Status Report

NASA Education Express Message — Feb. 9, 2017

By SpaceRef Editor

February 9, 2017

Filed under Education, NASA Education Office, US

New This Week!

Free Education Webinars From NASA Educator Professional Development
Audience: In-service, Pre-service, Home School and Informal Educators
Next Event Date: Feb. 13, 2017, at 6:30 p.m. EST

Swarmathon Robotics Challenge at NASA’s Stennis Space Center
Audience: High School Students in Mississippi and Louisiana
Registration Deadline: Feb. 15, 2017

NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Celebrating Women’s History Month With ‘Honoring Trailblazing Women in STEM, Labor and Business’ Event
Audience: Underserved/Underrepresented Girls, Grades 5-12, From Collaborating Partners in Brevard County, Florida, and Surrounding Areas
Registration Deadline: Feb. 17, 2017

NASA’s Digital Learning Network Event — Live Video Chat: NASA STARS en Español
Audience: All Educators and Students
Event Date: Feb. 23, 2017, 12-12:30 p.m. EST

NASA’s Digital Learning Network Event — NASA STARS en Español
Audiencia: Todos Los Educadores y Estudiantes
Fecha del Evento: 23 de febrero de 2017, Mediodía-12:30 p.m. EST

Find Summer 2017 NASA Internship Opportunities With New Interactive Map
Audience: Higher Education Students
Application Deadline: March 1, 2017

Library of Congress 2017 Summer Institutes — Teaching With Primary Sources
Audience: K-12 Educators
Application Deadline: March 17, 2017
Institute Dates: Multiple Dates in June and July 2017

2017 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching
Audience: 7-12 Educators
Nomination Deadline: April 1, 2017

PREVIOUSLY PROMOTED OPPORTUNITIES…

Bring the Story of “Hidden Figures” to the Classroom With the “Who Is Katherine Johnson?” Profiles and Modern Figures Toolkit
Audience: K-12 Educators

Goddard Virtual Visits: Celebrating African-American History Month at Goddard Space Flight Center
Audience: All Educators and Students
Event Dates: Every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in February

2017 von Kármán Lecture Series — Attend in Person or View Online
Audience: All Educators; Students in Grades 9-12 and Higher Education
Next Lecture Date: Feb. 9, 2017, at 7 p.m. PDT (10 p.m. EDT)

2017 OPTIMUS PRIME Spinoff Promotion and Research Challenge
Audience: Students in Grades 3-12
Entry Deadline for Grades 9-12: Feb. 10, 2017
Entry Deadline for Grades 3-8: March 13, 2017

2017 Planetary Geology and Geophysics Undergraduate Research Program
Audience: Undergraduate Students Majoring in Geology or a Related Science
Application Deadline: Feb. 10, 2017

2017 Summer Fellowships in Disability Policy Research
Audience: Graduate Students in Social Sciences and Related Disciplines
Application Deadline: Feb. 10, 2017, at 11:59 p.m. EST

Space Shuttle Thermal Protective Tiles and Blankets Available for Educational Use
Audience: Educational Institutions, Museums and Other Education Organizations

FY2017 and FY2018 NASA Cooperative Agreement Notice for the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR)
Audience: Higher Education Institutions in Jurisdictions With a Currently Serving NASA EPSCoR Director
Notice of Intent Deadline: Feb. 13, 2017
Proposal Deadline: March 16, 2017

2017-2018 Virginia Space Grant Consortium Undergraduate STEM Research Scholarship
Audience: Undergraduate Sophomores and Juniors at Virginia Space Grant Consortium Member Institutions (Awardees must be classified as juniors or seniors during the 2017-2018 academic year)
Application Deadline: Feb. 13, 2017

2017-2018 Virginia Space Grant Consortium Graduate STEM Research Fellowship
Audience: Graduate Students at Virginia Space Grant Consortium Member Institutions
Application Deadline: Feb. 13, 2017

U.S. Department of Energy EERE Robotics Internship Program
Audience: Undergraduate and Graduate Students
Application Deadline: Feb. 13, 2017, at 8 a.m. EST

NASA’s Ames Research Center Summer Internships — NASA Astrobiology Institute
Audience: Undergraduate Students Who Have Completed Their Sophomore Year or More
Application Deadline: Feb. 15, 2017

National Science Foundation’s 2016-2017 Community College Innovation Challenge
Audience: Community College Students and Faculty
Application Deadline: Feb. 15, 2017

Space Launch System Video Series — “No Small Steps”
Audience: All Educators and Students

2017 NASA Glenn Faculty Fellowship Program
Audience: Higher Education Educators
Application Deadline: Feb. 16, 2017 at 11:59 p.m. EST

2017 Dissertation Fellowships in Disability Policy Research
Audience: Doctoral Students in Social Sciences and Related Disciplines
Application Deadline: Feb. 17, 2017, at 11:59 p.m. EST

2017 NASA Marshall Faculty Fellowship Program
Audience: Higher Education Educators
Application Deadline: Feb. 22, 2017

2016-2017 Cassini Scientist for a Day Essay Contest
Audience: 5-12 Students
Entry Deadline: Feb. 24, 2017

Call for Abstracts: 68th International Astronautical Congress
Audience: Full-time U.S. Graduate Students Attending U.S. Universities
Submission Deadline: Feb. 27, 2017

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

Searchable Portals for Federally Sponsored Opportunities for STEM Undergraduate and Graduate Students
Audience: Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students and Higher Education Institutions

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

NEW THIS WEEK!

