NASA Education Express Message — Jan. 15, 2015
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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Apply for the 2015 Summer NASA Academies — Webinar
The NASA Minority Innovation Challenges Institute, or MICI, is hosting a special webinar on Jan. 15, 2015, at 3 p.m. EST, which will provide undergraduate students details on how they can apply for admission into a 2015 NASA Summer Academy. The NASA Academy is not a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. summer research internship program. It is a rigorous, immersive 10-week experience that will challenge the participants and push them outside their comfort zones. It offers interns an intense learning experience. The NASA Academies at NASA centers have different areas of focus, including space, aerospace, robotics, aeronautics and propulsion.
The NASA Academy curriculum combines a valuable research experience with a residential leadership development experience. Academy participants, known as research associates, or RAs, spend four days per week working full time on an individual research project with a NASA scientist or engineer, called their principal investigator. These projects offer a challenging learning experience in which the RAs do hands-on research side by side with their mentors. Projects are typically cutting-edge topics that teach the RAs about the latest in NASA research and development. The RAs demonstrate the progress of their research in the annual Intern Poster Expo. The academies conclude with final oral presentations and a graduate ceremony.
To sign up for this webinar, and gain access to MICI’s other free webinars, visit http://nasamici.com/upcoming-sessions.
Questions about this opportunity should be directed to Mary Baker at mary@nasamici.com.
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Museum Alliance Webcast — Space Launch System: America’s New Rocket
NASA’s Digital Learning Network and the Space Launch System team invite you to participate in an interactive webcast featuring NASA engineer Steve Creech on Jan. 15, 2015, at 4 p.m. EST.
In this presentation, Creech will webcast live from NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. His presentation will focus on America’s next heavy-lift launch vehicle, the Space Launch System, or SLS. He will also answer questions from webcast viewers around the country.
NASA’s Space Launch System is an advanced, heavy-lift launch vehicle that will provide an entirely new capability for science and human exploration beyond Earth’s orbit. The SLS will give the United States a safe, affordable and sustainable means of extending beyond our current limits and open new doors of discovery from the unique vantage point of space.
Questions may be submitted prior to and during the event via dlinfochannel@gmail.com.
You may view the webcast as an individual at your personal computer, or set up audio visual equipment in your museum or school for a large group to participate.
To view the webcast, visit http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nasa-dlinfo.
To learn more about the SLS visit www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/.
After the webcast, presentation materials will be posted on the Museum Alliance member site at https://informal.jpl.nasa.gov/museum/Conversations. A downloadable copy of the webcast and transcript will be posted a week or so later at the same location. Username and password are required to access the member site.
To learn how to become a Museum Alliance member, visit https://informal.jpl.nasa.gov/museum/About.
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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 monthly sessions covering a variety of climate topics. This month’s webinar topic is:
Communicating Climate Change: Mind the Gap — Jan. 15, 2015, at 4:30 p.m. EST
Although 97 percent of active climate scientists agree that the earth is warming due to human activities, some polls have found that only 44 percent of Americans share this view. As an educator, you are likely to encounter people who have received information that conflicts with the accepted climate science. This session will help you better understand Americans’ perceptions of climate change and provide tips for better communicating climate science.
Certificates of professional development hours are available upon request.
For more information on this event and upcoming webinar sessions, visit http://nice.larc.nasa.gov/asknice/. Questions about this series should be sent to Bonnie Murray at bonnie.murray@nasa.gov.
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National Science Foundation’s Community College Innovation Challenge
The National Science Foundation’s Community College Innovation Challenge is underway and seeking teams to propose innovative science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, -based solutions for real-world problems. Teams must comprise community college students, a faculty mentor and a community or industry partner.
Challenge entries consist of two components: a written entry and a video entry. Each team’s entry must address one of the five themes outlined by the National Science Foundation. This year’s themes are Big Data, Infrastructure Security, Sustainability, Broadening Participation in STEM and Improving STEM Education.
