NASA Education Express Message — April 16, 2015

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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Museum Alliance Webcast — The Spaceport of the Future: NASA’s Journey to Mars Begins Here

Imagine a spaceport of the future, where a variety of space vehicles are preparing for launch or departing Earth on missions to expand humanity’s reach into space. At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the Ground Systems Development and Operations program is propelling this vision forward. The GSDO team is leading the center’s transformation from a historically government-only launch complex to a spaceport bustling with activity involving government and commercial vehicles alike.

NASA’s Digital Learning Network and the GSDO team at Kennedy Space Center invite you to participate in an interactive webcast on April 16, 2015, at 1 p.m. EDT. The webcast will feature Jeremy Parsons, the branch chief of the Operations Integration office within the GSDO program at Kennedy Space Center. Parsons is responsible for overseeing a diverse team that performs operations management and analysis of Kennedy’s human exploration activities.

Parsons will webcast live from the Digital Learning Network studio at Kennedy Space Center. He will share information on America’s new spaceport and take questions from webcast viewers from around the country. 

You may view the webcast as an individual at your personal computer or set up audio visual equipment at your institution for a large group to participate. To view the webcast, visit http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nasa-dlinfo. 

Questions for Parsons may be submitted before and during the event by email at dlinfochannel@gmail.com. Questions also may be submitted during the event via twitter to @NASADLN.

After the webcast, presentation materials will be posted on the Museum Alliance member site at https://informal.jpl.nasa.gov/museum/Conversations. A downloadable copy of the webcast and transcript will be posted a week or so later at the same location. Username and password are required to access the member site.

To learn how to become a Museum Alliance member, visit https://informal.jpl.nasa.gov/museum/About.

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Free Education Webinars From NASA Educator Professional Development

NASA Educator Professional Development 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 provided link to register.

Rockets: Launching Forces and Motion in Your Classroom
Audience: Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades 4-8
Event Date: April 16, 2015, at 6 p.m. EDT
Participants will explore forces, motion and energy with fun and exciting activities. These include designing, building and launching simple rockets while recording, analyzing and graphing data. Learn how to integrate NASA missions, STEM curriculum and online education resources into teaching strategies.
Register online to participate. https://www.etouches.com/123375

Assessing Student Work During an Engineering Design Challenge
Audience: Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades 4-10
Event Date: April 22, 2015, at 6 p.m. EDT
Explore an overview of assessment strategies and resources from NASA for classroom engineering design projects. Then, participate in a discussion of specific applications of these strategies.
Register online to participate. https://www.etouches.com/122165

Questions about this series of webinars should be directed to Steve Culivan at Stephen.p.culivan@nasa.gov.

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NASA Space Technology Grants for Early Career University Faculty

NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate is seeking proposals from accredited U.S. universities on behalf of outstanding early career faculty members who are beginning their independent careers. The grants will sponsor research in specific, high-priority areas of interest to the U.S. space program.

NASA expects to award approximately six to eight grants this fall, funded up to $200,000 each per year for as many as three years, based on the merit of proposals and availability of funds. Funded research will investigate unique, disruptive or transformational space technologies in areas such as dynamic tensegrity technologies for space science and exploration, high-temperature solar cells, fundamental aero-thermodynamic model development, and synthetic biology technologies for space exploration.

The deadline to submit proposals to the Early Career Faculty Appendix of NASA’s Research Announcement “Space Technology Research, Development, Demonstration and Infusion 2015 (SpaceTech-REDDI-2015)” is April 17, 2015.

For information on the solicitation, including specific technology areas of interest and how to submit notices of intent and proposals, visit http://go.nasa.gov/1vwtqZz.

This solicitation is part of NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, which is responsible for innovating, developing, testing and flying hardware for use in future missions. For more information about the directorate and Space Technology Research Grants Program, visithttp://www.nasa.gov/spacetech.

Please email any questions about this opportunity to Bonnie F. James at HQ-STMD-SpaceTech-REDDI@nasa.gov.

Exploration of the Moon and Asteroids by Secondary Students (ExMASS) High School Research Program

The Center for Lunar Science and Exploration at the Lunar and Planetary Institute and NASA’s Johnson Space Center are looking for 10 teams of motivated high school students and their teachers to participate in a national standards-based lunar/asteroid research program for the 2015-2016 academic year.

Supervised by their teacher and aided by a scientist advisor, students undertake open-inquiry research projects that engage them in the process of science and support the goals of the NASA Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute. At the end of the year, four teams compete for a chance to present their research at the Exploration Science Forum held at NASA’s Ames Research Center in July 2016.