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.

Technology Enables Exploration: BEST Green Propellant Infusion Mission (GPIM)
Audience: Pre-service, In-service, Home School, and Informal Educators of Grades K-12
Event Date: Feb. 13, 2017, at 6:30 p.m. EST
Participants will learn about how technology enables exploration. Using the Beginning Engineering Science and Technology, or BEST, curriculum, participants will learn how to use the engineering design process to build a satellite and to test green propellant. Participants also will learn about current research at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in California. This educational activity aligns to NASA Education API 2.4.2 – “Continue to support STEM educators through the delivery of NASA education content and engagement in educator professional development opportunities.” Register online to participate. https://www.etouches.com/227580

Technology Enables Exploration: Designing Shoebox Satellites and Rovers in the Classroom
Audience: Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades 2-12
Event Date: Feb. 15, 2017, at 4 p.m. EST
This STEAM webinar encourages educators to complete an engineering design challenge using the “Ask, Imagine and Plan” engineering design process with their students. Participants will review the NASA teacher guides available online at no cost. These shoebox challenges incorporate simple machines and scientific missions. Participants will review lesson plans, materials, student handouts, instructional strategies, protocols, assessments and cross-curricular implementation. Register online to participate. https://www.etouches.com/218002

Technology Enables Exploration: Eyes In the Sky
Audience: Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades 6-10
Event Date: Feb. 16, 2017, at 6 p.m. EST
Explore our “eyes in the sky” with NASA space telescopes that are expanding 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 and the Next Generation Science Standards will be integrated in this “out-of-this-world” webinar. Register online to participate. https://www.etouches.com/225671

For a full schedule of upcoming NASA Educator Professional Development webinars, visit http://www.txstate-epdc.net/events/.

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

Swarmathon Robotics Challenge at NASA’s Stennis Space Center

Have you ever dreamed of creating an army of robots that could be launched into space to explore new worlds? Now is your chance. High school students in Mississippi and Louisiana are invited to participate in a pilot Swarmathon competition that challenges them to develop revolutionary robotic swarms for use in space missions.

Participating students will be challenged to develop algorithms for robotic swarms. The objective is to enable small robotic swarms that can operate independently or as a coordinated group, much like ants. Such swarms can be used by explorers on other planets to search for and collect resources from the surrounding area.

Teams have until Feb. 15, 2017, to enter the Swarmathon challenge. Final algorithm code submissions are due April 15, 2017.

For more information about the Swarmathon competition, visit http://nasaswarmathon.com/outreach.

Please direct questions about this opportunity to April McIntosh at april.l.mcintosh@nasa.gov.

NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Celebrating Women’s History Month With ‘Honoring Trailblazing Women in STEM, Labor and Business’ Event

On March 4, 2017, in celebration of Women’s History Month, the Communication and Public Engagement Directorate at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with support from Kennedy Networking Opportunities for Women (KNOW), is presenting “Honoring Trailblazing Women in STEM, Labor, and Business.”

One hundred girls in grades 5-12 will be selected to attend the daylong event focused on inspiring and engaging girls in various professions. The girls will be selected from collaborating community partners who reach underserved, underrepresented populations.

The event will include career discussions with KNOW career women, STEM educational workshops and hands-on activities. In addition to the 100 girls, it is anticipated that approximately 25 chaperones will be engaged. This initiative supports the CoSTEM priority of increasing and sustaining youth and public engagement as well as serving students traditionally underrepresented in STEM.

The event will take place at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor’s Complex and Public Engagement Center.

Registration for this event closes on Feb. 17, 2017. For more information about the event and to register to attend, contact Liz Wise at liz.wise-1@nasa.gov or 321-867-3307.

NASA’s Digital Learning Network Event — Live Video Chat: NASA STARS en Español

Do you want to be one of NASA’s STARS? In this series of live Spanish video chats, listen as “Students Talk About Real STEM” with NASA professionals who work in these areas. Join NASA’s Digital Learning Network and Educator Professional Development Collaborative for an inside look at NASA missions, research and careers.

This special 30-minute NASA STARS en Español event is part of a series for “Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day” and will be webcast on the NASA DLiNfo Channel on Feb. 23, 2017, at Noon EST.

Submit questions via Twitter using #NASASTARS or via email to astrosdeNASA@gmail.com. Or sign up at https://www.txstate-epdc.net/nasa-stars/) for your class to connect directly.

For more information, visit https://www.nasa.gov/dln/special-events. Please send questions about this event to astrosdeNASA@gmail.com.

