will need as a next-generation space traveler. Along the way, you’ll learn about some of the museum’s fascinating artifacts.
Instructions and guidance are given via a special webpage accessed on your mobile device. Players should bring their own phones or devices equipped with an internet browser and a camera. Having a digital picture-taking device (smartphone, tablet, camera) is highly recommended but not required.
The game is aimed at upper elementary and middle school visitors and their families. Do you want to bring a group? Reservations are required for groups larger than 15.
The next offering of the Astronaut Academy is on Oct. 9, 2015. Begin your training with Astronaut Orientation in the Claude Moore Education Center Classroom 1 located on the first level across from the restrooms. Astronaut Orientation is offered at regular intervals between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. The last opportunity to start the game is at 2:30 p.m. A self-guided activity, the game should take between 60 and 90 minutes, and staff will help you along the way.
For more information, including a full list of upcoming Astronaut Academy dates, visit http://airandspace.si.edu/events/techquest/.
Please direct questions about the Smithsonian TechQuest: Astronaut Academy to the visitor service line at 202-633-2214.
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2016 BIG Idea Challenge
NASA’s Game Changing Development Program and the National Institute of Aerospace announce the 2016 Breakthrough, Innovative, and Game-changing Idea Challenge. The BIG Idea Challenge seeks novel and robust ideas and applications for generating lift using Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator, or HIAD, technology. Concepts can engage new approaches such as shape morphing and pneumatic actuation to dynamically alter the HIAD inflatable structure. Teams will design and analyze potential concepts and systems to provide the ability to achieve a modulated lift-to-drag ratio of 0.2 to 0.5 during hypersonic entry.
Interested teams of three to five undergraduate and/or graduate students will submit white papers describing their BIG Idea. Selected teams will continue in the competition by submitting full technical papers on the concept. These efforts will culminate in up to four teams being asked to present their concept to a panel of NASA judges at the 2016 BIG Idea Forum to be held in April 2016 at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.
Each selected team will receive a $6,000 stipend to facilitate full participation in the forum. BIG Idea Challenge winners will receive offers to participate in paid internships with the Game Changing Development Program team at NASA Langley where they can potentially work towards a flight test of their concept.
Interested teams are encouraged to submit a notice of intent by Oct. 9, 2015. Teams must submit the project design white paper by Nov. 15, 2015.
For more information about this competition, please visit http://BigIdea.nianet.org.
Please direct questions about this competition to BigIdea@nianet.org.
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#WhySpaceMatters Photography Competition
NASA and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, or UNOOSA, have launched a global photography competition to highlight how the vantage point of space helps us better understand our home planet, improve lives, and safeguard our future by aiding sustainable development on Earth.
To highlight the role of space-based science and technologies and their applications on Earth, NASA and UNOOSA are inviting the public to submit photos depicting why space matters to us all in our daily lives. To participate, post a picture and description on Instagram using the hashtag #whyspacematters and tagging @UNOOSA.
NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, who is three months into a one-year mission aboard the International Space Station, will announce the winning photo each month by posting it from his Instagram account @StationCDRKelly.
For more information about the competition, visit http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/contests/whyspacematters/index.html.
For more information about the International Space Station and the One-Year Mission, visit http://www.nasa.gov/content/one-year-crew.
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Get Ready for Earth Science Week: Visualizing Earth Systems
NASA frequently produces stunning visualizations, whether of distant worlds or of our own home planet. These remarkable images come out so frequently that it’s easy to forget the science and engineering that goes on behind the scenes to bring these visualizations to life.
This year, Oct. 11-17, 2015, Earth Science Week will focus on the theme “Visualizing Earth Systems.” Learn how visualizations are created and used by real scientists. Explore a collection of Earth science visualizations, a quick start guide for educators and educational resources for learners of all ages.
This year, a series of blog posts will take readers through some tough science questions being asked and explain how visualizations are helping answer these questions. The lineup of blog writers includes experienced NASA visualizers, scientists and educators. All will discuss their relationship with “Visualizing Earth Systems” as part of their work. The blog posts will roll out in the weeks leading up to and will continue to be released throughout Earth Science Week.
For more information, and to read the latest blog entries, visit http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/ESW2015/.