Participation in the Exploration of the Moon and Asteroids by Secondary Students, or ExMASS, program is free. Applications must be completed by a teacher and are due April 19, 2015.

For more information and to apply for the ExMASS program, visit http://www.lpi.usra.edu/exploration/education/hsResearch/. 

Questions about the ExMASS program should be directed to Andy Shaner at shaner@lpi.usra.edu.

Free “Hubble Space Telescope 25th Celebration” Education Webinar Series From NASA Educator Professional Development

NASA Educator Professional Development is celebrating 25 years of the Hubble Space Telescope with a series of free webinars open to all educators. Join NASA education specialists to learn about the Hubble Space Telescope mission, and discover activities, lesson plans, educator guides and resources that bring the Hubble Space Telescope and science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, into your classroom. 

Registration is required for these webinars. Simply go to https://www.etouches.com/121324 and register.

Hubble Deep Field
Audience: Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades 5-8
Event Date: April 20, 2015, at 4 and 7 p.m. EDT
The Hubble Deep Field represents a narrow view of the universe, covering a speck of sky. Essentially a narrow, deep “core sample” of sky, the field is similar to a geologic core sample of the Earth’s crust. Just as a core sample represents a history of the evolution of the Earth’s surface, the Hubble Deep Field image contains information about the universe at different stages in time. Discover what the images from Hubble are telling us about the universe. Also in this interactive webinar, discover NASA STEM resources to understand the vast size of our universe. 

Hubble, Sofia and Your Cosmic Connection to the Universe
Audience: Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades 9-12
Event Date: April 21, 2015, at 4 and 7 p.m. EDT
In celebration of its 25th anniversary, Hubble has revisited the famous Pillars of Creation, providing astronomers images in near-infrared light. NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, or SOFIA, is the world’s largest airborne astronomical observatory and features a far-infrared telescope. Together, these observatories help us learn more about the structure and formation of our universe. Come experience a “Universe Trail Mix” activity that demonstrates the role of the Big Bang Theory, fusion in stars and supernovae creating all of the elements on the periodic table.

NASA Space Telescopes — Past, Present and Future of STEM Exploration
Audience: Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades 5-8
Event Date: April 23, 2015, at 6 p.m. EDT
Explore the history of NASA space telescopes that expand our understanding of the solar system and the universe beyond. The Hubble Space Telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope will be the focus. NASA STEM curriculum, online resources, careers and the Next Generation Science Standards will be integrated in the “out of this world” webinar.

Questions about this series of webinars should be directed to Brandon Hargis. brandon.m.hargis@nasa.gov.

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Launching 2 Learn Project

The Launching 2 Learn project is a four-week, hands-on experience that teaches the science and mathematics behind high-power rockets. Participants will receive an introduction to rocket science that will enable them to build, simulate, and successfully launch and recover their very own rockets. 

The L2L project is designed for undergraduate freshman and sophomores majoring in STEM and related fields. The event will take place July 6-31, 2015, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Students will be paid $600 per week for four weeks to participate. Some travel funds are available for students who live more than 50 miles from Kennedy. 

The application deadline is April 20, 2015. 

To learn more the Launching 2 Learn project, visit https://intern.nasa.gov/ossi/web/public/guest/searchOpps/index.cfm?solarAction=view&id=12270.

Questions about Launching 2 Learn should be directed to Gloria Murphy at gloria.a.murphy@nasa.gov.

2014 NASA EONS Solicitation — New MUREP Other Opportunities Appendix

NASA’s Office of Education Minority University Research and Education Project, or MUREP, is seeking proposals from U.S organizations and institutions that align with the four White House Executive Orders for Minority Institutions to strengthen curriculum and curricular pathways in STEM and to attract, retain and support the success of underrepresented students in STEM degree programs.

Proposals for the NASA MUREP Other Opportunities solicitation must address one of the following as a primary focus: (1) increasing the number of minorities in STEM education areas relevant to NASA (2) effectively implementing NASA’s educational goals and objectives using NASA’s unique assets and capabilities (3) increasing the number of available STEM courses and curricular pathways (4) attracting, retaining and supporting the success of students in STEM degree programs and subsequently in NASA-related careers, or (5) increasing the number of students who complete STEM certificates/degrees from backgrounds that are historically underrepresented in STEM. Successful proposals will be funded as multiyear cooperative agreements.

