Press Release

NASA Glenn Selects Organizations for Engineering Design Challenge

By SpaceRef Editor
June 5, 2018
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NASA’s Glenn Research Center recently selected 13 after-school programs to implement science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) content using NASA’s Engineering Design Challenge: Powered and Pumped Up.

The organizations were selected from competitive proposals involving youth-serving organizations and formal/informal education institutions in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

The recipients receive a professional development workshop at Glenn, help-desk support and opportunities for live web-based connections with NASA scientists and engineers.

Education institutions and youth-serving organizations participating are:

  • Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library, Alpena, Michigan
  • Boy Scouts of America LaSalle Council, South Bend, Indiana
  • Challenger Learning Center of Lake Erie West, Oregon, Ohio
  • Cicero District 99, Cicero, Illinois
  • Edmonson Academy, Detroit
  • Genesee Intermediate School District, Flint, Michigan
  • Girls Scouts of Southern Illinois, Glen Carbon, Illinois
  • Inventor Cloud, Youngstown, Ohio
  • Minneapolis Public Schools, Minneapolis
  • Project Exploration, Chicago
  • STEAMM Academy @ Hartford, SE Canton, Ohio
  • The Salvation Army, Akron, Ohio
  • YMCA of Greater Waukesha County, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

This design challenge ties into current research being done by engineers at Glenn. It looks at applications of alternative energy in space exploration to develop and improve fuel cells, solar cells, batteries and radioisotope power systems.

“As NASA prepares to return to the Moon and travel deeper into our solar system, we are investigating new, robust power systems to help us achieve our mission goals,” said Bryan Smith, director of Space Flight Systems at Glenn. “Events like Powered and Pumped Up are designed to challenge students and provide the opportunity to engage with NASA researchers as we look at innovative solutions to address the energy demands of deep space exploration.”

The Powered and Pumped Up challenge is an opportunity for sixth through eighth graders to work on real-world challenges in a collaborative, team environment. Using the engineering design process, students will design, build and improve a stand-alone solar-powered pumping system to move water as quickly as possible between two containers.

For more information on this out-of-school time funding opportunity, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/Glenn-EDC-summer2018solicitation

For information on NASA’s Out of School Learning Network, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/education/nosl/index.html

For other educator opportunities, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/edu-inf-current-opps.html


SpaceRef staff editor.