NASA Education Express Message — April 28, 2016
New This Week!
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Free NASA Educator Professional Development Webinars
Audience: In-service, Pre-service, Home School and Informal Educators
Next Event Date: April 28, 2016, at 6 p.m. EDT
Join STEM on Station for #mISSionimaginaTIon — Submission Deadline
Audience: Grades 6-12 — Educators and Students
Deadline: May 2, 2016
Call for Proposals: NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate’s University Leadership Initiative
Audience: Accredited, Degree-granting U.S. Colleges and Universities
Applicant’s Workshop: May 3, 2016, 12:30-3 p.m. EDT
Notice of Intent Deadline: May 5, 2016
Proposal Deadline: June 7, 2016
Call for Proposals: Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships (NextSTEP-2)
Audience: Universities and Nonprofit Organizations
Proposal Deadline: June 15, 2016
What’s New at NASA’s Space Place Website
Audience: K-6 Educators
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PREVIOUSLY PROMOTED OPPORTUNITIES…
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Smithsonian TechQuest: Astronaut Academy
Audience: Designed for Families With Children Ages 10 to 14, but Open to All
Next Event Date: April 30, 2016, 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. EDT
2017 eXploration Habitat (X-Hab) Academic Innovation Challenge
Audience: Higher Education Faculty and Students
Proposal Deadline: April 29, 2016
2016 Texas Space Grant Consortium Columbia Crew Memorial Undergraduate Scholarships
Audience: Undergraduate Students at Texas Space Grant Consortium Member Institutions
Application Deadline: April 29, 2016
2016 Texas Space Grant Consortium STEM Educator Scholarships
Audience: Educators Enrolled in STEM-field Programs for a Master’s Degree at Texas Space Grant Consortium Member Institutions
Application Deadline: April 29, 2016
2016-2017 Texas Space Grant Consortium Graduate Fellowships
Audience: Graduate Students at Texas Space Grant Consortium Member Institutions
Application Deadline: April 29, 2016
Future Engineers ‘Star Trek’ Replicator Challenge
Audience: Students in the United States Ages 5-19
Entry Deadline: May 1, 2016
Institute of Museum and Library Services Grants: STEM Expert Facilitation of Family Learning in Libraries and Museums
Audience: Libraries, Museums and Higher Education Institutions
Application Deadline: May 1, 2016
‘RockOn! 2016’ University Rocket Science Workshop
Audience: Higher Education Faculty and Students
Registration Deadline: May 2, 2016
Workshop Dates: June 18-23, 2016
Exploration of the Moon and Asteroids by Secondary Students (ExMASS) High School Research Program
Audience: 9-12 Educators
Application Deadline: May 2, 2016
Program Dates: September 2016 – April 2017
GLOBE El Niño Field Campaign and Webinar Series
Audience: K-12 Educators
Next Webinar Date: May 3, 2016, at 8 p.m. EDT
NASA/NSTA Webinar — Global Precipitation Measurement Mission: Weather
Audience: K-12 Educators
Event Date: May 5, 2016, 6:30 p.m. EDT
DEADLINE EXTENDED: White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities — 2016 All-Star Students Program
Audience: Higher Education Students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Application Deadline: May 13, 2016
Federal Aviation Administration Graduate Research Award Program on Public Sector Aviation Issues
Audience: Graduate Students
Application Deadline: May 15, 2016
2016 NASA Aeronautics Design Challenge: Distributed Electric Propulsion
Audience: Students at U.S. Colleges and Universities
Entry Deadline: May 16, 2016
Space Shuttle Thermal Protective Tiles and Blankets Available for Educational Use
Audience: Educational Institutions, Museums and Other Education Organizations
Free Educator Workshop — Space Technology: Green Propellant Infusion Mission
Audience: K-12 and Informal Educators
Event Dates: May 18, 2016, 4:30-6 p.m. PDT
Smallsat Technology Partnerships Solicitation
Audience: Higher Education Educators and Students
Proposal Deadline: May 25, 2016
DEADLINE EXTENDED: Student Spaceflight Experiments Program — Mission 11 to the International Space Station
Audience: School Districts Serving Grades 5-12, Informal Education Institutions, Colleges and Universities
Inquiry Deadline: May 27, 2016
2016 National Academy of Engineering – Engineering for You Video Contest 3
Audience: All Educators and Students
Entry Deadline: May 31, 2016
2016 Lunar Workshop for Educators
Audience: In-service and Pre-service Science Educators of Grades 6-9
Workshop Dates: June 27-July 1, 2016
NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellowships
Audience: Graduate Students and Ph.D. Scientists
Next Application Deadline: July 1, 2016
2016 DREAM2Explore Workshop for Educators
Audience: In-service and Pre-service Science Educators of Grades 6-9
Workshop Dates: July 11-15, 2016
Help NASA Study Mars — Planet Four: Terrains
Audience: All Educators and Students
Project Timeframe: Ongoing Through Mid-2016
Future Engineers ‘Think Outside the Box’ Challenge
Audience: K-12 Educators and Students
Entry Deadline: Aug. 1, 2016
Call for Submissions — NASA Announcement for High Impact / Broad Implementation STEM Education Partnerships (EDUCATION01SP16)
Audience: Education Institutions and Organizations
Applications Accepted on a Rolling Basis Through Dec. 31, 2017
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Don’t miss out on upcoming NASA education opportunities.