Finalist teams will be invited to attend an Innovation Boot Camp, a professional development workshop on innovation and entrepreneurship.
The entry submission deadline is Jan. 15, 2015.
For additional information about the challenge, visit http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/communitycollege/.
Questions about this challenge should be directed to InnovationChallenge@nsf.gov.
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NOAA “Marine Debris Prevention Through Education and Outreach” Federal Funding Opportunity
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Marine Debris Program, or NOAA MDP, is offering a federal funding opportunity called “Marine Debris Prevention Through Education and Outreach.”
The NOAA MDP seeks to fund projects that will lead to the prevention of marine debris in marine and coastal environments through the implementation of dedicated education and outreach activities. Projects awarded through this grant competition are expected to educate the public about marine debris through activities including, but not limited to, the following:
1. Encouraging changes in behavior to address marine debris.
2. Developing, using, and disseminating tools, products and campaigns to improve efforts to address marine debris.
3. Engaging the public in active, personal participation (e.g., a small-scale shoreline cleanup with students or other hands-on activities, etc.).
While the anticipated range of federal funding available per award is approximately $20,000 to $100,000, projects typically receive between $30,000 and $60,000. Eligible applicants include: U.S. institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations; commercial (for-profit) organizations; and state, local and tribal governments. Applications from federal agencies or employees of federal agencies will not be considered. International organizations are not eligible.
To download the official Federal Funding Opportunity along with complete eligibility requirements, please visit Grants Online at http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=270188.
The deadline for applications to this funding opportunity is 11:59:59 p.m. EST on Jan. 15, 2015. Applications must be submitted online via www.grants.gov.
Questions about this opportunity should be directed to Alison Hammer Weingast at Alison.Hammer@noaa.gov.
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2015 Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award
Do you know K-12 teachers or district-level administrators who are making a difference in education through the use of technology? Recognize their achievements by nominating them for the Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award. The Astronauts Memorial Foundation, in partnership with NASA and the Space Foundation, will recognize the accomplishments of one outstanding individual and his or her contributions to lifelong learning through the application of technology in the classroom or in the professional development of teachers.
Technology personnel and K-12 classroom teachers who have demonstrated exemplary use of technology to enhance learning in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, are eligible for this award. School principals, superintendents or associate superintendents may nominate eligible candidates. The award will be presented in April 2015 at the Space Foundation’s 31st Space Symposium in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The deadline for applications is Jan. 16, 2015.
Applications and more information are available online at http://www.astronautsmemorial.org/alan-shepard-award.html .
Questions about this award should be directed to amfreg@amfcse.org.
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NASA-USGS Data App Challenge
NASA, in partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey, or USGS, is offering more than $35,000 in prizes to citizen scientists for ideas using climate data to address vulnerabilities faced by the United States in coping with climate change.
According to the recent National Climate Assessment produced by more than 300 experts across government and academia, the United States faces a number of current and future challenges as the result of climate change. Vulnerabilities include coastal flooding and weather-related hazards that threaten lives and property, increased disruptions to agriculture, prolonged drought that adversely affects food security and water availability, and ocean acidification capable of damaging ecosystems and biodiversity. The challenge seeks to unlock the potential of climate data to address these and other climate risks.
The challenge begins with an ideation stage for data-driven application pitches, followed by storyboarding and, finally, prototyping of concepts with the greatest potential. Entries for the ideation stage are due Jan. 18, 2015. Other phases of the challenge will run through March 2015.
The ideation stage challenges competitors to imagine new applications of climate data to address climate vulnerabilities. This stage is divided into three competitive classes based on data sources: NASA data, federal data from agencies such as the USGS and any open data. The storyboarding stage allows competitors to conceptualize and design the best ideas, followed by the prototyping stage, which implements the best ideas.