NASA’s Digital Learning Network Event — NASA STARS en Español

¿Quieres ser uno de los Astros de NASA? En esta serie de video conferencia en español y en vivo, los estudiantes hablarán de lo que es en realidad STEM (ciencias, tecnología, ingeniería y matemáticas) con profesionales de NASA que están trabajando en estas ramas. Acompaña a los programas de conexión digital de NASA (DLN for sus siglas en inglés) y el programa de colaboraciones de desarrolló profesional educativo (EPDC por sus siglas en inglés) hablando de diferentes misiones, investigaciones y carreras en NASA.

El siguiente programa será transmitido por NASA DLiNfo Channel el 23 de febrero de 2017 a la 12 p.m. EST.

Envia tus preguntas por medio de Twitter usando #NASASTARS ó por correo electrónico astrosdeNASA@gmail.com. O inscribe tu escuela y conectate.

Para más información, visite la página https://www.nasa.gov/dln/special-events. Escribanos si usted esta interesado en conectarse directo para participar y cualquier pregunta sobre el programa astrosdeNASA@gmail.com.

Find Summer 2017 NASA Internship Opportunities With New Interactive Map

The One Stop Shopping Initiative for NASA’s Internships, Fellowships and Scholarships, or OSSI NIFS, strives to provide students at all U.S. institutions of higher education access to a portfolio of opportunities offered by NASA mission directorates and centers.

OSSI has launched a new way to find NASA opportunities! The new NASA Internships Map is an interactive way to search for internships near you or across the country. The website also allows for searching and viewing opportunities as a list.

The new map can be accessed at https://www.careerarc.com/job-map/nasa?campaign_id=21631.

For full access to the OSSI website, visit https://intern.nasa.gov. The site features the OSSI NIFS online application, an innovative system that allows students to search and apply to up to 15 opportunities in one location. A completed application places the student in the applicant pool for consideration by all NASA mentors.

Applications for summer 2017 opportunities are due March 1, 2017.

Inquiries about OSSI NIFS should be submitted via https://intern.nasa.gov/oic/.

Library of Congress 2017 Summer Institutes — Teaching With Primary Sources

The Library of Congress is now accepting applications for its weeklong summer programs for K-12 educators. Held at the Library of Congress in the District of Columbia, this professional development opportunity provides educators with tools and resources to effectively integrate primary sources into K-12 classroom teaching. Each session focuses on pedagogy, with an emphasis on supporting student engagement, critical thinking and construction of knowledge.

The Library of Congress is offering five programs this summer: Three of the programs are open to teachers and librarians across all content areas; one focuses on primary sources in science, technology and engineering; and the fifth program focuses on World War I. During each five-day institute, participants work with Library of Congress education specialists and subject-matter experts to learn effective practices for using primary sources in the classroom, while exploring some of the millions of digitized historical artifacts and documents available on the library’s website.

General Institutes: Open to K-12 teachers and school librarians across the content areas
— June 19-23, 2017
— June 26-30, 2017
— July 10-14, 2017

Science, Technology and Engineering Institute: Recommended for K-12 educators who teach science, technology or engineering, or collaborate with those who do
— July 17-21, 2017

World War I Institute: Recommended for K-12 educators who teach some aspect of WWI as part of their curriculum, or collaborate with those who do
— July 31-Aug. 4, 2017

Tuition and materials are free. Participants are responsible for transportation to and from Washington, D.C., and any required overnight accommodations.

Applications are due March 17, 2017, and require a letter of recommendation.

For more information and to submit an application, visit http://www.loc.gov/teachers/professionaldevelopment/teacherinstitute/.

Please direct questions about this opportunity to teachinglcsummer@loc.gov.

2017 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching

The National Science Foundation currently is accepting nominations and applications for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching program. PAEMST is the highest recognition that a teacher of K-12 mathematics or science (including computer science) may receive for outstanding teaching in the United States. Since 1983, more than 4,500 teachers have been recognized for their contributions to mathematics and science education. Awardees serve as models for their colleagues, inspiration to their communities, and leaders in the improvement of mathematics and science education. Up to 108 awardees may be recognized each year.

Presidential awardees receive a certificate signed by the President of the United States; a trip to Washington, D.C., to attend a series of recognition events and professional development opportunities; and a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation. The National Science Foundation administers PAEMST on the behalf of The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

The PAEMST program is open to outstanding mathematics and science teachers (including computer science teachers) in the 50 states and the four U.S. jurisdictions (Washington, D.C.; Puerto Rico; Department of Defense education activity schools; and the U.S. territories as a group). Anyone — principals, teachers, parents, students or members of the public — may nominate a teacher by completing the nomination form available on the PAEMST website. Teachers also may apply directly. Teachers from groups underrepresented in STEM teaching and learning are encouraged to apply.

The nomination deadline for secondary school teachers (grades 7-12) is April 1, 2017. Primary school teachers (grades K-6) are eligible to apply in 2018.

For more information, visit http://www.paemst.org/.

Please email any questions about this opportunity to info@paemst.org.

PREVIOUSLY PROMOTED OPPORTUNITIES…

Are you a science educator or interested in science education? Sign up for the NASA Education “Science WOW!” newsletter. Receive an email with NASA’s latest science education offerings delivered “Weekly on Wednesdays.”