For a full list of events, opportunities and more, visit the Educator and Student Current Opportunity pages on NASA’s website:
— Educators http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/current-opps-index.html
— Students http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/current-opps-index.html
Are you looking for NASA educational materials to support your STEM curriculum? Search hundreds of resources by subject, grade level, type and keyword at http://www.nasa.gov/education/resources/.
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NEW THIS WEEK!
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Free Education Webinars From NASA Educator Professional Development
The NASA STEM Educator Professional Development Collaborative at Texas State University 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. To register, simply click on the link provided beneath the webinar description.
Solar System and Beyond: Kepler Mission Exploring Strange New Worlds
Audience: Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades 6-12
Event Date: April 28, 2016, at 6 p.m. EDT
Explore how the Kepler Space Telescope searches for planets orbiting stars beyond our sun. Participants will investigate how to use actual Kepler Telescope data and Kepler’s Third Law to construct graphs and interpret data that determines if a planet, orbiting a star in another solar system, is Earth-like and a candidate to support “life.” Register online to participate. https://www.etouches.com/159277
Join Us on the Journey to Mars: Roving the Red Planet
Audience: Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades 4-9
Event Date: May 2, 2016, at 6:30 p.m. EDT
Participants will get a historical overview of NASA’s rover missions to Mars. Discussion will focus on hands-on activities involving the engineering of rover vehicles. The activities presented in this webinar address the Next Generation Science Standard ETS1. Register online to participate. https://www.etouches.com/166383
Join Us on the Journey to Mars: Understanding Radiation
Audience: Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades K-12
Event Date: May 3, 2016, at 6:30 p.m. EDT
Participants will learn about the Journey to Mars and how radiation impacts our planning. Attendees also will learn about current research going on at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in California. Register online to participate. https://www.etouches.com/161530
Space Launch System ‘Engineering Is Out of This World’
Audience: Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades 2-5
Event Date: May 4, 2016, at 6:30 p.m. EDT
Participants will be introduced to the “NASA Engineering Is Out of This World” activity resources. Discussion will focus on using the resources to introduce engineering concepts. The activities presented in this webinar address the Next Generation Science Standards ETS1. Register online to participate. https://www.etouches.com/166387
Join Us on the Journey to Mars: Looking for Life
Audience: Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades 4-9
Event Date: May 5, 2016, at 6 p.m. EDT
Is there life beyond our Earth? If so, how can we verify its existence? Using NASA STEM curriculum, participants will explore the possibility of life on Mars using their definition of “life” to determine whether anything is alive in three different simulated Mars soil samples. Participants will experiment, record observations and draw pictures as they collect data from the samples to determine if life may exist in any of them. The activities presented in this webinar address Next Generation Science Standards 4-LS1-1, 5-LS1-1, MS-LS2-1, and HS-LS2-3. Register online to participate. https://www.etouches.com/170333
For a full schedule of upcoming webinars, visit http://www.txstate-epdc.net/events/.
Please direct questions about this series of webinars to Steve Culivan at stephen.p.culivan@nasa.gov.
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Join STEM on Station for #mISSionimaginaTIon — Submission Deadline
Join #mISSionImaginaTIon and design plans to help astronauts during a deep space mission! The deadline for submissions is Monday, May 2, 2016.
To submit a completed design notebook for #mISSionimaginaTIon, visit www.missionimagination.com.
Learn more about this exciting opportunity and other ways you can bring the space station into your classroom by visiting NASA’s STEM on Station website. While you are there, stop by and learn more about the yearlong mission and how it is still helping us on our #JourneytoMars. Opportunities, resources and more await at this site that focuses on the International Space Station!
To check out the website, visit http://www.nasa.gov/education/STEMonStation.
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Call for Proposals: NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate’s University Leadership Initiative
NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate is seeking proposals for a new opportunity for universities and their research partners to contribute toward NASA research goals. The University Leadership Initiative allows universities and university-led partnerships to provide strategic leadership that advances ARMD’s research objectives and promotes education of the next generation of engineers.
Proposers will identify technical challenges and research activities that will contribute to the six strategic thrusts provided in the ARMD Strategic Implementation Plan (http://www.aeronautics.nasa.gov/pdf/armd-strategic-implementation-plan.pdf).
For this solicitation, the proposing (lead) organization must be an accredited, degree-granting U.S. college or university. Proposing organizations are invited to include partners as part of their team. Partners may include other U.S. colleges and universities, U.S. companies, nonprofit organizations, and any other public or private U.S. entity. Proposers may not include NASA centers or researchers as team members.
Multiple awards are anticipated with nominal budgets in the $2M range per award per year. Awards will have a maximum duration of five years.