Do you want the latest information on NASA Earth Science Week activities? Follow NASA’s Earth Science Week team on Twitter (@NASAESW) or Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/NASAESW).
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Online Educator Training About NASA’s Mars Student Imaging Project
Arizona State University’s Mars Education Program is hosting free online training for educators interested in learning about NASA’s Mars Student Imaging Project. Help your students learn about science by being the scientists and conducting authentic research on another planet — Mars! The Mars Student Imaging Project is designed specifically for the Next Generation Science Standards and embeds 21st Century Skills.
Learn how you can facilitate this project in your classroom. You don’t need any background in planets or geology to participate. This is project-based learning, and your students will learn how science works by formulating research questions, collecting and analyzing data, and reporting their findings to NASA scientists. Students’ work will be driven by their own interests about Mars!
The Mars Student Imaging Project is appropriate for grades 5-12.
An in-depth, virtual training session will be offered Oct. 12, 14 and 15, 2015. This session is free, and participants will earn eight hours of professional development credit.
For more information and to register to attend, visit https://marsed.mars.asu.edu/train4mars-online
Please direct questions about the workshop to mars@asu.edu.
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“Where Over the World Is Astronaut Scott Kelly?” Geography From Space Trivia Contest
During his year-long stay on the International Space Station, astronaut Scott Kelly wants to test your knowledge of the world through a geography trivia game on Twitter. Traveling more than 220 miles above Earth, and at 17,500 miles per hour, he circumnavigates the globe more than a dozen times a day. This gives Kelly the opportunity to see and photograph various geographical locations on Earth. In fact, part of his job while in space is to capture images of Earth for scientific observations.
Follow @StationCDRKelly on Twitter. Each Wednesday, Kelly will tweet a picture and ask the public to identify the place depicted in the photo. The first person to identify the place correctly will win an autographed copy of the picture. Kelly plans to continue posting weekly contest photos until he returns from the space station in March 2016.
For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/feature/where-over-the-world-is-astronaut-scott-kelly.
To learn more about the One-Year Mission, visit http://www.nasa.gov/content/one-year-crew.
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Free ‘Ask an Expert’ Series Presented by Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum
Join the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., for a series of “Ask an Expert” events. Each 15-minute discussion is presented by a member of the museum staff at Noon EDT at the museum’s “Great Seal” in the Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall on the first floor.
Upcoming space-related discussions include:
Oct. 14, 2015 — Instrumentation as Eyes: How We See Earth From Space
http://airandspace.si.edu/events/detail.cfm?id=18070
Join Brian Jirout for a discussion about satellite imagery and its various uses, including weather forecasting. Find out what you’re looking at when you watch a weather forecast and where that information comes from.
Oct. 21, 2015 — Laika: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
http://airandspace.si.edu/events/detail.cfm?id=18049
Join Cathleen Lewis for a discussion about Laika, the Russian dog who became the first animal to orbit Earth. Launched by the Soviet Union on Nov. 3, 1957, Laika helped pave the way to human spaceflight.
Oct. 28, 2015 — The Solar Wall
http://airandspace.si.edu/events/detail.cfm?id=18050
Join David DeVorkin for a discussion about the museum’s Dynamic Sun Video Wall. Get up close for a high-definition view of the high-energy sun in action over the past 48 hours. Learn how the images are acquired and find out about the solar features they reveal.
For more information about the “Ask an Expert” series, visit http://airandspace.si.edu/events/ask-an-expert/.
Please direct questions about this series to the Visitor Service line at 202-633-2214.
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Undergraduate Student Instrument Project — 2015 Flight Research Opportunity
NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, in collaboration with the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, is seeking proposals from U.S. institutions of higher education for the Undergraduate Student Instrument Project’s Student Flight Research Opportunity. Proposals should outline plans to develop an undergraduate-led project team that will fly a science and/or technology payload relevant to NASA’s strategic goals and objectives on a sounding rocket, balloon, aircraft, suborbital reusable launch vehicle or CubeSat launched on an orbital launch vehicle.
Funding is available to all U.S. institutions of higher education (e.g., universities, four-year colleges, community colleges, or two-year institutions) and to institutions involved in the Space Grant program. Prospective project teams can be composed only of undergraduate students from U.S. institutions of higher education. Graduate students are not eligible to be project team members; however, they are encouraged to serve as mentors to the undergraduate student team and are permitted to request a mentoring stipend.
