NASA Kicks Off Student Summer Of Innovation Program June 10

WASHINGTON — NASA officially kicks off its Summer of Innovation initiative at the agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., on Thursday, June 10. Through the program, NASA will engage thousands of middle school students and teachers in stimulating math and science-based education programs. NASA’s goal is to increase the number of future scientists, mathematicians, and engineers, with an emphasis on broadening participation of low-income and minority students.

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, JPL Director Charles Elachi and astronaut Leland Melvin will share their personal space exploration experiences with middle school students during a live NASA Television program starting at 1 p.m. EDT.

News media interested in attending this event or scheduling an interview with NASA officials should contact Veronica McGregor by 3 p.m. Wednesday, June 9 at 818-354-9452 or email veronica.c.mcgregor@nasa.gov.

The Summer of Innovation program uses the excitement of NASA missions to keep students interested in science and math during the “summer slide,” a measurable loss of learning skills that occurs during the school break.

Approximately 250 middle school students and teachers have been invited to the June 10th event at JPL. They will have the opportunity to speak directly with NASA astronauts, engineers and scientists and will participate in eight interactive and educational activities, such as launching paper rockets and building comets from Styrofoam and ribbon. They also will see NASA robotics in action and meet the next Mars rover, Curiosity. The rover is being assembled at JPL and is scheduled to launch in 2011.

The students invited to JPL are from these schools: Better Educated Students for Tomorrow After School Enrichment Program, Los Angeles Micro-Enterprise Charter Academy, Long Beach, Calif. Washington Middle School, Pasadena, Calif. Foshay Learning Center, Los Angeles

To view the event and for NASA TV downlink, schedule and streaming video information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

Live video streaming of the Summer of Innovation kickoff also will be available on the Web between 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. EDT at: http://www.ustream.tv/nasajpl

For information about NASA education programs, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/education

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit: http://www.nasa.gov