An Applicant’s Workshop will be held on Tuesday, May 3, 2016, from 12:30-3 p.m. EDT. The workshop will give an opportunity for interested parties to better understand the solicitation’s intent, scope and selection criteria. Information on joining the workshop is available at https://nari.arc.nasa.gov/uli.
Interested applicants should submit a Notice of Intent no later than May 5, 2016. Step A proposals are due June 7, 2016.
For more information about this solicitation, visit http://go.nasa.gov/1VxTDmc.
Please submit questions about this opportunity to HQ-UnivPartnerships@mail.nasa.gov.
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Call for Proposals: Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships (NextSTEP-2)
NASA is soliciting proposals for the development of prototypes for deep space habitats that will give astronauts a place to call home during long-duration missions supporting the agency’s Journey to Mars.
The solicitation, Next Space Technologies for Exploration Partnerships-2 (NextSTEP-2), is a public-private partnership model that seeks commercial development of deep space exploration capabilities to support more extensive human spaceflight missions in the proving ground of space around the moon, known as cislunar space, and to enable transit to Mars. This partnership model enables NASA to obtain innovative concepts and support private industry commercialization plans for low-Earth orbit.
Eligible applicants from U.S. companies, universities and nonprofit organizations must submit proposals electronically by 5 p.m. EDT, June 15, 2016.
For more information about this solicitation, visit http://www.nasa.gov/nextstep.
Please submit questions about this opportunity to Jason Crusan at HQ-NextSTEP-BAA@mail.nasa.gov.
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What’s New at NASA’s Space Place Website
NASA Space Place has a new look! We’ve made our content more accessible — check it out at www.spaceplace.nasa.gov. To keep up with all the latest, follow us on Facebook and Twitter @nasaspaceplace.
What’s New? Sunspot Cookies
Fun Fact: Our sun has sunspots, which are a result of changes in the sun’s magnetic field. Sometimes, these spots can last for a few days — or even a few months! Learn more about sunspots by making your very own sunspot cookies.
http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/sunspot-cookies
All About Jupiter
Have you heard of NASA’s Juno mission? Launched on August 5, 2011, this mission will help us better understand the formation and structure of Jupiter. Juno is expected to arrive at the gas giant in just a few months — on July 4, 2016! Learn all about Jupiter here!
http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/all-about-jupiter
Subscribe to Our Monthly E-newsletter!
Interested in keeping up with the latest and greatest news from NASA Space Place? Subscribe to the NASA Space Place Gazette! The NASA Space Place Gazette is for educators, parents and space enthusiasts of all ages. It includes special bulletins near noteworthy days and NASA events, such as a lunar eclipse, planet flyby or rover landing. It’s easy to subscribe — just click here!
http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/subscribe
Get Ready for Summer!
It’s almost time for summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Before you head straight to the beach, learn all about the sun and how it can affect you!
Where does the sun’s energy come from?
http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/sun-heat/
How old is the sun?
http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/sun-age
Why does the sun burn us?
http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/sunburn
Make sun paper!
http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/sun-paper
Hosting Any Summer Programs?
Download our NASA Space Place make-and-do activities! We have PDF versions of all our favorites — from “Make Oreo Moon Phases” to “Build a Bubble-Powered Rocket.” These are perfect for the classroom, after school, and summer camps!
http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/make-do-pdf
Special Days to Celebrate
Find out about noteworthy days in NASA and space history that you can observe in your classroom.
May 9 — Today, Mercury will move directly between Earth and the sun.
Learn more about Mercury, the smallest planet in our solar system! http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/all-about-mercury
May 14 — Happy Astronomy Day!
Are you part of an astronomy club? Join our Astronomy Club Partner Program. http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/astronomy-clubs
May 30 — Mariner 9 launched to Mars on this day in 1971.
Did you know that Mars is a cold desert world? Learn more here! http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/all-about-mars
June 3 — The first U.S. spacewalk took place in 1965!
See more astronauts in action! http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/gallery-technology
June 22 — James Christy discovered Pluto’s moon Charon in 1978.
Explore this icy dwarf planet! http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/ice-dwarf
Share
Do you want some help spreading the word about NASA’s Space Place? We have a page with ready-to-use website descriptions, logos and links to all our social media. Check out http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/share.
Send Feedback
Please let us know your ideas about ways to use The Space Place in your teaching. Send them to info@spaceplace.nasa.gov.
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PREVIOUSLY PROMOTED OPPORTUNITIES…
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Smithsonian TechQuest: Astronaut Academy
Smithsonian TechQuest: Astronaut Academy, at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, is a free alternate-reality game that will challenge you to become an astronaut-in-training for a future trip to Mars. Choose what role you will play on the mission; engage in fun interactive activities; and explore the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics skills you will need as a next-generation space traveler. Along the way, you’ll learn about some of the museum’s fascinating artifacts.
Instructions and guidance are given via a special webpage accessed on your mobile device. Players should bring their own phones or devices equipped with an internet browser and a camera. Having a digital picture-taking device (smartphone, tablet, camera) is highly recommended but not required.