Science starts with a question, and so does “Science WOW!” Each week’s message kicks off with a science question and a link to where you can find the answer. “Science WOW!” also highlights an awesome science education tool each week. These featured resources will include NASA apps, interactive games, 3-D printing templates and more!

Plus, “Science WOW!” delivers — right to your inbox — the latest science education opportunities offered by NASA. It’s a simple way to keep up with the latest professional development webinars, student contests, workshops, lectures and other activities.

To register your email address and be added to the list, visit https://www.nasa.gov/education/sciencewow/.

Bring the Story of “Hidden Figures” to the Classroom With the “Who Is Katherine Johnson?” Profiles and Modern Figures Toolkit

In the 1960s, the U.S. was on an ambitious journey to the moon, and Katherine Johnson and her fellow human computers helped get NASA there. Bring the excitement of their story to your classroom with new resources from NASA Education.

Learn more about Katherine Johnson with the “Who Is Katherine Johnson?” profiles written just for students. Versions written for K-4 and 5-8 students are available.

“Who Is Katherine Johnson?” — K-4 Students Version
https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/k-4/stories/nasa-knows/who-is-katherine-johnson-k4

“Who Is Katherine Johnson?” — 5-8 Students Version
https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/5-8/features/nasa-knows/who-is-katherine-johnson-5-8

Also available online, the Modern Figures Toolkit is a collection of resources and educational activities for students in grades K-12. Each educational activity and resource includes a brief description, as well as information about how the activities and lessons align to education standards. Resources highlighted include videos, historical references and STEM materials.

Bring Katherine Johnson’s inspiring story to your classroom by downloading the Modern Figures Toolkit at www.nasa.gov/modernfigures-education-toolkit.

Goddard Virtual Visits: Celebrating African-American History Month at Goddard Space Flight Center

Join Goddard Space Flight Center’s Office of Education from 1-1:30 p.m. EST every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in February for a digital program dedicated to African-American History Month. This virtual, interactive series will highlight the many talented men and women that work at Goddard. STEM experts from across Goddard will share how they practice science, technology, engineering and mathematics through these short presentations by focusing on their career goals, stories, research and missions. For our programs this year, we also hope to highlight the new film “Hidden Figures” by exploring how the “M” in STEM applies at NASA in a variety of different fields.

Visit https://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/2017/aahm-event-for-education/ for more information and to register for these free, live webcasts. The website will feature up-to-date information on speakers and the focus of each session, plus links for more information for students and educators. These programs are aimed for students in grades 6-12 but are open to the public. Additionally, these webcasts will be archived on NASA Goddard’s UStream channel and would be a great asset to informal learners such as those in after-school programs, groups of Girl and Boy Scouts, libraries, and more!

For additional information, questions, or to learn about accessing archived sessions, please email Lindsey Jones at Lindsey.jones-1@nasa.gov or call 301-286-1978.

2017 von Kármán Lecture Series — Attend in Person or View Online

The Theodore von Kármán Lecture Series, named after the founder of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and presented by JPL’s Office of Communication and Education, shares the excitement of the space program’s missions, instruments and other technologies.

Lectures take place twice per month, on consecutive Thursdays and Fridays. The Thursday lectures take place in JPL’s Theodore von Kármán Auditorium, and Friday lectures take place at Pasadena City College’s Vosloh Forum. Both start at 7 p.m. PDT (10 p.m. EDT). Admission and parking are free for all lectures. No reservations are required, but seating is limited. The Thursday evening lectures are streamed live for viewing online. Archives of past lectures are also available online.

Next Lecture in the Series:

In Hot Water: Glacier Change and Sea Level Rise
Event Date: Feb. 9 and Feb. 10, 2017, at 7 p.m. PST (10 p.m. EST)
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/events/lectures_archive.php?year=2017&month=2
Glaciers and ice sheets hold massive amounts of freshwater locked up as ice. The loss of glacial ice due to melting as our climate warms or from calving of icebergs can have large impacts on the Earth system and on society. Join Alex Gardner, an Earth scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, for a discussion about these rapid changes as seen through the eyes of a NASA glaciologist.

For more information about the Theodore von Kármán Lecture Series, including a complete list of upcoming lectures, visit http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/events/lectures.php.

Questions about this series should be directed to http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/contact_JPL.php.

2017 OPTIMUS PRIME Spinoff Promotion and Research Challenge

NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center invites students in grades 3-12 to take part in the OPTIMUS PRIME Spinoff Promotion and Research Challenge, or OPSPARC. Participants are challenged to help raise awareness and understanding of NASA technologies and their many benefits to our everyday lives.

The challenge provides contestants with a tool, developed by Glogster, for creating and submitting their entries. Glogster is a cloud-based platform for presentation and interactive learning. The tool allows contestants to combine different kinds of media on a virtual canvas to create multimedia posters and to access an existing library of educational content created by students and educators worldwide. Contestants will develop a Glog of their own as part of OPSPARC that will include information on spinoffs and NASA missions. The students also will create video describing their own ideas for a new NASA spinoff technology.