A pre-proposal teleconference to provide prospective proposers an in-depth overview of the MUREP Other Opportunities (MOO) program and proposal requirements will be held on Tuesday, April 21, 2015, at 3:30 p.m. EDT. After the presentation, there will be a brief Q&A to provide real time answers to participant questions. In order to address as many participants as possible, questions should be clear and concise, and limited to general topics only. 

Prior to the teleconference, please thoroughly review the solicitation on MUREP Other Opportunities (MOO) in NSPIRES and prepare any potential questions you may have. Any changes regarding this workshop will be posted on MUREP Other Opportunities (MOO) in NSPIRES. This is the onlyway to be notified of any updates, so it is very important that you check the webpage prior to the webex/telecon.

The call will start on time, so everyone is encouraged to connect 10 minutes prior to the session to address any technical difficulties you may encounter. 

TO JOIN THE MUREP Other Opportunities (MOO) PRE PROPOSAL TELECONFERENCE, FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR BOTH WEBEX AND TELECONFERENCE NUMBER. Please connect to both Webex and Teleconference.

If you have any accommodation needs, please contact MUREPOPFAQ@nasaprs.com in advance.

CONNECT TO TELECONFERENCE (for audio)

Call-in number: toll free number: 866-844-9416
Participant passcode: 2033636

CONNECT TO Webex (for slide presentation)

Beata Kozak invites you to attend this online meeting. 

Topic: EONS MOO Pre-proposal Telecon
Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Time: 3:30 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time (New York, GMT-04:00)

Meeting Number: 994 958 730
Meeting Password: EONSMOO123!

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To join the online meeting (Now from mobile devices!)
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1. Go to https://nasa.webex.com/nasa/j.php?MTID=mb3d3cdb59a446734b38368fa939b354b
2. If requested, enter your name and email address.
3. If a password is required, enter the meeting password: EONSMOO123!
4. Click “Join”.

To view in other time zones or languages, please click the link:
https://nasa.webex.com/nasa/j.php?MTID=mf7f44fbd2fdf722b27fb91d042d400bb

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For assistance
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1. Go to https://nasa.webex.com/nasa/mc
2. On the left navigation bar, click “Support”.

If, after the session and Q&A you still have a question that requires a detailed or proposal specific answer, please send your question to MUREPOPFAQ@nasaprs.com.

Institutions planning to prepare a proposal package for the NASA MUREP Other Opportunities solicitation are asked to submit a Notice of Intent to propose. NOIs assist NASA in assessing the response to this cooperative agreement notice and determining the expertise required for the proposal review panel. NOIs should be submitted by the authorized organization representative into the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System, or NSPIRES, by April 24, 2015, at 11:59 p.m. EDT. Those interested in submitting a proposal must register with NSPIRES before it can be accessed for use.

Since NOIs submitted after the deadline may still be useful to NASA, late NOIs may be submitted and will be accepted.

Proposals are due on June 26, 2015. 

For more information, visit http://go.nasa.gov/1FhzSof.

Questions about this solicitation may be directed to Misti Moore at Misti.M.Moore@nasa.gov.

There are 1,800 known planets beyond our solar system (so far), but among all of them, there’s no place like Earth. This Earth Day, April 22, 2015, NASA is asking you to share pictures and videos of your favorite places on Earth using social media — and tag them #NoPlaceLikeHome.

Now through Earth Day, NASA will be sharing views of Earth – from satellites, from research aircraft, and even from scientists at work in the field. Look for NASA’s posts on Twitter, Vine, Instagram, Facebook and elsewhere. They’ll all be tagged #NoPlaceLikeHome.

And NASA wants you to share views of your favorite place on Earth, whether it’s a local park, your vacation spot or Mt. Everest. Our question to you is a simple one: What is your favorite place on Earth? Answers can be submitted as pictures or videos. Check in on Earth Day to see what people around the world are sharing. After Earth Day, NASA will compile a video that includes some of the best posts throughout the day.

To learn more about the #NoPlaceLikeHome event and to find out all the ways to participate, visit http://www.nasa.gov/likehome/.

Questions about #NoPlaceLikeHome should be directed to Patrick Lynch at patrick.lynch@nasa.gov.

Curious about recent research, developments and discoveries related to space? Come to the Smithsonian’s “What’s New in Aerospace?” lecture series presented in collaboration with NASA. The lectures will be held at the Moving Beyond Earth Gallery at the National Air and Space Museum in the District of Columbia. Each hourlong lecture begins at 2 p.m. EDT and will be streamed live online. 

The next lecture is planned for April 22, 2015.

For more information about the “What’s New in Aerospace?” lecture series and to watch the live webcast events, visit http://airandspace.si.edu/explore-and-learn/whats-new-aerospace/. 