The game is aimed at upper elementary and middle school visitors and their families. Do you want to bring a group? Reservations are required for groups larger than 15.
The next offering of the Astronaut Academy is on April 30, 2016. Begin your training with Astronaut Orientation in the Claude Moore Education Center Classroom 1 located on the first level across from the restrooms. Astronaut Orientation is offered at regular intervals between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. The last opportunity to start the game is at 2:30 p.m. A self-guided activity, the game should take between 60 and 90 minutes, and staff will help you along the way.
For more information, including a full list of upcoming Astronaut Academy dates, visit http://airandspace.si.edu/events/techquest/.
Please direct questions about the Smithsonian TechQuest: Astronaut Academy to the visitor service line at 202-633-2214.
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2017 eXploration Habitat (X-Hab) Academic Innovation Challenge
NASA is seeking university teams to develop innovative design solutions for deep space human exploration systems in the 2017 eXploration Systems and Habitation Academic Innovation Challenge. This year, the X-Hab Challenge scope is being formally extended not only to include habitation topics but other areas of exploration systems as well. Topic areas include in-space recycling/reclamation, quantification of condensed water on the lunar surface, a wastewater to plant nutrient solution, a microgravity plant-watering system and a microgravity food production system.
The winners of the challenge will receive between $10,000 and $30,000 to design and produce functional products of interest to NASA human spaceflight. Proposals are due April 29, 2016, and awardees will follow a tailored systems-engineering process with the completion of the projects in the May 2017 timeframe.
Proposals will be accepted from university faculty who are U.S. citizens and who teach at an accredited university in the U.S. Eligible educators must be teaching a senior or graduate engineering design, industrial design or architecture curriculum that is accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology.
Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and other minority-serving educational institutions are particularly encouraged to apply. Proposals from women, members of underrepresented minority groups and persons with disabilities also are highly encouraged.
For more information about the challenge and how to submit a proposal, visit http://spacegrant.org/xhab/.
Please email questions about the X-Hab Challenge to xhab@spacegrant.org.
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2016 Texas Space Grant Consortium Columbia Crew Memorial UndergraduateScholarships
The Texas Space Grant Consortium and the Aviation and Space Foundation of Texas, in partnership with NASA, are offering undergraduate scholarships of $1,500 in memory of the Space Shuttle Columbia astronauts. These seven men and women paid the ultimate sacrifice to expand the exploration of space and our knowledge of the world that we live in.
These scholarships are intended to recognize high-quality students and encourage their consideration of graduate studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, ultimately leading to careers in STEM-related fields. The scholarships stress excellence in academics, participation in STEM education and research projects, and the exhibition of leadership qualities.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens and registered for at least a half-time course load at a Texas Space Grant Consortium institution. Members of underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.
The deadline for submitting applications is April 29, 2016.
For more information, visit http://www.tsgc.utexas.edu/grants/2016/scholars_announcement.html.
Please email any questions about this opportunity to scholarships@tsgc.utexas.edu.
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2016 Texas Space Grant Consortium STEM Educator Scholarships
The Texas Space Grant Consortium has established a new Educator STEM Scholarship Program. These $1,500 scholarships are intended to recognize teachers enrolled in master’s programs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields at a TSGC member institution.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens who hold a bachelor’s degree and are enrolled in a master’s program at a Texas Space Grant Consortium institution. Members of underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.
The deadline for submitting applications is April 29, 2016.
For more information, visit http://www.tsgc.utexas.edu/edu_stem/.
Please email any questions about this opportunity to scholarships@tsgc.utexas.edu.
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2016-2017 Texas Space Grant Consortium Graduate Fellowships
Texas Space Grant Consortium Fellowships encourage graduate study in the fields of space science and engineering. Interdisciplinary and integrated work experience are emphasized.
Each $5,000 award supplements half-time graduate support (or fellowship) provided by a Consortium institution. The fellowship award is good for one year. Each fellowship may be renewed for a maximum of three years, providing the recipient has spent no more than two of those years as a master’s candidate.
Applicants must be registered for full-time study in a graduate program at one or more of the Texas Space Grant Consortium institutions and must be promised financial support at that institution. Applicants must also be U.S. citizens. Members of underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.
The deadline for submitting applications is April 29, 2016.
For more information, visit http://www.tsgc.utexas.edu/grants/2016/fellows_announcement.html.
Please email any questions about this opportunity to fellowships@tsgc.utexas.edu.
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Future Engineers ‘Star Trek’ Replicator Challenge
Calling all Starfleet cadets! “Star Trek,” the American Society for Mechanical Engineers Foundation and NASA want you to pioneer the future of food in space. Your challenge is to create a digital model of a food-related item for astronauts to 3-D print in the year 2050. We want designs that boldly go where no human has 3-D printed before and that help astronauts eat nutritious meals so they can live long and prosper.