After completing their Glogs, 20 teams of students in grades 9 through 12 will be invited to work with college student mentors to further develop their spinoff concept within a 3-D, multiuser, virtual-world setting through creation of computer-aided design, or CAD, models and application of engineering and business analyses on their spinoff concepts. The InWorld portion of the contest is being sponsored by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope project.

Students who submit the winning entries in each age category will have the opportunity to visit NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, for an awards ceremony and workshop to be held in their honor. The workshop will include a behind-the-scenes look at Goddard, the chance to meet some of the top minds at NASA, and the opportunity for the students to design and create their own public service announcement video with guidance from NASA video producers and actor Peter Cullen, the voice of the TRANSFORMERS character OPTIMUS PRIME.

The deadline for students in grades 9-12 to register and submit Glogs is 11:59 PM EST on Feb. 10, 2017. Students in grades 3-8 must register and submit Glogs no later than 11:59 PM EDT on March 13, 2017.

To learn more about the challenge and to register to participate, visit http://itpo.gsfc.nasa.gov/opsparc/.

Please direct questions about this contest to Darryl Mitchell at Darryl.R.Mitchell@nasa.gov.

2017 Planetary Geology and Geophysics Undergraduate Research Program

The Planetary Geology and Geophysics Undergraduate Research Program, or PGGURP, pairs qualified undergraduate students with NASA-funded investigators at research locations across the U.S. for eight weeks during the summer. Students spend the summer at the NASA scientists’ home institutions. Selected students receive a cost-of-living stipend and compensation for housing and travel.

Undergraduate students majoring in geology or related sciences are eligible to apply. Students graduating in 2017 who have not started graduate school yet are also eligible. Preference is given to U.S. citizens and permanent residents.

Applications are due Feb. 10, 2017.

For more information, visit http://www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~tgregg/pggurp_homepage.html.

If you have questions about this opportunity, please email Robyn Wagner, PGGURP administrator, at pggurp@buffalo.edu.

2017 Summer Fellowships in Disability Policy Research

The Social Security Administration and the Center for Studying Disability Policy at Mathematica Policy Research are seeking applications from graduate students for a summer fellowship in disability policy research. Fellows will learn about pressing policy issues surrounding the employment of individuals with disabilities while conducting a research project on a topic in this area.

The summer fellowship program will run from June 5 through Aug. 4, 2017, in Washington, D.C. Fellows will receive a stipend of $6,500 during the fellowship period.

The application submission deadline is Feb. 10, 2017, at 11:59 p.m. EST.

For more information, visit https://www.disabilitypolicyresearch.org/disability-research-consortium/fellowships.

Questions about this fellowship opportunity should be directed to DRCSummerFellows@mathematica-mpr.com.

Space Shuttle Thermal Protective Tiles and Blankets Available for Educational Use

NASA invites U.S. educational institutions 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.

Nonprofit museums, libraries and planetariums (sponsored through their respective State Agency Surplus Property, or SASP, organization) are also eligible to make requests. Visit the link below for special instructions to request items. To find the contact information for the SASP representative for your area, visit http://www.gsa.gov/portal/content/100851.

A nominal shipping fee 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.

FY2017 and FY2018 NASA Cooperative Agreement Notice for the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR)

NASA’s Office of Education is seeking proposals for the NASA Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, or EPSCoR, program. Each funded NASA EPSCoR proposal is expected to establish research activities that will contribute significantly to the strategic research and technology development priorities of one or more of NASA’s mission directorates. Funded proposals are expected to contribute to the overall research infrastructure; science and technology capabilities; higher education; and economic development of the jurisdiction receiving funding.

While proposals can be accepted only from institutions where a NASA EPSCoR Director is currently serving, all institutions of higher education within the jurisdiction shall be made aware of this NASA EPSCoR CAN and given the opportunity to compete.

NASA EPSCoR is moving to a two-year procurement cycle. As a result, jurisdictions responding to this CAN may submit up to two proposals. It is anticipated that three to five awards for FY 2017 and three to five awards for FY 2018 of up to $750,000 to be expended over a three-year period of performance may be made under this CAN. The exact number of awards depends on the available EPSCoR research budget.

A required notice of intent is due Feb. 13, 2017. Proposals are due March 16, 2017.

For more information and instructions for submitting a proposal, visit http://go.nasa.gov/2gaYION.

Please direct questions about this request to Jeppie Compton at Jeppie.R.Compton@nasa.gov.

2017-2018 Virginia Space Grant Consortium Undergraduate STEM Research Scholarship

The Virginia Space Grant Consortium is offering undergraduate research scholarships of up to $8,500 to encourage talented individuals to conduct research in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering or mathematics).

These one-year awards are nonrenewable and based on student academic merit, quality of the research proposal, and alignment of research with the goals of NASA and the aerospace sector. Underrepresented minority students, female students and students with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Participants must participate in an active faculty-mentored research experience that aligns with the aerospace sector and NASA’s mission. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and enrolled at one of the five Virginia Space Grant member universities: The College of William and Mary, Hampton University, Old Dominion University, University of Virginia, and Virginia Tech. Applicants must have completed at least two years of a STEM undergraduate program and be classified as a junior or senior during the 2017-2018 academic year.