Questions about this lecture series should be directed to the visitor service line at 202-633-2214. 

2014 NASA EONS Solicitation — New MUREP Community College Curriculum Improvement Appendix

NASA’s Office of Education Minority University Research and Education Project, or MUREP, is seeking proposals from Minority Serving Community Colleges to strengthen curriculum and curricular pathways in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, and attract, retain and support the success of underrepresented students in STEM degree programs.

Proposals for the NASA MUREP Community College Curriculum Improvement, or MC3I, solicitation must contain plans for and be guided by curricula improvements, and address one of the following as a primary focus: (1) improving curriculum in STEM vocational certificate programs, associate of arts/science degree programs, and/or transfer programs; (2) strengthening and diversifying the STEM pipeline through high school partnerships; or (3) expanding opportunities in engineering. Proposers are required to partner with a NASA center or facility, and are highly encouraged to partner with other institutions, such as K-12 school districts and four-year colleges/universities. Successful proposals will be funded as multiyear cooperative agreements.

Institutions planning to prepare a proposal package for NASA MC3I are required to submit a Notice of Intent, or NOIs, to propose. NOIs assist NASA in assessing the response to this cooperative agreement notice and to determine the expertise required for the proposal review panel. NOIs should be submitted by the authorized organization representative in the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System, or NSPIRES. Interested proposers must register with NSPIRES before it can be accessed for use.

A pre-proposal teleconference to provide prospective proposers an in-depth overview of the NASA MC3I program and proposal requirements will be held on Wednesday, April 22, 2015, at 3 p.m. EDT. After the presentation, there will be an opportunity for proposers to ask questions and solicit clarifications from NASA. Great attendance is expected and we want to cover as much as possible during the call, so, this session will address general inquiries only. All questions pertaining to specific organizational concerns should be submitted in writing to MC3I@nasaprs.com. This will allow NASA time to respond in detail to your individual needs.

Prior to asking your question, you will be asked to identify yourself and your organization. Please speak slowly and clearly and spell anything you feel could be recorded incorrectly. We also ask that your questions be concise and clear as they will be transcribed for the FAQ document.

If you are unable to attend, presentation slides and a written transcript of the teleconference will be posted to the NSPIRES website. Questions asked during the call will be part of the MC3I FAQ document.

Cell phones are not recommended for use for this call due to the possibility of disconnection and static. We plan to start on time so everyone is encouraged to dial in 10-15 minutes early which will allow time to connect. 

It is important that you check the MC3I page in NSPIRES prior to the workshop for additional or updated information.

CONNECT TO THE TELECONFERENCE:

Teleconference:

Call-in number: 1-866-844-9416
Participant passcode: 2033636

Webex:

Go to https://nasa.webex.com/nasa/j.php?MTID=mcf10661cde06156030bd982a1582a56a

Meeting Number: 999 970 123 
Meeting Password: EONSMC3I! and click “Join.”

To view in other time zones or languages, visit: https://nasa.webex.com/nasa/j.php?MTID=m884bce0dd92a2a98cf20be72f5f450a2

For teleconference assistance go to https://nasa.webex.com/nasa/mc and click “Support.”

Proposals are due on June 11, 2015 by 11:59 p.m. in NSPIRES. 

For more information, visit http://go.nasa.gov/1AP8WqY. 

Questions about this solicitation may be directed to Roslyn Soto at roslyn.soto@jpl.nasa.gov.

Help Name Surface Features on Pluto and Its Orbiting Satellites

Launched on Jan. 19, 2006, New Horizons already has covered more than 3 billion miles on its journey that has taken it past each planet’s orbit, from Mars to Neptune, in record time. Now it’s in the first stage of an historic encounter with Pluto that includes long-distance imaging, as well as measuring dust, energetic particles and solar wind in the space environment near Pluto.

This encounter will allow scientists to get a better view of the surfaces of Pluto and its orbiting satellites. And the new surface features being discovered will need to be named!

Through April 24, 2015, the public can suggest names for the New Horizons team to use. Submissions must follow a set of accepted themes and guidelines set out by the International Astronomical Union. The IAU is the formal authority for naming celestial bodies. After the campaign concludes, NASA’s New Horizons team will sort through the names and submit its recommendations to the IAU. The IAU will decide whether and how the names will be used.

The campaign allows the public of all ages to submit names for the many new features scientists expect to discover on Pluto following the encounter.

To find out more information about how to participate in the Pluto naming contest, visit http://www.nasa.gov/newhorizons.