You must specify one of the following locations for your 3-D print: our moon, another planet, another planet’s moon, or a spacecraft beyond low-Earth orbit (explain where it is going and why). You also must specify the intended printing material (feedstock) for your 3-D print. This could be plastic, metal, recycled materials, locally sourced material, or any nonedible, 3-D printing feedstock you think would advance human space exploration.
Eating a meal in space goes beyond the actual food itself — from growing food to devouring it. There are many things to consider, so check out our rules, design guidelines and education resources before to starting your design.
Student winners will receive a range of prizes, including a trip to New York for a tour of the space shuttle Enterprise at the Intrepid Museum with an astronaut, a 3-D printer for the winners’ schools or a “Star Trek” prize pack.
Entries are due May 1, 2016. For more information about the challenge and how to enter, visit www.futureengineers.org/startrek.
Please email questions about this competition to info@futureengineers.org.
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Institute of Museum and Library Services Grants: STEM Expert Facilitation of Family Learning in Libraries and Museums
The Institute of Museum and Library Services seeks proposals for design-based research projects focused on inquiry-based STEM programs delivered by scientists, engineers, and related technical practitioners to children ages 6-10 and their families. Proposals should address the role of experts’ oral narratives (e.g., storytelling or personal histories) as part of object-based science inquiry and include information about how findings will be applicable in both museum and library settings.
Entities that are eligible to apply include libraries, agencies, institutions of higher education, museums, and other entities that advance the museum and library fields. Grant amounts up to $1,000,000 are available for a period of performance up to two years.
Applications are due May 1, 2016.
For more information, visit https://www.imls.gov/grants/available/stem-expert-facilitation-family-learning-libraries-and-museums-stemex.
Library representatives with questions about this opportunity should email Sandra Toro at storo@imls.gov. Museum representatives with questions should email Helen Wechsler at hwechsler@imls.gov or Sandra Narva at snarva@imls.gov.
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‘RockOn! 2016’ University Rocket Science Workshop
University and community college faculty and students are invited to a weeklong workshop to learn how to build and launch a scientific experiment into space. NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia is hosting the “RockOn! 2016” workshop June 18-23, 2016, in partnership with the Colorado and Virginia Space Grant Consortia. Workshop participants must be U.S. citizens. The registration deadline for the workshop is May 2, 2016.
The hands-on workshop teaches participants to build experiments that fly on sounding rockets. During the week, participants will work in teams of three to construct and integrate a sounding rocket payload from a kit. On the fifth day of the workshop, the experiments will fly on a sounding rocket expected to reach an altitude of more than 70 miles.
Each experiment will provide valuable scientific data, analyzed as part of the student-led science and engineering research. The program engages faculty and students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills critical to NASA’s future engineering, scientific and technical missions.
For more information about “RockOn!” and to register online, visit http://spacegrant.colorado.edu/national-programs/rockon-2016-home/.
Since 2008, more than 376 people have participated in the “RockOn!” workshops and successfully built and launched 119 payloads to space. Images and information from past years’ workshops can be found at the “RockOn!” website.
Questions about the workshop or the registration process should be directed to Chris Koehler by email at koehler@colorado.edu or by telephone at 303-492-4750.
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Exploration of the Moon and Asteroids by Secondary Students (ExMASS) High School Research Program
NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, and the Center for Lunar Science and Exploration at the Lunar and Planetary Institute 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 2016-2017 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 at Moffett Field, California, in July 2017.
Participation in the ExMASS program is free. Interested teachers must submit an application. Applications are due May 2, 2016.
For more information and to apply for the ExMASS program, visit http://www.lpi.usra.edu/exploration/education/hsResearch/.
Please direct questions about the ExMASS program to Andy Shaner at shaner@lpi.usra.edu.
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GLOBE El Niño Field Campaign and Webinar Series
El Niño and La Niña are important phenomena that can impact the climate by causing global flooding and droughts as well as changes in seasonal weather. These interactions around the world are called teleconnections. Because of the importance of this issue, a GLOBE ENSO (El Niño Southern Oscillation) Campaign has been formulated to engage students in determining where and how much El Niño affects local places and to put students in contact with their local environment.
To learn more about the campaign and how to participate, visit http://www.globe.gov/web/el-nino/el-nino-campaign.
To help educators prepare for the El Niño Campaign, GLOBE is hosting a series of free education webinars to discuss the mechanics of the campaign, give updates on data collection, and give participants the opportunity to learn science content from experts.
The hourlong webinars will take place on the following dates at 8 p.m. EDT.
May 3, 2016: Biometry and Ground Cover
May 17, 2016: The 2015-2016 El Niño Event
June 13, 2016: Using El Niño GLOBE Data for Scientific Research
Sept. 19, 2016: El Niño Student Campaign Refresher and Update
For more information, including log-in instructions for the webinars and recordings of previous webinars in the series, visit http://www.globe.gov/web/el-nino/el-nino-campaign/webinars.
Please direct questions about this opportunity and series of webinars to http://www.globe.gov/support/contact.