Interested institutions must submit a Notice of Intent by email by 11:59 p.m. EDT, Oct. 15, 2015. Proposals are due on Nov. 20, 2015.
For more information and instructions for submitting a proposal, visit http://go.nasa.gov/1WR586S .
Please direct questions about this request to David Pierce at david.l.pierce@nasa.gov.
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NASA Kentucky EPSCoR 2015-2016 Request for Proposals
The NASA Kentucky EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) programs strengthen research capability in the state in areas of importance to NASA and Kentucky by promoting development of research infrastructure, improving capabilities to gain support outside EPSCoR, and developing partnerships with NASA.
Proposals will be accepted from institutions of higher education in Kentucky for Research Infrastructure Development Grants, or RIDG, with a funding level of $50,000 and for Workshop/Conference/Seminar, or WCS, Awards with funding levels of up to $3,000.
Applications are due Oct. 15, 2015.
For more information and instructions for submitting a proposal, visit http://nasa.engr.uky.edu/files/2015/08/RFP-16-002.pdf or the NASA Kentucky website at http://nasa.engr.uky.edu.
Please direct questions about this request to Jacob Owen at Jacob.Owen@uky.edu.
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NASA Swarmathon: Seeking College Students for Swarming Robotics Competition!
The Swarmathon is a NASA challenge to develop cooperative robotics to revolutionize space exploration. Selected teams will receive three Swarmie robots (valued at $6,000), training and instruction, a $1,000 stipend for their faculty member who is serving as their mentor, and a chance to compete against other teams from across the United States for a $5,000 cash prize.
The First Annual Swarmathon, will occur April 18-22, 2016, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Participants will be challenged to develop search algorithms for robotic swarms. Swarmathon participation will improve students’ skills in robotics and computer science, and further advance technology for future NASA space exploration missions.
NASA seeks students from Minority Serving Universities and Community Colleges to apply and compete. All teams must submit an online application by Oct. 15, 2015.
For more information, visit http://nasaswarmathon.com/.
Please direct questions about the NASA Swarmathon to Info@NASASwarmathon.com.
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DEADLINE EXTENDED: Solar System Ambassadors Program Accepting Applications
The NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory Solar System Ambassadors Program, a nationwide network of space enthusiast volunteers, is accepting applications through Oct. 15, 2015.
Highly motivated individuals will be given the opportunity to represent NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory as volunteer SSAs to the public for a one-year, renewable term beginning Jan. 1, 2016.
While applications are being sought nationwide, interested parties from the following areas are especially encouraged to apply: Alaska, Delaware, Iowa, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, Wyoming, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. SSA hopes to add 100 new volunteers to the program in 2016.
To learn more about the SSA Program and to apply online, visit https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/ssa/home.cfm. The Announcement of Opportunity and application form are now available.
If you have questions about this opportunity, contact Kay Ferrari, SSA Coordinator, by email at ambassad@jpl.nasa.gov.
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Earth Science Week 2015 Contests
The American Geosciences Institute is sponsoring a series of contests to celebrate Earth Science Week 2015. This year’s celebration takes place Oct. 11-17, 2015.
Earth Science Week 2015 Photography Contest — Open to All Ages
http://www.earthsciweek.org/contests/photography/index.html
Geoscientists study our planet’s geosphere (land), hydrosphere (water), atmosphere (air), and biosphere (living things). These spheres — or Earth systems — continually affect and influence one another. With a camera, you can capture evidence of the dynamic impact of change processes in your home, neighborhood, school, workplace or local public spaces. In a photo, show at least one Earth system affecting another Earth system in your community.
Earth Science Week 2015 Visual Arts Contest — Open to Students in Grades K-5
http://www.earthsciweek.org/contests/visualarts/index.html
Earth science is the study of Earth systems — land, water, air and living things. Scientists pay special attention to the ways these things affect each other, such as the way wind shapes the landscape or falling rain nourishes plants. Use artwork to show how land, water, air and living things interact in the world around you.