Detailed IAU guidelines for acceptable names submissions are available online at http://www.iau.org/public/themes/naming/#dwarfplanets.

For images and updates on the Pluto flyby set to take place on July 14, 2015, visit http://www.nasa.gov/newhorizons and http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/.

2014 NASA EONS Solicitation — New MUREP Educator Institutes Appendix

NASA’s Office of Education is accepting new proposals under the Education Opportunities in NASA STEM, or EONS, 2014 NASA Research Announcement. Proposals are being solicited from Minority Serving Institutions to plan, coordinate and evaluate MUREP Educator Institutes that will bring pre-service and alternative-route STEM educators from Minority Serving Institutions across the U.S. to NASA centers annually for a one-week professional development session. 

Institutions planning to prepare a proposal package for the NASA MUREP Other Opportunities solicitation are asked to submit a Notice of Intent to propose. NOIs assist NASA in assessing the response to this cooperative agreement notice and in determining the expertise required for the proposal review panel. NOIs should be submitted by the authorized organization representative into the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Evaluation System, or NSPIRES, by April 24, 2015, at 11:59 p.m. EDT. Those interested in submitting a proposal must register with NSPIRES before it can be accessed for use.

Since NOIs submitted after the deadline may still be useful to NASA, late NOIs may be submitted and will be accepted.

Proposals are due on June 30, 2015.

For more information, visit http://go.nasa.go v/1F2H2tO.

Questions about this solicitation may be directed to Chris Copelan at NASAMEI@nasaprs.com.

Historical NASA Space Artifacts Available for Educational Use

NASA invites eligible U.S. educational institutions, museums and other organizations to screen and request historical artifacts of significance to spaceflight. This is the 26th screening of artifacts since 2009.

Eligible schools, universities, museums, libraries and planetariums may view the artifacts and request specific items through April 27, 2015. Online registrations should include an assigned Department of Education number. Registration also may be made through the requester’s State Agency for Surplus Property office. For instructions, to register and to view and request artifacts online, visit http://gsaxcess.gov/NASAWel.htm.

The artifacts are free of charge and are offered “as-is.” Organizations must cover shipping costs and any handling fees. Shipping fees on smaller items will be relatively inexpensive; however, larger items may involve extensive disassembly, preparation, shipping and reassembly costs. NASA will work closely with eligible organizations to address any unique handling costs.

Questions about this opportunity should be directed to GSAXcessHelp@gsa.gov.

NASA’s Global Precipitation Measurement Mission — ‘Signs of Spring’ Photo Contest

NASA’s Global Precipitation Measurement mission announces the “Signs of Spring” photo contest.

Spring is in the air, and with it lots of precipitation. The GPM mission launched in February 2014 and measures Earth’s precipitation from above using a constellation of satellites. GPM can tell us where and how much it is raining and snowing so we can learn more about Earth’s water cycle, better model our weather and climate, and predict floods, droughts, hurricanes, and more.

As GPM watches spring weather from above, the GPM team wants to know what spring looks like to you. Post your coolest photographs of spring weather, and the GPM team will pick the best ones to feature on the NASA Precipitation Measurement missions’ websites (http://pmm.nasa.gov/ andhttp://www.nasa.gov/GPM).

All entrants must be 13 years old or older. The deadline for submitting photos is April 27, 2015.

For more information and instructions for submitting a photo, visit http://www.nasa.gov/content/gpm-signs-of-spring-photo-contest/.

Questions about this contest should be emailed to Jacob Reed at jacob.b.reed@nasa.gov.

Have you ever talked to an astronomer? To participate in an informal conversation with an astronomy researcher, join the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum for a series of Astronomy Chats. The researchers work at a variety of institutions, including the Smithsonian, NASA, Harvard University and the U.S. Naval Research Lab. If they cannot come in person, they join by video chat.

The conversation may be on any topic of interest to you. Visitors frequently ask questions like, “What’s an average day like for you?” or “What kind of telescopes have you used?”

Astronomy Chats take place at the Phoebe Waterman Haas Public Observatory at the Smithsonian Institution in the District of Columbia. During inclement weather, the chats may be moved indoors, usually to the Explore the Universe gallery. Both locations are accessible. There is no admission fee.

The next Astronomy Chat is scheduled for April 30, 2015. 

For more information about the Smithsonian’s Astronomy Chat Series, visit http://airandspace.si.edu/events/astronomy-chats/index.cfm. 

Questions about this series should be directed to the visitor service line at 202-633-2214.

