NASA Education Express Message — April 9, 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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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.

Mass Versus Weight: A Heavy Duty Concept
Audience: Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades 5-8
Event Date: April 9, 2015, at 5 p.m. EDT
Mass and weight have different meanings and are often used incorrectly. Explore mass and weight using NASA curriculum that integrates education video filmed by astronauts aboard the space station. NASA online resources, Newton’s Laws of Motion, and science, technology, engineering and mathematics inquiry activities will also be also be explored.
Register online to participate. https://www.etouches.com/122570

New Horizons: Pluto Up Close and Personal
Audience: Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades 4-8
Event Date: April 15, 2015, at 6 p.m. EDT
What is Pluto? How is Pluto both alike and different from other objects in our solar system? These are some of the questions to be investigated by NASA’s New Horizons mission, the first robotic mission to Pluto. This webinar will explore the New Horizon mission and related NASA STEM education curriculum and online resources.
Register online to participate. https://www.etouches.com/123373

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

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

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NASA Educator Resource Guide Supports “Living in the Age of Airplanes” Film

Have you heard about the new film being released by National Geographic Studios called “Living in the Age of Airplanes”? Narrated by Harrison Ford and with music by “Avatar’s” James Horner, the film uses spectacular nature photography and aerial shots to highlight the astonishingly rapid advancements that have led to a world where 100,000 flights take off and land every day. The film begins showing at museums, science centers, and other IMAX or giant screen theatres on April 10, 2015.

In connection with the film, NASA Aeronautics has developed an educator guide with three sets of lessons that focus on the film’s themes — airplanes help us to travel faster, go farther, and make us more connected than ever before. With activities appropriate for Pre-K through grade 12, the lessons cover topics associated with the mathematics and physics of motion, the mathematics of map-mapping and air traffic control, and the economics of world trade by air cargo. The guide also provides multiple supplementary educational resources from NASA Aeronautics, links to ongoing NASA research, and even a storybook about flight.

To download the guide, visit http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/Living-in-the-age-of-airplanes-resource-guide.pdf.

To read more about NASA’s collaboration with National Geographic, including a link to the latest list of film locations, visit http://www.nasa.gov/aero/nasa-helps-educators-connect-with-new-imax-airplanes-film.html.

Please email any questions about the guide to Rebecca Vieyra at rebecca.e.vieyra@nasa.gov.

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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.

April 10, 2015 — Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan
CAE Great Lakes Regional Teaching Exchange

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.

2015 International Space Apps Challenge

NASA and space agencies around the world are preparing for the fourth annual International Space Apps Challenge, which will be held April 10-12, 2015. Participants will develop mobile applications, software, hardware, data visualization and platform solutions that could contribute to space exploration missions and help improve life on Earth.

This year’s challenge kicks off with a boot camp event on April 10 that will be live-streamed globally. The two-day codeathon event will follow on April 11-12, and will be hosted locally at over 135 locations spanning six continents. More than 200 data sources, including data sets, data services and tools will be available. This event will bring tech-savvy citizens, scientists, entrepreneurs, educators and students together to help solve challenges relevant to both space exploration and social needs. This year’s challenges will be clustered around four themes: Earth, Outer Space, Humans and Robotics. 

Registration for citizen participation is now open.

To learn more about the International Space Apps Challenge, get the latest updates and register to attend an event, visit https://2015.spaceappschallenge.org/.

If you have questions about the challenge, please visit https://2015.spaceappschallenge.org/about/contact/.

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 11, 2015, at 1 p.m. EDT. 

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.

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 Math
Audience: Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades 5-12
Event Date: April 13, 2015, at 6 p.m. EDT
Participants will get an overview of resources for teaching mathematics using the Hubble Space Telescope. Discussion will include classroom modifications.

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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NASA’s ESTEEM ‘Ask US’ Online Professional Development Series

NASA’s Minority University Research and Education Program, or MUREP, is sponsoring a series of Google Plus Hangout professional development events for K-12 educators. The Earth Systems, Technology and Energy Education for MUREP, or ESTEEM, team will lead the monthly sessions that will cover a variety of climate topics. This month’s webinar topic is described below:

Change Over Time: Investigate Climate Change Impacts in Alaska — April 13, 2015, at 8:30 p.m. EDT
The National Climate Assessment, released in May 2014, summarizes the impact of climate change on the United States. The assessment touches on many disciplines: earth science, biology, human health, engineering, technology, economics and policy. Explore the document with lead National Climate Assessment author Sarah Trainor. Then learn about related educator resources with Jessica Brunacini of the PoLAR Climate Change Education Partnership, Elena Sparrow from the International Arctic Research Center, and Malinda Chase from the Association of Interior Native Educators. The focus this month will be on the Alaska region. Learn more about the rapid changes taking place in Alaska, ask questions about the science behind the report and related learning resources, and discover how to bring the National Climate Assessment to life for learners of all ages. 

Watch for additional regions of the U.S. to be featured in upcoming “Ask US” sessions.

