Call for Interest: NASA Student Collaboration Program Definition Team

The NASA Science Mission Directorate (SMD) first introduced the concept of Student Collaboration (SC) investigations in the Announcement of Opportunity (AO) for the Discovery Program 2006 (NNH06ZDA001O). The SC investigations might involve development of an instrument, investigation of scientific questions, analysis and display of data, development of supporting hardware or software, and/or other aspects of the mission. These activities might also involve flight, suborbital, or ground systems.

Based on the wide interest in this initiative and related inquiries, the SMD will form a Student Collaboration Program Definition Team of 8-10 members. One of the selected committee members will be appointed as the Chair. The SC Program Definition Team will be charged to develop a white paper capturing best practices in project-based learning exemplifying the nature of NASA’s scientific exploration, explore additional learning opportunities of a similar character that is not part of a flight mission, and provide opportunities for community input, including conducting an open workshop. The SMD will publish the final report for wide distribution.

The approximate schedule is for the white paper to be available to the community by June 2007 and the workshop to take place by early fall. The final report is expected shortly after the workshop. The exact schedule will be determined once the Program Committee is convened, in consultation with SMD.

NASA is requesting letters of interest in participating in the SC Program Definition Team from individuals with knowledge about engineering pedagogy and understanding of scientific return in SMD. To indicate your interest, please send an email to Dr. Ming-Ying Wei (Ming-Ying.Wei-1@nasa.gov) with a statement of the expertise and ideas that you would bring to the effort (2 page limit) and a CV (another 2 page limit). The Program Definition Team members will be required to participate in regular telecons, including the kick-off in February. Some travel may be required, but will be limited. Funding for travel, per diem, and other expenses is available.

Letters of interest are due no later than February 2, 2007.

For further information, please contact Dr. Ming-Ying Wei, Education and Public Outreach Lead, Science Mission Directorate, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC 20546-0001; Telephone: (202) 358-0771; E-mail: Ming-Ying.Wei-1@nasa.gov.