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NASA/NSTA Webinar — Global Precipitation Measurement Mission: Weather
Join the National Science Teachers Association for a free interactive webinar to learn about weather and NASA’s Global Precipitation Measurement, or GPM, mission. The 90-minute session will take place on May 5, 2016, at 6:30 p.m. EDT.
Topics presented at this webinar will include types of weather, weather basics, extreme weather, monitoring extreme weather with satellites, and hands-on investigations for students to collect data about weather — including GLOBE protocols. A NASA scientist will discuss the difference between weather and climate and will describe ground validation campaigns.
GPM is an international satellite mission managed by NASA and JAXA (the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) that will provide next-generation observations of rain and snow. The GPM mission will help us learn more about Earth’s water and energy cycles, improve the forecasting of extreme events that cause natural disasters, and extend current capabilities of using satellite precipitation information to directly benefit society.
All participants will receive a certificate of participation and 100 Learning Center activity points for attending and completing the post-program evaluation. An archive and presentation slides will be available at the end of the program.
For more information and to register to attend the webinar event, visit http://learningcenter.nsta.org/resource/?id=10.2505/9/WSNASA15_May5.
For more information about GPM, visit http://www.nasa.gov/gpm or http://gpm.nasa.gov.
Please email questions about this opportunity to webseminars@nsta.org.
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DEADLINE EXTENDED: White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities — 2016 All-Star Students Program
The White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities works to promote HBCU excellence, innovation and sustainability. The Initiative will recognize current HBCU students for their dedication to academics, leadership and civic engagement as 2016 HBCU All-Star Students.
The appointment period will last approximately one year. During this time, HBCU All-Stars will serve as ambassadors of the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities by providing outreach opportunities and communications to their fellow students about the value of education and the Initiative as a networking resource. Through social media and personal and professional relationships with community-based organizations, students will share promising and proven practices that support opportunities for all young people to realize their educational and career potential. The program will provide an opportunity to participate in regional and national events as well as webchats with Initiative staff and other professionals from a wide range of disciplines that support a spirit of engagement and personal and professional development.
Nominees must be current undergraduate, graduate or professional students at an HBCU. Students must be enrolled for the 2016-2017 fall semester. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. EDT on May 13, 2016.
For more information and to download an application, visit http://sites.ed.gov/whhbcu/resources/hbcu-all-star-students/.
Please email any questions about this opportunity to hbcuallstars@ed.gov.
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Federal Aviation Administration Graduate Research Award Program on Public Sector Aviation Issues
The Airport Cooperative Research Program is seeking applicants for its Graduate Research Award Program on Public Sector Aviation Issues. Through this program, the ACRP strives to encourage applied research on airport and related aviation system issues and to foster the next generation of aviation community leaders. The program is intended to stimulate thought, discussion and research by those who may become the future airport managers, operators, designers and policy makers in aviation. The focus of this research program is on applied research to help the public sector continue to improve the quality, reliability, safety and security of the U.S. civil aviation system well into the foreseeable future.
The Graduate Research Award Program on Public Sector Aviation Issues will award up to 10 highly qualified applicants, selected by an ACRP panel of experts, a stipend of $10,000 each for successful completion of a research paper on a subject chosen by the candidate within the framework of the program’s purpose.
Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States, or have a current student visa. Each applicant also must be officially enrolled as a full-time student at an accredited North American institution of higher learning for the academic year in a graduate course leading to a master’s or doctoral degree. Proof of both may be required.
Applications are due May 15, 2016.
For more information, visit http://www.trb.org/ACRP/ACRPGraduateAwardProgram.aspx.
The ACRP Graduate Research Award Program on Public Sector Aviation Issues is sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration. Creating a selection panel, monitoring research progress, organizing a forum for presentation, and publishing the research papers are the responsibility of the ACRP of the Transportation Research Board. The Virginia Space Grant Consortium will manage the Graduate Research Award program under the ACRP’s direction.
Please direct questions about this opportunity to acrp@odu.edu.
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2016 NASA Aeronautics Design Challenge: Distributed Electric Propulsion
Distributed Electric Propulsion, or DEP, is an emerging aircraft design concept that has the potential to improve aircraft performance in a number of areas, including efficiency, takeoff and landing performance, emissions, noise abatement, safety, and ride quality. DEP also has the potential to enable new novel control systems. In this year’s NASA Aeronautics Design Challenge, student teams are challenged to design a commuter aircraft that applies DEP technology. The main source of thrust for the students’ concept may come from DEP or a combination of DEP and conventional propulsion devices (turboprops, turbofans, etc.). The challenge for the design team is to determine the most advantageous application of DEP for their aircraft and to justify their selection.
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 16, 2016.
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.
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Space Shuttle Thermal Protective Tiles and Blankets Available for Educational Use
NASA invites eligible U.S. educational institutions and museums to request space shuttle thermal protective tiles, space shuttle thermal protective blankets and other special items offered on a first-come, first-serve 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.
Please direct questions about this opportunity to GSAXcessHelp@gsa.gov.