Certificates of professional development hours are available upon request. 

For more information on this event and upcoming webinar sessions, visit http://esteem.larc.nasa.gov/ask-us/. Questions about this series should be sent to Bonnie Murray at bonnie.murray@nasa.gov.

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2014 NASA EONS Solicitation — New MUREP Aerospace Academy 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, or MSIs, to create and implement a NASA MUREP Aerospace Academy to increase participation and retention of historically underserved and underrepresented K-12 youth in the areas of STEM. 

Notices of intent are requested by April 14, 2015. Proposals are due June 11, 2015. 

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

Questions about this solicitation may be directed to NASAMAA@nasaprs.com.

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, by April 14, 2015, at 11:59 p.m. EDT. Interested proposers 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 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.

Host a Real-Time Conversation With Crew Members Aboard the International Space Station

ARISS-US is now accepting proposals from U.S. schools, museums, science centers and community youth organizations to host an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station, or ARISS, contact between Jan. 1-June 30, 2016. To maximize these radio contact opportunities, ARISS-US is looking for organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed education plan. Proposals are due April 15, 2015.

Using amateur radio, students from selected institutions will have the opportunity to ask questions directly to astronauts about life in space and other space-related topics during a 10-minute pass of the International Space Station. Students will gain an understanding of amateur radio and wireless communications and other STEM topics through an education plan executed by the hosting organization.

ARISS provides experienced mentors and relies on local amateur radio volunteers to help organizations obtain the technology required to host this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students.

Interested parties should visit http://www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact to obtain complete information including how the technology works, what is expected of the host organization and how to submit the proposal form.

Questions about this opportunity should be emailed to ariss@arrl.org.

Arizona State University Mars Education Symposium and Field Trip — The Search for Habitable Environments: Finding Curiosity in Your Classroom

How do scientists search for habitable environments beyond Earth? What makes an environment habitable? Are the criteria for life the same or different beyond Earth? The science of astrobiology is at the forefront addressing these types of challenging questions, including where can life exist?

Currently, NASA’s Curiosity Rover is exploring Gale Crater on Mars to investigate a site that has a very interesting history that could include habitability! Join the Mars Rover scientists as they lead a five-day interdisciplinary, immersive educator field experience to explore areas on Earth similar to environments on Mars. Learn how to expand your students’ understanding of how biology, geology and chemistry are essential to this fascinating search for life elsewhere.

The symposium will take place June 22-26, 2015. Participants will start and end at the Arizona State University campus in Tempe, Arizona. Participants will be responsible for transportation to and from Arizona State University, lodging and meals. Transportation between campus and the field trip sites will be provided. Some hiking will be required to participate in this field experience.

Participants will receive Next-Generation Science Standards-designed/aligned lessons and a certificate after completing 45 professional development hours. 

Space is limited to 30 participants. Applications are due April 15, 2015.

For more information, visit http://marsed.asu.edu/curiositysymposium2015.

Questions about the symposium should be directed to Sheri Klug Boonstra at sklug@asu.edu.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

NASA History Program Office Fall 2015 Internships

The NASA History Program Office is seeking undergraduate and graduate students for fall 2015 internships. The History Program Office maintains archival materials to answer research questions from NASA personnel, journalists, scholars, students at all levels and others from around the world. The division also edits and publishes several books and monographs each year. It maintains a large number of websites on NASA history. 

Students of all majors are welcome to apply. While detailed prior knowledge of the aeronautics and space fields is not necessary, a keen interest and some basic familiarity with these topics are needed. Strong research, writing and editing skills are essential. Experience with social media is a plus.

Intern projects are flexible. Typical projects include handling a variety of information requests, writing posts for the NASA history Twitter and Facebook pages, editing historical manuscripts, doing research and writing biographical sketches, and identifying and captioning photos.

Fall 2015 internship applications are due June 1, 2015. 

For more information, visit http://history.nasa.gov/interncall.htm.

If you have questions about this opportunity, please contact Bill Barry at bill.barry@nasa.gov.

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Teacher Professional Development Programs at the NASTAR Center

The National AeroSpace Training and Research, or NASTAR, Center is hosting a series of teacher professional development programs throughout the month of July. Here’s your chance to experience acceleration in a centrifuge, pilot an airplane simulator, or explore the gas laws in an altitude chamber. Each one-day workshop is worth eight hours of continuing education.

One-day workshops are planned for multiple dates in July. To see a full list of workshop dates, visit http://www.nastarcenter.com/nastar-teacher-professional-development-program-dates-for-2015. 

For more information about the workshops and to download a registration packet, visit http://www.nastarcenter.com/education/teachers. 

The NASTAR Center is located in Southampton, Pennsylvania, a northern suburb of Philadelphia. The center is an Affiliate Member of the NASA Pennsylvania Space Grant Consortium. Funding from the NASA Pennsylvania Space Grant Consortium supports these programs, so they are offered at no cost to teachers. 

Questions about this series of workshops should be directed to Greg Kennedy at gkennedy@nastarcenter.com.