The Climate Resilience Data Challenge is managed by NASA’s Center of Excellence for Collaborative Innovation at NASA Headquarters in the District of Columbia, and is being conducted through the NASA Tournament Lab, a partnership with Harvard University hosted on Appirio/Topcoder. The challenge supports the efforts of the White House Climate Data Initiative, a broad effort to leverage the federal government’s extensive, freely available climate-relevant data resources to spur innovation and private-sector entrepreneurship in order to advance awareness of and preparedness for the impacts of climate change.
For additional information on the Climate Resilience Data Challenge and to register to take part, visit http://www.topcoder.com/earthscience/crdc/.
To learn more about other NASA challenges and citizen science efforts, visit http://www.nasa.gov/solve/.
To find out more about U.S. climate change vulnerabilities, visit the National Climate Assessment website http://nca2014.globalchange.gov/.
NASA monitors Earth’s vital signs from land, air and space with a fleet of satellites and ambitious airborne and ground-based observation campaigns. For more information about NASA’s earth science activities, visit http://www.nasa.gov/earthrightnow/.
Questions about the challenge should be directed to Jeff Chen at jeffrey.c.chen@nasa.gov.
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DEADLINE EXTENDED: 2014-2015 NASA Goddard OPTIMUS PRIME Spinoff Challenge
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center is launching the 2014-2015 TRANSFORMERS OPTIMUS PRIME Spinoff Challenge, hosted by the Innovative Technology Partnerships Office. The purpose of the challenge is to raise awareness of NASA’s Technology Transfer Program and to inspire interest in all NASA missions, programs and projects.
This year the scope of the contest is being expanded to include two challenges. In the first challenge, students in grades 3-12 are asked to submit a video describing their favorite NASA Goddard spinoff. In a new twist, participants in this year′s contest must also use the engineering design process to develop and propose a new spinoff application of their own for the technology. Spinoffs are technologies originally created for space and modified into everyday products used on Earth. Examples include memory foam, invisible braces and scratch-resistant lenses for eyeglasses.
The second challenge, the TRANSFORMERS OPTIMUS PRIME InWorld Challenge, offers students in grades 6-12 an opportunity to take their video spinoff ideas to another level. Interested teams must study James Webb Space Telescope spinoff technology and post their completed spinoff videos for review by college engineering students. Engineering college mentors will select 20 teams to continue the collaborative design process within a multiuser virtual world to build a 3-D model of the team′s design solutions.
Winning students from each grade category will be invited to Goddard to participate in a behind-the-scenes workshop, attend a VIP awards ceremony and meet actor Peter Cullen, the voice of OPTIMUS PRIME.
The new deadline to register and upload videos is Jan. 23, 2015.
For more information, visit http://itpo.gsfc.nasa.gov/optimus/.
Questions about this contest should be directed to Darryl Mitchell at Darryl.R.Mitchell@nasa.gov.
TRANSFORMERS and OPTIMUS PRIME are trademarks of Hasbro and are used with permission. © 2014 Hasbro. All rights reserved.
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Free Smithsonian’s Stars Lecture Series
Curious about icy bodies in the outer reaches of our solar system, the effects of space junk on deep-space observation, the latest discoveries about the origins of the universe and new ways galaxy formation is mapped? Come to the Smithsonian’s Stars Lecture Series presented by Smithsonian researchers who are exploring the sun, the moon, planets, stars, galaxies and the universe. These speakers will share behind-the-scenes details about how their research is done and about technologies that advance new discoveries. The lectures will be held at the Albert Einstein Planetarium at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.
Each lecture begins at 5:15 p.m. EST and is followed by a Q&A session. Stay after the lecture to visit the museum’s observatory, weather permitting.
Jan. 24, 2015 — Observing the Origin of the Universe From the South Pole
After three years of observing from the South Pole, scientists may have found confirmation that the universe underwent a burst of inflationary growth at the time of the Big Bang. Cosmologist Colin Bischoff will discuss these findings as well as the excitement of astronomy from Antarctica.