Earth Science Week 2015 Essay Contest — Open to Students in Grades 6-9
http://www.earthsciweek.org/contests/essay/index.html
Since the earliest hand-drawn maps and diagrams, “visualization” has been an important way of explaining and understanding the interactions of land, water, air and living things. Earth scientists today use more sophisticated technology to monitor and represent these Earth systems — the geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere. In an original essay no more than 300 words in length, explain one way that geoscientists’ use of cutting-edge visualization is advancing Earth science today.
The entry deadline for all three contests is Oct. 16, 2015. Visit the contest websites for full details.
If you have any questions about these contests, please email the Earth Science Week staff at info@earthsciweek.org.
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Center for Astronomy Education Teaching Excellence Workshops — Fall/Winter 2015-16
NASA’s Center for Astronomy Education, or CAE, announces a series of educator workshops for astronomy and space science educators.
These workshops provide participants with experiences needed to create effective and productive active-learning classroom environments. Workshop leaders model best practices in implementing many different classroom-tested instructional strategies. But more importantly, workshop participants will gain first-hand experience implementing these proven strategies. During many microteaching events, you will have the opportunity to role-play the parts of student and instructor. You will assess and critique each other’s implementation in real time as part of a supportive learning community. You will have the opportunity to use unfamiliar teaching techniques in collaboration with mentors before using them with your students. CAE is funded through NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Exoplanet Exploration Program.
Oct. 17, 2015– Everett Community College in Everett, Washington
CAE Northwest Regional Teaching Exchange
November 2015 — American Center for Physics in College Park, Maryland
New Faculty Workshop for Physics and Astronomy
Jan. 3-4, 2016– Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Kissimmee, Florida
CAE Tier I Teaching Excellence Workshop for Current and Future Astronomy and Space Science Instructors
For more information and to register for workshops online, visit http://astronomy101.jpl.nasa.gov/workshops/index.cfm.
Inquiries about this series of workshops should be directed to Gina Brissenden at gbrissenden@as.arizona.edu.
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White House Astronomy Night
The White House is hosting an Astronomy Night on Oct. 19, 2015. The event will bring together scientists, engineers and visionaries from astronomy and the space industry to share their experiences with students and teachers as they spend an evening stargazing from the South Lawn.
Scientists and amateur astronomers across the country are invited to join the celebration by hosting their own events at observatories, schools, planetariums, museums and astronomy clubs. If you or your organization is interested in hosting a night of observing the stars or a watch party in conjunction with the White House Astronomy Night, share your plans by visiting https://www.whitehouse.gov/webform/astronomy-night-share-your-supporting-event.
In addition, if you are a part of a professional society, university, foundation or another organization, you can get involved by making a commitment to expand access to great STEM experiences for more students and adults. If you want to take new actions to help inspire and educate the next generation of scientists, engineers and inventors, send an email to AstronomyNight@ostp.gov to share the new commitments you’re ready to make.
To learn more about White House Astronomy Night, visit https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2015/08/21/white-house-astronomy-night-celebration-science-technology-and-space.
Please direct questions about the White House Astronomy Night event to AstronomyNight@ostp.gov.
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Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum Presents “STEM in 30” Webcast Series
The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum is presenting a series of free education webcast events called “STEM in 30.” This new program consists of live, fast-paced 30-minute webcasts designed to increase interest and engagement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics for students. To enhance the learning experience, students can get involved with the content through the interactive “Cover It Live” feature, which includes poll questions and classroom activities. The webcasts will be available live on the National Air and Space Museum website and will be archived for on-demand viewing.
Mars
Oct. 21, 2015, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. EDT
A current elementary or middle school student will most likely be the first human to step foot on Mars. Investigate the plans to send humans to Mars and the ongoing research into water and the possibility of life on the Red Planet.
Wilbur and Orville Wright: The Bicycle Guys
Dec. 17, 2015, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. EST
Before they built airplanes, the Wright brothers built bicycles. Take a look at how bicycle parts ended up on the first airplane and how engineers throughout history and today have transferred technology from one field to another just like the Wright brothers.
Mars Rovers
March 16, 2016, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. EDT
Two separate rovers are traversing Mars right this instant. It took many people and thousands of parts (many of them made of titanium) to build these rovers. Explore the construction of the Mars rovers as well as the science that is being done 140 million miles away on the Red Planet.
“STEM in 30” webcasts are online learning experiences but are filmed in front of a live audience. If you are interested in bringing your school group to a live filming of “STEM in 30,” please email STEMin30@si.edu for details.