21st Century Teacher Academy

The 21st Century Teacher Academy, or 21CTA, is a unique educator professional development workshop opportunity for K-12 educators. The workshop is designed to immerse teachers in the best practices and methodologies to develope and implement real-world, project based learning, or PBL, curriculum using NASA’s missions. 21CTA is sponsored by the Office of Education and Public Outreach at NASA’s Ames Research Center, and funded by NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate. 

21CTA is a two-week workshop held July 8-22, 2015. The workshop will be led by content experts, PBL experts, technical subject matter experts and a master teacher. The workshop will take place at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California. Attendees will receive a $4,500 stipend. Teacher teams are highly encouraged!

Applications are due April 30, 2015. Interested K-12 educators should apply through NASA’s One-Stop Shopping Initiative website at http://go.nasa.gov/1ECJ0kz.

If you have questions about the 21st Century Teacher Academy, please email ARC-TeacherAcademy@mail.nasa.gov.

2015 eXploration Habitat (X-Hab) Academic Innovation Challenge

In a continuing effort to engage and retain students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields and provide a real-world challenge, exposing students to the engineering and design processes, the Human Exploration Operations Mission Directorate (HEOMD) has begun accepting applications for the sixth annual eXploration Habitat, or X-Hab, Challenge for 2016.

The winners of the challenge will receive between $10,000 and $30,000 to design and produce functional products of interest to projects within HEOMD. 

Proposals are due April 30, 2015, and awardees will follow a tailored systems engineering process with the projects completing in the May 2016 time frame.

Proposals will be accepted from university faculty who are U.S. citizens and currently teach an Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology accredited engineering senior or graduate design, industrial design or architecture curriculum at an accredited university in the U.S.

Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and other minority serving educational institutions are particularly encouraged to apply. Proposals from women, members of underrepresented minorities groups and persons with disabilities also are highly encouraged. 

For more information about the challenge, visit http://spacegrant.org/xhab/.

If you have any questions about the X-Hab Challenge, please email xhab@spacegrant.org.

Student Spaceflight Experiments Program — Mission 9 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 9 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 spring 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 April 30, 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 9 to International Space Station National Announcement of Opportunity at http://ssep.ncesse.org/2015/03/new-flight-opportunity-for-school-districts-announcing-student-spaceflight-experiments-program-ssep-mission-9-to-the-international-space-station-for-2015-16-academic-year/. 

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.

Free Educator Workshop — Journey to Mars: Rocketry

The Educator Resource Center at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Palmdale, California, is presenting a free educator workshop on May 2, 2015, at 10 a.m. PDT. 

Participants will select a mission and learn how to design and construct a high-powered paper rocket to achieve that mission. The activity includes constructing a rocket, predicting its performance and chance of mission success, flying the rocket, and filing a post-flight mission report. Learn about real-world connections with NASA research and our Journey to Mars.

For more information about the workshop and to register online to attend, visit http://aeroi.org/ercRegister/index.html. 

Questions about this event should be directed to Sondra Geddes at sondra.l.geddes@nasa.gov.

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Center for Astronomy Education Teaching Excellence Workshops — Spring/Summer 2015

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.

May 2, 2015 — MiraCosta College in Oceanside, California
CAE Southwest Regional Teaching Exchange

June 13-14, 2015 — South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, South Carolina
CAE Tier I Teaching Excellence Workshop for Current and Future Astronomy and Space Science Instructors

June 22-25, 2015 — American Center for Physics in College Park, Maryland
New Faculty Workshop for Physics and Astronomy

August 4-6, 2015 — Honolulu Convention Center in Honolulu, Hawaii
CAE Teaching Excellence Short-Courses on Active Learning in the STEM Classroom

August 2015 — American Museum of Natural History in New York, New York
CAE Northeast Regional Teaching Exchange

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.

2014 NASA EONS Solicitation — New MUREP ASTAR Fellowship Appendix

NASA’s Office of Education is accepting new proposals under the Education Opportunities in NASA STEM, or EONS, 2014 NASA Research Announcement for the MUREP Advanced STEM Training and Research, or ASTAR, Fellowships appendix. 

NASA Office of Education Fellowships support independently conceived or designed research or senior design projects for graduate students in disciplines needed to help advance NASA’s missions. ASTAR fellowships provide awards for individuals in the early stage of their graduate studies. They must be pursuing or planning to pursue graduate work leading to master’s and doctoral degrees in relevant NASA-related disciplines at accredited U.S. universities. 