Feb. 21, 2015 — Tracing the Structure of the Universe With Galaxy Surveys
Studies of galaxy formation and cosmology have exploded in recent years due to the immense data obtained from large galaxy surveys. Postdoctoral fellow Cameron McBride will discuss how observational data and theory are combined to better understand fundamental questions in our universe, and will highlight some exciting results from ongoing research.
For more information about the Smithsonian’s Stars Lecture Series, visit http://airandspace.si.edu/events/lectures/smithsonian-stars/.
Questions about this lecture series should be directed to the visitor service line at 202-633-2214.
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Sally Ride EarthKAM Announces the 2015 Winter Mission
Students and educators are invited to participate in the Sally Ride EarthKAM winter mission scheduled for Jan. 27-30, 2015. Guide your students in hands-on research as they program a camera aboard the International Space Station to take pictures of specific locations on Earth. The optional online curricula at the Sally Ride EarthKAM website are targeted at middle school students but are adaptable for other grade levels. All students and educators are welcome, including participants in afterschool programs.
For more information and to register for an upcoming mission, visit the Sally Ride EarthKAM home page at https://earthkam.ucsd.edu/.
If you have questions about the EarthKAM project, please email ek-help@earthkam.ucsd.edu.
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DEADLINE EXTENDED: 2014 NASA EONS Solicitation New 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 Minority University Research and Education Program, or MUREP, Institutional Research Opportunity, or MIRO appendix. This effort was previously titled as the NASA University Research Centers Project, and has now been consolidated into the MUREP Program within the NASA Office of Education.
Through the EONS omnibus solicitation, the opportunity MIRO has been released. Through MIRO awards, NASA aims to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM literacy and to enhance and sustain the capability of minority serving institutions to perform NASA-related research and education, which directly support NASA’s four mission directorates — Aeronautics Research, Human Exploration and Space Operations, Science, and Space Technology.
The deadline for proposals has been extended to Jan. 30, 2015.
For more information regarding the MIRO solicitation, please visit the NASA EONS page on the NASA Solicitation and Proposal Integrated Review and Proposal System, or NSPIRES, website at: http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method=init&solId=%7bB6C61D04-5793-EF52-3497-1AA57FA424A5%7d&path=open .
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2015 NOAA Undergraduate Scholarship
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, is accepting applications for its 2015 Educational Partnership Program, or EPP, Undergraduate Scholarship Program. The EPP Undergraduate Scholarship Program provides scholarships for two years of undergraduate study to rising junior undergraduate students majoring in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields that directly support NOAA’s mission.
Participants receive total awards valued at up to $35,000 in total support during their junior and senior years. During the first summer, scholars complete a nine-week paid summer internship at NOAA in Silver Spring, Maryland. During the second summer, scholars complete paid internships at NOAA facilities across the country. A stipend and housing allowance is provided. At the end of both summer internships, students present the results of their projects at an education and science symposium in Silver Spring.
Students attending an accredited Minority Serving Institution within the United States or U.S. Territories as defined by the U.S. Department of Education (Hispanic Serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Alaskan-Native Serving Institutions, and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions) are eligible to apply for the program. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and must earn and maintain a minimum 3.2 grade point average on a 4.0 scale.
Applications are due Jan. 30, 2015.
For more information and to submit an online application, visit http://www.epp.noaa.gov/ssp_undergrad_page.html.
Questions about this scholarship opportunity should be directed to EPP.USP@noaa.gov.
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U.S. National Park Service’s Young Leaders in Climate Change — Summer 2015 Internships
The George Melendez Wright Initiative for Young Leaders in Climate Change, or YLCC, builds a pathway for exemplary students in higher education to apply cutting-edge climate change knowledge to park management. The program provides paid summer internships to highly accomplished graduate and upper-level undergraduate students to work on diverse issues related to climate change and its effects in national parks. Participants gain valuable work experience, explore career options and develop leadership skills under the mentorship and guidance of the National Park Service.