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Free Educator Workshop — Space Technology: Green Propellant Infusion Mission
Are you ready to go green? Join NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center Office of Education for a free educator professional development workshop to investigate “green” alternatives to conventional space technologies. Through hands-on experiments and physical demonstrations, educators will learn how to design, construct and test a simple mock spacecraft and “green” propellant using the Beginning Engineering Science & Technology, or BEST, curriculum and the engineering design process.
BEST is a demonstrated pedagogical framework that teaches students the engineering design process. Activities can supplement instruction during the school day or out of school, and they can be implemented individually or as a themed series. During the workshop, teaching connections will be made to real-world applications including NASA’s Green Propellant Infusion Mission and Armstrong’s GREEN technology research.
The workshop will take place Wednesday, May 18, 2016, 4:30-6 p.m. PDT at NASA’s Armstrong Educator Resource Center at the AERO Institute in Palmdale, California.
For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/erc_workshop_05_18_16.pdf.
Please direct questions about this workshop to Sondra Geddes at sondra.l.geddes@nasa.gov.
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Smallsat Technology Partnerships Solicitation
NASA is extending an opportunity to college and university teams to propose small spacecraft technology projects that they can conduct in collaboration with NASA researchers. The Smallsat Technology Partnerships solicitation is being issued by the Small Spacecraft Technology Program as an appendix to the Space Technology Mission Directorate’s NASA Research Announcement for 2016.
NASA expects to competitively select about eight projects from among those proposed by university teams. The teams can form proposal partnerships with researchers from any of NASA’s 10 field centers. Awards for each project will include up to $100,000 to each university team per year. In addition, NASA will fund the time for one NASA employee to work with each selected team. Project funding is for one year with the potential to continue for a second year.
Proposed projects could involve laboratory work to advance a particular spacecraft technology or the development of a new smallsat. NASA will be accepting proposals in four topic areas: 1) enhanced power generation and storage, 2) cross-linking communications systems, 3) relative navigation for multiple small spacecraft, and 4) instruments and sensors for small spacecraft science missions.
Proposals are due May 25, 2016.
Details and instructions for submitting proposals may be found at http://go.nasa.gov/1qc751z.
Questions about this solicitation may be directed to Rachel Khattab at rachel.khattab@nasa.gov.
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DEADLINE EXTENDED: Student Spaceflight Experiments Program — Mission 11 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 a 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 11 to the International Space Station, gives students across a community the ability to design and propose real experiments to fly in low-Earth orbit on the space station. This opportunity is part of the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program, or SSEP.
Each participating community will receive a real microgravity research mini-laboratory capable of supporting a single microgravity experiment and all launch services to fly the minilab to the space station in spring 2017 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 uses the experiment design competition to engage the community in 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 also are encouraged to participate. Interested communities must inquire about the program no later than May 27, 2016. 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 11 to International Space Station National Announcement of Opportunity at http://ssep.ncesse.org/2016/03/new-flight-opportunity-for-school-districts-announcing-student-spaceflight-experiments-program-ssep-mission-11-to-the-international-space-station-starting-september-2016/.
SSEP is enabled through a strategic partnership with NanoRacks LLC working with NASA under a Space Act Agreement as part of the use 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.
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2016 National Academy of Engineering – Engineering for You Video Contest 3
The National Academy of Engineering, or NAE, is launching the Engineering for You Video Contest 3, or E4U3.
This year, participants are tasked with creating a 1- to 2-minute video focused on mega-engineering. Mega-engineering projects typically address important needs of large populations and/or societies, require teams working across countries and cultures on a solution, and involve at least three disciplines including engineering.
The competition is open to all individuals or teams in the following competition categories:
— Middle school students and younger (grades K-8)
— High school students (grades 9-12)
— Tertiary education students (two-year college through graduate school, full or part time)
— The general public
The main prize is $25,000, and videos will be accepted through May 31, 2016.
For more information, visit http://www.nae.edu/e4u3/.
Questions about the E4U3 Video Contest should be directed to E4Uvideocontest@nae.edu.
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2016 Lunar Workshop for Educators
NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, mission is sponsoring a workshop for educators of students in grades 6-9. The workshop will focus on lunar science, exploration, and how our understanding of the moon is growing and changing 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 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 Next Generation Science Standards for grades 6-9.
The workshop will take place June 27-July 1, 2016, 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.
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NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellowships
The NASA Postdoctoral Program provides early-career and more senior scientists the opportunity to share in NASA’s mission. NPP Fellows work on one- to three-year assignments with NASA scientists and engineers at NASA centers and institutes to advance NASA’s missions in Earth science, heliophysics, planetary science, astrophysics, space bioscience, aeronautics, engineering, human exploration and space operations, astrobiology, and science management.
U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents and foreign nationals eligible for J-1 status as a research scholar may apply. Applicants must have completed a doctorate or equivalent degree before beginning the fellowship, but they may apply while completing degree requirements. Applicants who earned the Ph.D. more than five years before the deadline date are categorized as senior fellows; all applicants, no matter their category, must apply and become eligible for an NPP award via the same process.