The fellowship award includes tuition offset, student stipend, and funding for an annual Center Based Research Experience. The result is an annual award of up to $50,000 for a student pursuing a master’s degree or $55,000 for a student pursuing a doctoral degree. Fellowship awards are made in the form of training grants to academic institutions and are for a duration of no more than three academic years. Proposals are due May 4, 2015.

For more information, visit http://go.nasa.gov/199fbjb.

Questions about this solicitation may be directed to nspires-help@nasaprs.com.

Release of Cooperative Agreement Notice for NASA Science Mission Directorate Science Education

NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, or SMD, has released a Cooperative Agreement Notice, or CAN, soliciting team-based proposals for SMD science education for community review and comment. The final text is downloadable from the NSPIRES Web page at https://nspires.nasaprs.com/ by selecting Solicitations and searching for NASA Science Education or NNH15ZDA004C.

The goal of NASA SMD Science Education is to enable NASA scientists and engineers into the learning environment more efficiently and effectively for learners of all ages. This CAN is to meet the following NASA SMD Science Education Objectives: Enabling STEM education, improving U.S. science literacy; advancing National education goals; and leveraging science education through partnerships. NASA intends to select one or more focused, science discipline-based team(s). While it is envisioned that multiple agreements may be awarded, selection of a single award to support all of SMD science education requirements is not precluded. Awards are anticipated by Sept. 30, 2015.

Issuance of this CAN is dependent on programmatic factors, including NASA receiving an appropriation and operating plan containing adequate funding within the NASA budget. Any costs incurred by prospective investigators in preparing submissions in response to this CAN are incurred completely at the submitter’s own risk.

Programmatic questions regarding this solicitation should be submitted no later than 15 days prior to the proposal due date by email using the character string “Science Education CAN” (without quotes) included in the subject line of all transmissions. The identity of those submitting comments will be held in confidence. Answers to questions about this Announcement and Frequently Asked Questions from the draft CAN text are available on the website at https://nspires.nasaprs.com/. Note that it is the responsibility of interested proposers to check for such information prior to the submission of their proposals. 

Programmatic questions should be submitted to:
Kristen Erickson
Email: CANsci-ed@hq.nasa.gov
Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters
300 E Street, SW, Washington, DC 20546

Anticipated NASA SMD Science Education CAN schedule:
CAN Release Date — Feb. 4, 2015
Preproposal Conference — Feb. 17, 2015 (1 p.m. EST)
Notice of Intent to Propose Deadline — March 4, 2015
Electronic Proposal Submittal Deadline — May 4, 2015, at 11:59 p.m. EDT
Selections Announced (target) — Summer 2015
Projects Begin (target) — Oct. 1, 2015

2020 Electric General Aviation NASA Aeronautics Design Challenge

Electric-powered aircraft have the potential to revolutionize the way we travel. NASA invites college teams to take part in the 2015 NASA Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate’s 2020 Electric General Aviation Design Challenge. Student teams are invited to design an electric (i.e., no combustion) general aviation aircraft that meets performance requirements and is operational by 2020.

The contest is open to teams of full-time students enrolled in higher education institutions of the United States or its territories. This category includes universities, colleges, trade schools, community colleges, professional schools, etc. Multidisciplinary teams are encouraged.

Final entries are due May 8, 2015.

For more information and a complete list of rules, visit http://aero.larc.nasa.gov/university-contest/. 

Questions about the challenge should be directed to Elizabeth Ward at Elizabeth.B.Ward@nasa.gov.

After more than seven years cruising at stunning speeds, including a wonderful year exploring protoplanet Vesta, the Dawn spacecraft will arrive at its second destination in the main asteroid belt, the dwarf planet Ceres. As the Dawn mission begins its exploration of Ceres, it’s time to celebrate!

A flagship i C Ceres event will be held on May 9, 2015, in Pasadena, California, by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the California Institute of Technology. The event will include games and contests. Plus, members of the mission team will be there to translate the space science for you! 

If you aren’t in southern California, don’t worry. You can host your own event! Big or small, public or private, all are welcome. Celebrate with your club, society, school group or museum. Awesome presentations will be streamed live.

To learn more, find an event near you, or explore resources to plan your own I C Ceres event, visit http://dawn.jpl.nasa.gov/news/I_c_ceres.asp. 

For more information about the Dawn mission, visit http://dawn.jpl.nasa.gov/. 

Please email any questions about this opportunity to Joe Wise at jwise1972@gmail.com.

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Lunar and Planetary Institute Workshop: Mars Through Time

The Lunar and Planetary Institute and the ChemCam instrument team invite high school educators, both in-service and pre-service, to attend the “Mars Through Time” workshop. This four-day workshop will take place at the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston, Texas, July 13-16, 2015. 