For more information about the Smithsonian’s “STEM in 30” Webcast Series, visit http://airandspace.si.edu/explore-and-learn/stem-in-30/.
Questions about this series should be directed to the visitor service line at 202-633-2214.
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National Science Foundation’s East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes Fellowship Program
The National Science Foundation is accepting applications for its East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes, or EAPSI, Fellowship Program. This program provides U.S. graduate students in science, engineering and education with an opportunity to spend eight weeks during the summer conducting research at one of seven host locations in East Asia and the Pacific. Host locations are Australia, China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Singapore and Taiwan. The program is a collaboration between NSF and counterpart agencies in each host location.
EAPSI is open to graduate students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and are enrolled in a research-oriented master’s or doctoral program in science or engineering. Applicants must propose a research project in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics field supported by NSF. Applicants identify and contact host researchers on their own prior to submitting their EAPSI proposals. Lists of prospective host institutions are available at the opportunity website.
NSF provides EAPSI Fellows with a $5,000 stipend and roundtrip airplane ticket to the host location. The program’s foreign counterparts provide in-country living expenses and accommodations. (Arrangements vary by host location.)
The application submission deadline for summer 2016 is Nov. 12, 2015.
For additional information about the program, including location-specific handbooks, a How to Apply guide and helpful tips for applicants, visit www.nsf.gov/eapsi.
An EAPSI Informational Webinar will be conducted on Friday, Oct. 23, 2015, at 2 p.m. EDT. Log-in instructions are available at www.nsf.gov/eapsi.
Questions about this fellowship opportunity should be directed to eapsi@nsf.gov.
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Space Shuttle Thermal Protective Tiles Available for Educational Use
NASA invites eligible U.S. educational institutions and museums to request space shuttle thermal protective tiles and other special items offered on a first-come, first-served basis while quantities last. Organizations previously allocated thermal protective tiles may request an additional three tiles.
There will be a nominal shipping fee that must be paid online with a credit card. To make a request for special items online, visit http://gsaxcess.gov/htm/nasa/userguide/Special_Item_Request_Procedure.pdf.
Questions about this opportunity should be directed to GSAXcessHelp@gsa.gov.
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White House Office of Science and Technology Policy’s Spring 2016 Policy Internship Program
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy is seeking students for spring 2016 internships. The OSTP advises the President on the effects of science and technology on domestic and international affairs. The office serves as a source of scientific and technological analyses and judgment for the president with respect to major policies, plans and programs of the federal government.
Policy internships are open to interested students from all majors and programs, including law school programs. Applicants must be U.S. citizens who are enrolled, at least half-time, in an accredited college or university during the period of volunteer service. Students in undergraduate, graduate and professional programs in all fields are encouraged to apply.
While these positions are without compensation, the assignments provide educational enrichment, practical work experience and networking opportunities with other individuals in the science and technology policy arena.
Applications for spring 2016 internships are due Oct. 30, 2015.
For more information, visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ostp/about/student.
If you have questions about this opportunity, please contact Rebecca Grimm at Rebecca_L_Grimm@ostp.eop.gov.
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Host a Real-Time Conversation With Crew Members Aboard the International Space Station
ARISS-US is now accepting proposals from U.S. schools, museums, science centers and community youth organizations to host an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station, or ARISS, contact between July 1 – Dec. 31, 2016. To maximize these radio contact opportunities, ARISS-US is looking for organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed education plan. Proposals are due Nov. 1, 2015.
Using amateur radio, students can ask astronauts questions about life in space and other space-related topics. Students fully engage in the ARISS contact by helping set up an amateur radio ground station at the school and then using that station to talk directly with a crew member on the International Space Station for approximately 10 minutes. ARISS provides experienced mentors and relies on local amateur radio volunteers to help organizations obtain the technology required to host this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students.
For proposal information and more details such as expectations, proposal guidelines and proposal form, visit http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact.
ARISS-US is offered through a partnership between NASA; the American Radio Relay League, or ARRL; and the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, or AMSAT. ARISS was created and is managed by an international working group, including several countries in Europe as well as Japan, Russia, Canada, and the USA.
Questions about this opportunity should be emailed to ariss@arrl.org.