The deadline for submitting applications is Feb. 13, 2017.

For more information, visit http://vsgc.odu.edu/sf/undergrad/. Please email any questions about this opportunity to VSGC@odu.edu.

2017-2018 Virginia Space Grant Consortium Graduate STEM Research Fellowship

The Virginia Space Grant Consortium’s Graduate STEM Research Fellowship Program provides fellowships of $6,000 in add-on support to graduate students to supplement and enhance basic research support. The objective of this research fellowship in science, technology, engineering and mathematics is to encourage talented individuals to pursue careers in STEM industries that support NASA’s mission.

Participants in the Graduate STEM Research Fellowship Program must take part in an active faculty‐mentored research experience that aligns with the aerospace sector and NASA’s mission. Awards are made annually and are renewable for one year for students making satisfactory progress in academics and research.

This is a competitive fellowship program, and awards are based on merit to recognize high academic achievement and promise. Underrepresented minority students, female students and students with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and enrolled at one of the five Virginia Space Grant member universities: The College of William and Mary, Hampton University, Old Dominion University, University of Virginia, and Virginia Tech.

The deadline for submitting applications is Feb. 13, 2017.

For more information about this opportunity and to apply online, visit http://vsgc.odu.edu/sf/gradfellow/. Please email any questions to VSGC@odu.edu.

U.S. Department of Energy EERE Robotics Internship Program

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy is accepting applications from students interested in hands-on, 10-week practical robotics internships at federal national laboratories and organizations in the private sector throughout the United States. Participants will perform research or other technical activities under the guidance of a mentor who is a technical staff scientist or engineer at the host facility.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years old by May 1, 2017. High school seniors and college students/recent graduates are encouraged to apply. Experience in robotics competitions is preferred.

Applications are due Feb. 13, 2017, at 8 a.m. EST.

Additional information about the program may be found at http://www.orise.orau.gov/roboticsinternship/index.html.

Please direct inquiries about this opportunity to Robotics.Internships@orau.org.

NASA’s Ames Research Center Summer Internships — NASA Astrobiology Institute

The NASA Astrobiology Institute at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California is looking for internship candidates for summer 2017 sessions. Internship opportunities are available within three modules of NAI research.

Laboratory Studies of Chemical Processing in Astrophysical Ices
The intern will work in the Astrochemistry and Astrophysics Laboratory to help carry out experiments designed to study the photochemistry and catalytic chemistry that occurs in astrophysical ice analogs of cometary, planetary and interstellar ices. Emphasis will be placed on how these processes produce organic compounds, particularly compounds of astrobiological interest.

Computer Modeling of Protoplanetary Disks
The intern will work on astronomical modeling of planet-forming disks using existing computational models. The main task will be to apply these models to one or two objects and infer the physical and chemical conditions in planet-forming regions of the disk. The intern will learn to compute disk models, analyze results, and compare observable signatures with available astronomical data from disks.

Computational Quantum Chemistry Studies of Astrophysical Ices and Gases
Computational quantum chemistry is an important tool to elucidate the detailed mechanisms of quantum chemical reactions in both the gas and condensed phases. The intern will study important reactions that lead to the gas and solid-state formation of biogenic molecules using computer programs. Work will include exploring molecular structures, reaction rates, spectroscopic constants and reaction pathways of important biomolecules and their precursors.

Students selected for all three 10-week internships will do real, ongoing NASA research. It is anticipated that these efforts may lead to one or more reports or peer-reviewed scientific publications on which the student would be coauthor.

These opportunities are open to underrepresented students who are currently enrolled in a college or university and who have successfully completed their sophomore, junior or senior years with a GPA of 3.0 or higher (based on a 4.0 scale). Applicants must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. Members of underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

Application materials are due Feb. 15, 2017.

For more information and complete application process details, visit https://amesteam.arc.nasa.gov/TeamMemberDirectory/intern_opportunities2017.html.

Questions about this opportunity should be directed to Scott Sandford at scott.a.sandford@nasa.gov.

National Science Foundation’s 2016-2017 Community College Innovation Challenge

The National Science Foundation’s Community College Innovation Challenge is underway and seeking teams to propose innovative STEM-based solutions for real-world problems. Teams must include three to five community college students, a faculty mentor, and a community or industry partner.

Challenge entries consist of two components: a written portion and a 90-second video. Each team’s entry must address one of the three themes outlined by the National Science Foundation. This year’s themes are Maker to Manufacturer, Energy and Environment, and Security Technologies.

Finalists will be invited to attend an Innovation Boot Camp, a professional development workshop on innovation and entrepreneurship.

The entry submission deadline is Feb. 15, 2017.

For additional information about the challenge, visit https://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/communitycollege/index.jsp.

Questions about this challenge should be directed to InnovationChallenge@nsf.gov.

Space Launch System Video Series — “No Small Steps”

The challenge of going to Mars is monumental, and it’s going to take a monumental rocket to make it possible. NASA’s Space Launch System will be the most powerful rocket ever built and will help send humans to deep space destinations. SLS is an advanced, heavy-lift launch vehicle that will provide an entirely new capability for science and human exploration beyond Earth’s orbit.