The program features structured projects in one or more of the following interdisciplinary areas: climate change science and monitoring; resource conservation and adaptation; policy development; sustainable park operations; facilities adaptation; and communication/interpretation/education. Interns who successfully complete the YLCC will be eligible to be hired noncompetitively into subsequent federal jobs once they complete their degree programs. These jobs would be in the Department of Interior, National Park Service or one of the other bureaus within the Department of Interior. An intern must qualify for the job in order to be hired noncompetitively.
Internships are full-time positions (40 hours/week) lasting 11-12 weeks. Interns are paid $14/hour plus benefits, and are employees of the University of Washington. Most positions come with free or subsidized housing in dormitories or other shared accommodations in parks. Internships offer rigorous and challenging projects that demand high-level academic knowledge and skills, allowing interns considerable autonomy and opportunity for leadership under an effective mentor.
The application deadline is 12:01 pm PST on Jan. 30, 2015.
For additional information and to apply for a YLCC internship, visit http://parksclimateinterns.org/.
Questions about this program should be directed to Tim Watkins at climate_change@nps.gov.
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NASA History Program Office Summer and Fall 2015 Internships
The NASA History Program Office is seeking undergraduate and graduate students for summer and 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.
Applications for summer 2015 internships are due Feb. 1, 2015. 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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International Space Station Research Design Challenge: Capillary Effects on Liquids Exploratory Research Experiments
NASA and Portland State University are seeking participants for the International Space Station Research Design Challenge: Capillary Effects on Liquids Exploratory Research Experiments, or CELERE. This design challenge enables students to participate in microgravity research on capillary action, similar to that conducted on the space station.
Teams or individuals create their own experiment using computer-aided design, or CAD, with a provided template. Short experiment proposals are submitted, and test cells are manufactured by Portland State University using the CAD drawings and a computer-controlled laser cutter. Each experiment is conducted in a drop tower. Video of the drop is provided for student analysis and reporting of results.
CELERE is open to individuals and teams in grades 8-12 Teams may include younger students as long as there is at least one team member in grades 8-12 to facilitate the participation of informal science clubs, Scouts, etc. Teams may be of any size and may include an entire class or science club. The program is limited to students from the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Design proposals are now being accepted. Deadlines for submissions are Feb. 1, March 1 and April 1, 2015.
For more information about this opportunity, visit http://spaceflightsystems.grc.nasa.gov/CELERE/.
If you have questions about this opportunity, please email your inquiries to the CELERE team at celere@lists.nasa.gov.
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NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowships Program Accepting Proposals for 2015-2016 Academic Year
The NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship Program, or NESSF, is soliciting applications from accredited U.S. universities on behalf of individuals pursuing master’s or doctoral degrees in earth and space sciences, or related disciplines, for the 2015-2016 academic year. The purpose of NESSF is to ensure continued training of a highly qualified workforce in disciplines needed to achieve NASA’s scientific goals. Awards resulting from the competitive selection will be training grants to the respective universities, with the advisor serving as the principal investigator. The financial support for the NESSF program comes from the Science Mission Directorate’s four science divisions: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Planetary Science and Astrophysics.
Initially, NESSF awards are made for one year. They may be renewed for up to two additional years, contingent upon satisfactory progress (as reflected in academic performance, research progress and recommendation by the faculty advisor) and the availability of funds.
The maximum amount of a NESSF award is $30,000 per year.
Proposals for this opportunity are due Feb. 2, 2015.
For more information about this solicitation, visit http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method=init&solId={B6CDCEA6-8EDD-A48A-FAF8-E588F66661C3}&path=open.
Questions about Earth Science Research NESSF opportunities should be directed to Claire Macaulay at Claire.I.Macaulay@nasa.gov.