Interested applicants may apply by one of three annual application deadlines: March 1, July 1 and November 1.
For more information and application procedures, go to https://npp.usra.edu/.
Please direct questions about this fellowship opportunity to npphelp@usra.edu.
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2016 DREAM2Explore Workshop for Educators
The “Dynamic Response of the Environments at Asteroids, the Moon, and moons of Mars,” or DREAM2, team at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center is hosting a free workshop for educators of students in grades 6-9. Participants will learn how our understanding of Earth’s moon, asteroids and the moons of Mars is growing and changing with new data and models from current and recent planetary missions and the work of the DREAM2 team.
Workshop participants will reinforce their understanding of lunar and planetary science concepts; gain tools to help address common student misconceptions about the moon; and interact with NASA scientists who study the dynamic environments surrounding these rocky objects. Participants will work with real scientific data and learn how to bring the data and information to their students using hands-on activities aligned with Next Generation Science Standards for grades 6-9.
The workshop will take place July 11-15, 2016, at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Workshop participants will become certified to borrow meteorite samples from NASA and will receive Certificates of Participation and Letters of Completion that indicate 30 hours of instruction.
For more information and to register to attend, visit http://ssed.gsfc.nasa.gov/dream/DREAM/DREAM2Explore.html.
Questions about this workshop should be directed to Andrea Jones at Andrea.J.Jones@nasa.gov.
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Help NASA Study Mars — Planet Four: Terrains
Help NASA study exotic landscape features near the south pole of Mars! In this citizen science project, you’ll view images from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter’s Context Camera. Your input will help scientists identify possible areas for even more detailed examination with the orbiter’s High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment camera. HiRISE can reveal more detail than any other camera ever put into orbit around Mars.
Some of Mars resembles deserts on Earth, but seasonal freezing and thawing of carbon-dioxide ice (known on Earth as “dry ice”) at the Martian poles creates some unusual landscape features. There’s a lot of territory to cover, so scientists need your help identifying what and where these features are.
For more information and to learn how to participate, visit the “Planet Four: Terrains” website at https://www.zooniverse.org/#/projects/mschwamb/planet-four-terrains.
To learn more about NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and its mission at the Red Planet, visit http://mars.nasa.gov/mro/.
Please direct questions about this opportunity to Whitney Clavin at whitney.clavin@jpl.nasa.gov.
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Future Engineers ‘Think Outside the Box’ Challenge
To celebrate the launch of the first-ever expandable habitat to the International Space Station (Bigelow Aerospace’s BEAM) and the launch of the first-ever commercial 3-D printer in space (Made In Space’s Advanced Manufacturing Facility), NASA and the American Society for Mechanical Engineers Foundation are challenging students to think outside the box with 3-D printing — literally. If you are a K-12 student in the United States, your challenge is to design a useful object that assembles, telescopes, hinges, accordions, grows, or expands to become larger than the printing bounds of the Advanced Manufacturing Facility 3-D printer in space (14cm length by 10cm width by 10cm height). The function of your assembled or expanded item can be anything you think would be useful for an astronaut living on the International Space Station.
The ‘Out of the Box’ Challenge is the fourth in a series of challenges where students in grades K-12 will create and submit a digital 3-D model of an object that they think astronauts might need in space. Future Engineers is a multiyear education initiative that consists of 3-D space challenges and curriculum videos on the site that parents and educators can use to get kids designing today.
Think big. Think outside of the box! And good luck!
Entries must be submitted by Aug. 1, 2016.
For more information about the challenge and to watch the launch video, go to www.futureengineers.org/thinkoutsidethebox.
Please email questions about this competition to info@futureengineers.org.
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Call for Submissions — NASA Announcement for High Impact / Broad Implementation STEM Education Partnerships (EDUCATION01SP16)
The NASA Headquarters Office of Education, in cooperation with the agency’s four mission directorates, nine center education offices, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) education office, announces this competition to improve science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. Responses must be submitted electronically via the NASA data system NSPIRES (http://nspires.nasaprs.com).
NASA Education seeks to partner with eligible domestic or international organizations on a no-exchange-of-funds basis to reach wider and more diverse audiences and to achieve mutually beneficial objectives. The Announcement places a priority on collaboration involving the following: digital learning; engaging underrepresented groups in STEM; NASA-themed STEM challenges; and youth-serving organizations. NASA also is receptive to other creative ideas including, for example, investigations or application of science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics and design (STEAMD); or activities culturally relevant to or focused on unrepresented in STEM careers populations, such as women, ethnic minorities and persons with disabilities. The announcement explains the criteria used to review responses and NASA’s partnership mechanism known as a no-exchange-of-funds or non-reimbursable Space Act Agreement.
NASA will accept responses on a rolling basis through Dec. 31. 2017.
For more information about this opportunity, visit NSPIRES at http://go.nasa.gov/1RZwWCi.
If you have any questions about this opportunity, please direct your questions to the Points of Contact listed within the NASA Announcement.
