Education Research Announcement Connecting Students to the International Space Station Through Digital Engagement

The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, Inc. (CASIS), manager of the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory, issued a new research solicitation today focused on education and digital engagement utilizing the unique assets of the orbiting laboratory. The ISS National Lab Research Announcement (NLRA) “Leveraging the ISS National Lab to Enable Digital Engagement in K-12 and Higher Education” is open to U.S.-based entities seeking to establish or expand programs and products for students of all ages, particularly those from underserved communities. This research announcement will include up to $400,000 in total funding for multiple selected projects.

Currently, there are more than 25 educational programs that partner with the ISS National Lab through Space Station Explorers. With this research announcement, the ISS National Lab seeks to expand programming that targets K-12 and higher education communities. Additionally, this opportunity intends to improve digitization of and online access to ISS-related educational programming.

Concepts submitted in response to this announcement must specifically state how proposed initiatives will target and reach underrepresented demographics and must also address at least one of the following goals:

• Expand the content and impact of Space Station Explorers by developing digital engagement platforms to increase student and educator participation in existing or new partner programs, including online education products.
• Create higher education initiatives that deliver opportunities for students enrolled in U.S. colleges and universities to increase diversity, equality, and inclusion in space-based research, technology development, and the commercialization of LEO.
• Digitize space-based K-12 or higher education programming.

The ISS National Lab will host an informational webinar on March 29, 2022, at 3 p.m. EDT to review the objectives of the research announcement, discuss educational opportunities related to the space station, and answer questions from potential proposers. To register, please visit the webinar registration page.

This research announcement will follow a two-step proposal submission process. Before being invited to submit a full proposal, all interested investigators must submit a Step 1: Concept Summary for review. Step 1: Concept Summaries must be submitted by end of day on May 9, 2022. Step 2: Full Proposals (from those invited to submit) will be due by end of day July 19, 2022.

To learn more about this opportunity, including how to submit a Step 1: Concept Summary, please visit the research announcement webpage. To learn more about the ISS National Lab and the science that it sponsors, please visit www.ISSNationalLab.org.

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About the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory: The International Space Station (ISS) is a one-of-a-kind laboratory that enables research and technology development not possible on Earth. As a public service enterprise, the ISS National Lab allows researchers to leverage this multiuser facility to improve life on Earth, mature space-based business models, advance science literacy in the future workforce, and expand a sustainable and scalable market in low Earth orbit. Through this orbiting national laboratory, research resources on the ISS are available to support non-NASA science, technology and education initiatives from U.S. government agencies, academic institutions, and the private sector. The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, Inc. (CASIS) manages the ISS National Lab, under Cooperative Agreement with NASA, facilitating access to its permanent microgravity research environment, a powerful vantage point in low Earth orbit, and the extreme and varied conditions of space. To learn more about the ISS National Lab, visit www.ISSNationalLab.org.