Learn more about the Space Launch System with the “No Small Steps” video series. Hosted by Stephen Granade, the entertaining and informative series gets into the “how” of making a trip to Mars happen — taking rocket science and making it relatable.

Episode 1: “Getting to Mars”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOYXa9jx-TI

Episode 2: “A Foundation for Mars”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DesBgDPR22Q

Episode 3: “Rocket Fuel”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJXQQv9UZNg

Episode 4: “Working With Gravity”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wlcFU1Le4U

2017 NASA Glenn Faculty Fellowship Program

Applications are being accepted for the 2017 NASA Glenn Faculty Fellowship Program. This program provides a summer residency at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. The 10-week fellowship begins on Monday, June 5, 2017, and runs through Friday, Aug. 11, 2017.

To be eligible for the program, applicants must be full-time science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, faculty members who are U.S. citizens. Applicants must be tenured faculty or in tenure-track positions at four-year accredited U.S. colleges and universities, or full-time faculty at two-year U.S. academic institutions. Qualified male and female faculty from Majority and Minority Serving Universities and Colleges, including underserved groups and persons with disabilities, are encouraged to apply.

The program covers limited relocation travel expense for qualified and accepted faculty, as well as stipends for all accepted faculty. Please note that stipend payments or salaries from other federal funding sources, including research grants and contracts, may not be accepted during the 10-week tenure of a Glenn faculty fellowship appointment.

The deadline for applications is 11:59 p.m. EST on Feb. 16, 2017. For more information about this opportunity, visit https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-glenn-higher-education-students-faculty-postdoc-fellows.

Inquiries about NASA’s Glenn Faculty Fellowship Program should be directed to Dr. M. David Kankam at Mark.D.Kankam@nasa.gov.

2017 Dissertation Fellowships in Disability Policy Research

The Social Security Administration and the Center for Studying Disability Policy at Mathematica Policy Research are seeking applications from doctoral students in the social sciences and related disciplines for a dissertation fellowship in disability policy research. This fellowship provides financial support to outstanding doctoral students who are conducting high-quality research in areas of significance to disability policy.

Dissertation fellows will remain at their home institution and receive a stipend totaling $28,000 to support their dissertation research.

The application submission deadline is Feb. 17, 2017, at 11:59 p.m. EST.

For more information, visit https://www.disabilitypolicyresearch.org/disability-research-consortium/fellowships.

Questions about this fellowship opportunity should be directed to DRCDissertationFellows@mathematica-mpr.com.

2017 NASA Marshall Faculty Fellowship Program

Applications are being accepted for the 2017 NASA Marshall Faculty Fellowship Program. This program provides a summer residency at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. The 10-week fellowship begins on Monday, June 5, 2017, and runs through Friday, Aug. 11, 2017.

To be eligible for the program, applicants must hold a full-time teaching or research appointment in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, at an accredited university or college in the United States. Applicants must be U.S. citizens. Women, underrepresented minorities and persons with disabilities are particularly encouraged to apply.

The program covers limited travel expenses for qualified and accepted faculty, as well as stipends for all accepted faculty. Please note that stipend payments or salaries from other federal funding sources, including research grants and contracts, may not be accepted during the 10-week tenure of a Marshall faculty fellowship appointment.

The deadline for applications is Feb. 22, 2017. For more information about this opportunity, visit https://www.nasa.gov/offices/education/programs/descriptions/MSFC-Faculty-Fellowship.html.

Inquiries about NASA’s Marshall Faculty Fellowship Program should be directed to Dr. Frank Six at Frank.Six@nasa.gov.

2016-2017 Cassini Scientist for a Day Essay Contest

The Cassini Scientist for a Day contest challenges students to become NASA scientists studying Saturn. Participants examine three of the best scientific targets imaged by the Cassini spacecraft in its 12 years at Saturn. After researching the topics, students are to choose the one they think yielded the best scientific results. This year’s targets are Enceladus’ plumes, Titan’s lakes and Saturn’s hexagon. After researching the three options, students write an essay of fewer than 500 words explaining their choice.

The contest is open to all students in the United States in grades 5-12. The essays will be divided into three groups for scoring: grades 5-6, 7-8 and 9-12. All submissions must be students’ original work. Participants may enter as individuals or as part of a team of up to four students.

The deadline for entries is Feb. 24, 2017.

For more information, visit http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/scientist-for-a-day.

If you have questions about this contest, please email scientistforaday@jpl.nasa.gov.

Call for Abstracts: 68th International Astronautical Congress

NASA announces its intent to participate in the 68th International Astronautical Congress, or IAC, and requests that full-time U.S. graduate students attending U.S. universities respond to this “Call for Abstracts.”

The IAC — which is organized by the International Astronautical Federation, or IAF; the International Academy of Astronautics, or IAA; and the International Institute of Space Law, or IISL — is the largest space-related conference worldwide and selects an average of 1,000 scientific papers every year. The upcoming IAC will be held Sept. 25-29, 2017, in Adelaide, Australia. NASA’s participation in this event is part of an ongoing effort to connect NASA with the astronautical and space international community.