Attendees will discover the relationship between technology and science as it relates to our understanding of Mars. Attendees also will discuss the nature and process of science with invited Mars scientists. Classroom resources will be provided. 

Workshop registration is free. This workshop is limited to 20 participants. Interested educators are encouraged to apply early to secure a spot. Qualified applicants will be accepted in the order they apply. Travel stipends are available. The application closes May 15, 2015.

For more information and to apply for the workshop, visit http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/workshops/mars/.

Questions about the workshop should be directed to Andy Shaner at shaner@lpi.usra.edu.

NASA Robotic Mining Competition 2015

The Sixth Annual NASA Robotic Mining Competition will be held at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center May 18-22, 2015. NASA’s Robotic Mining Competition is for university-level students, enrolled in a U.S. college or university. Teams are challenged to design and build a mining robot that can traverse the simulated Martian chaotic terrain, excavate Martian regolith and deposit the regolith into a collector bin within 10 minutes. There is particular relevance to NASA’s recently announced mission to find an asteroid by 2016 and then bring it to cislunar space. NASA will directly benefit from the competition by encouraging the development of innovative excavation concepts from universities, which may result in ideas and solutions that could be applied to an actual excavation device or payload.

The winning team will receive the Joe Kosmo Award for Excellence trophy, KSC launch invitations, team certificates for each member and a monetary team scholarship. Awards for other categories include monetary team scholarships, a school trophy or plaque, team and individual certificates, and KSC launch invitations.

Design teams must include at least one college or university faculty member and at least two undergraduate or graduate students. NASA has not set an upper limit on team members. A team should have a sufficient number of members to successfully operate their mining robot. Teams will compete in up to five major competition categories, including onsite mining, systems engineering paper, outreach project, slide presentation and demonstration (optional) and team spirit (optional).

Registration opened on Sept. 3, 2014, and is limited to 50 teams.

For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/offices/education/centers/kennedy/technology/nasarmc.html.

Follow the NASA Robotic Mining Competition on Twitter at https://twitter.com/NASARMC.

Questions about this opportunity should be directed to Bethanné Hull at Bethanne.Hull@nasa.gov.

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In September 2014, the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN, or MAVEN, mission began exploring Mars’ upper atmosphere, ionosphere and interactions with the sun and solar wind. The MAVEN Educator Ambassador, or MEA, program will focus on in-depth learning experiences around Earth, space and physical science topics for educators teaching middle- and high-school grades.

During this weeklong, NASA-funded program, participants will receive training to become a MAVEN Educator Ambassador. The goal of the MEA program is to develop the capacity and provide the opportunity for educators to train other teachers on NASA heliophysics and planetary science educational resources. Follow-up support will be provided via teleconference calls and other electronic communications. Participants involved in the MEA program will be expected to implement the lesson plans and education resources in their own classrooms, as well as train other teachers at local and regional professional development conferences or meetings.

The program will take place Aug. 3-7, 2015, at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Participants will receive a travel stipend of $700. Free housing and meals will be provided.

Applications are due May 22, 2015.

For more information about the workshop and to apply online, visit http://lasp.colorado.edu/home/maven/education-outreach/for-educators/mea/2015mea/.

Questions about this opportunity should be directed to epomail@lasp.colorado.edu.

2015 Lunar Workshop for Educators

NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, mission is sponsoring a pair of workshops for educators of students in grades 6-9. Each workshop will focus on lunar science, exploration and how our understanding of the moon is evolving with the new data from current and recent lunar missions. 

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has allowed scientists to measure the coldest known place in the solar system, map the surface of the moon in unprecedented detail and accuracy, find evidence of recent lunar geologic activity, characterize the radiation environment around the moon and its potential effects on future lunar explorers and much, much more! 

Workshop participants will learn about these and other recent discoveries. They will reinforce their understanding of lunar science concepts; gain tools to help address common student misconceptions about the moon; and interact with lunar scientists and engineers. Participants will work with LRO data and learn how to bring the data and information to their students using hands-on activities aligned with grades 6-9 Next Generation Science Standards.

The workshops will take place July 6-10, 2015, and July 13-17, 2015, at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Workshop participants will have the opportunity to tour the LRO Mission Operation Center and the Goddard spacecraft testing facilities.

For more information and to register to attend, visit http://lunar.gsfc.nasa.gov/lwe/index.html.

Questions about this workshop should be directed to Andrea Jones at Andrea.J.Jones@nasa.gov.