This “Call for Abstracts” is a precursor to a subsequent submission of a final paper, which may be presented at the 68th IAC. Student authors are invited to submit an abstract regarding an original, unpublished paper that has not been submitted in any other forum. A NASA technical review panel will select abstracts from those that have been accepted by the International Astronautical Federation. This opportunity is for graduate students majoring in fields related to the IAF research topics. Students may submit technical (oral) presentations and/or posters. Students may submit abstracts that are co-authored with their Principal Investigators. However, the student must be the “lead author,” and only the student will present at the IAC. Students must be available to travel to the conference to represent NASA and their universities. Students must be U.S. citizens, attending a U.S. university, who plan to enter a career in space science or aeronautics. Pending the availability of funding, graduate students selected by NASA to participate in the IAC will be considered for subsidy funding from NASA.

Many students and professors currently are involved in NASA-related research that could be considered for this submission. Students submitting abstracts are strongly encouraged to seek advice from professors who are conducting NASA research and/or from NASA scientists and engineers. Abstracts must be related to NASA’s ongoing vision for space exploration and fit into one of the following IAC categories:

— Science and Exploration — Systems sustaining missions, including life, microgravity, space exploration, space debris and Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence, or SETI
— Applications and Operations — Ongoing and future operational applications, including earth observation, communication, navigation, human space endeavors and small satellites
— Technology — Common technologies to space systems including astrodynamics, structures, power and propulsion
— Infrastructure — Systems sustaining space missions including space system transportation, future systems and safety
— Space and Society — Interaction of space with society including education, policy and economics, history, and law

The criteria for the selection will be defined according to the following specifications:
— Abstracts should specify purpose, methodology, results, conclusions and areas for discussion.
— Abstracts should indicate that substantive technical and/or programmatic content is included.
— Abstracts should clearly indicate that the material is new and original; they should explain why and how.
— Prospective author(s) should certify that the paper was not presented at a previous meeting.

Abstracts must be written in English, and the length should not exceed 400 words. Tables or drawings are not allowed in the abstract.

NOTE: If you plan to seek assistance from NASA, you must submit to the International Astronautical Federation and to NASA.
— Submit your abstract to the IAF at their website www.iafastro.org by Feb. 28, 2017 (11:59:00 CET).
— Submit your abstract to NASA at https://iac.nasaprs.com no later than 11:59 p.m. EST on Monday, Feb. 27, 2017.

IAC Paper Selection
Submitted abstracts will be evaluated by the Session Chairs on the basis of technical quality and relevance to the session topics. Selected abstracts may be chosen for eventual oral or poster presentation. Any such choice is not an indication of quality of the submitted abstract. Their evaluation will be submitted to the Symposium Coordinators. They will make acceptance recommendations to the International Programme Committee, which will make the final decision. Please note that any relevance to the Congress main theme will be considered as an advantage.

The following information must be included in the submission: paper title, name of contact author, name of co-author(s), organization(s), full postal address, phone, email of the author and co-author(s). The abstract should specify purpose, methodology, results and conclusions. The abstract should indicate that substantive technical and/or programmatic content is included, as well as clearly indicate that the material is new and original and explain why and how.

Please check the IAF website (www.iafastro.org) regularly to get the latest updates on the Technical Programme.

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 education office, announces this competition to improve science, technology, engineering and mathematics 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, or STEAMD; or activities culturally relevant to or focused on populations underrepresented in STEM careers, 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 nonreimbursable 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.

Searchable Portals for Federally Sponsored Opportunities for STEM Undergraduate and Graduate Students

Are you an undergraduate or graduate student seeking opportunities in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics)? The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science — in collaboration with the participating agencies in the National Science and Technology Council’s Committee on STEM Education (CoSTEM) and the Science.gov Alliance — has launched a search portal for both students and universities to discover federally sponsored STEM education training and funding opportunities.

Student users can search the site for opportunities they can apply to directly, such as research internships and fellowships. Likewise, universities can search the site for federal funding opportunities to establish innovative training programs for undergraduates or graduate students.

Users can search the site through faceted searching capabilities for characteristics such as program type, STEM discipline, institution location, federal sponsor, and eligibility. Or they can search through the open text option.

For programs and opportunities for undergraduates, visit http://stemundergrads.science.gov/.

For graduate programs and opportunities, visit http://stemgradstudents.science.gov/.

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/.

Find NASA science resources for your classroom. NASA Wavelength is a digital collection of Earth and space science resources for educators of all levels — from elementary to college, to out-of-school programs. http://nasawavelength.org/

Check out the new ‘Explore NASA Science’ website!
Science starts with questions, leading to discoveries. Explore the redesigned NASA Science site and send us feedback. Visit https://science.nasa.gov. To view the site in Spanish, visit http://ciencia.nasa.gov.

Do you just want to receive weekly updates on NASA Education opportunities relating to science? Sign up for the NASA Education “Science WOW!” newsletter for science opportunities delivered to your inbox “Weekly on Wednesdays!” https://www.nasa.gov/education/sciencewow/

SpaceRef Editor

SpaceRef staff editor.

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