Questions about Heliophysics Research, Planetary Science Research and Astrophysics Research opportunities should be directed to Dolores Holland at hq-nessf-Space@nasa.gov.
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2015 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 will 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 2015 who have not started graduate school yet are also eligible. Preference is given to U.S. citizens and permanent residents.
Applications are due Feb. 2, 2015.
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.
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Mosaics in Science Program
The Mosaics in Science program was developed by the National Park Service, in partnership with the Geological Society of America, to increase diversity among those who seek science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, careers within the National Park Service.
Participants will spend 11 weeks working on a STEM project in a national park. After completing their projects, participants travel to the District of Columbia to participate in a career workshop that provides opportunities to present their work, learn about how to apply for a federal job, and meet National Park Service staff and management.
Twenty-six positions will be offered in 2015. Participants will receive a stipend of $4,000, and housing and travel costs are also covered. Applications are due Feb. 3, 2015.
To be eligible, applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States between 18 and 35 years old who attend or recently graduated from an undergraduate institution, or are in the early stages of their career. Interested students must be nominated by an organization partnering with the program. Students from groups historically underrepresented in STEM fields are strongly encouraged to seek nomination. These groups include but are not limited to African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander, and persons with disabilities.
For additional information on the Mosaics in Science program and to see a list of partner organizations eligible to nominate students, visit http://rock.geosociety.org/mosaics/. For an overview of the Mosaics in Science Program, see: http://nature.nps.gov/geology/mosaics/index.cfm.
Questions about the program should be directed to Lisa Norby at lisa_norby@nps.gov. Questions on program eligibility and how to apply for a position should be directed to Matt Dawson at mdawson@geosociety.org.
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Lunar and Planetary Institute Workshops: Earth and Space Science
The Lunar and Planetary Institute invites high school teachers to attend a series of earth and space science workshops. These one-day workshops will take place at the Harris County Department of Education Science Center in Houston, Texas.
‘Weather and Climate Interactions’
Feb. 5, 2015, 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Use data-rich activities and hands-on demonstrations to investigate thermal energy transfers and the role of the sun in convection, winds and currents; identify how patterns of atmospheric movement influence weather; and examine the role of oceans in forming hurricanes. The workshop includes a variety of formative assessment strategies.
‘Our Celestial Neighborhood’
Feb. 11, 2015, 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Explore the relationships and scales of the solar system, Milky Way and our universe, and examine the characteristics and life cycles of stars, and the variety and properties of galaxies.
A workshop registration fee of $30 includes extensive presentation materials, reference materials, hands-on lesson plans for the classroom, refreshments and lunch. Workshop space is limited, and interested educators are encouraged to apply early to secure a spot. Registration for each workshop closes the day prior to the workshop.
For more information and to register to attend, visit http://www.lpi.usra.edu/education/workshops/HCDE_2015_Middle_HS.pdf.
Questions about these workshops should be directed to Education@lpi.usra.edu.
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2015 NASA Student Airborne Research Program
The NASA Airborne Science Program invites highly motivated undergraduate students currently in their junior year to apply for the NASA Student Airborne Research Program, also known as SARP 2015. The program provides students with hands-on research experience in all aspects of a major scientific campaign, from detailed planning on how to achieve mission objectives to formal presentation of results and conclusions to peers and others. Students will assist in the operation of airborne instruments aboard the NASA DC-8 aircraft.
The program takes place in summer 2015. Instrument and flight preparations, and the research flights themselves, will occur at NASA′s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Palmdale, California. Post-flight data analysis and interpretation will take place at the University of California, Irvine.
Successful applicants will be awarded a stipend plus a travel and meals allowance for eight weeks of participation in the program. Housing and local transportation will also be provided.
The deadline for applications is Feb. 5, 2015.
For more information and to download the program application, visit http://www.nserc.und.edu/sarp/sarp-2015.
Specific questions about the program should be directed to SARP2015@nserc.und.edu.
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2015 Space Exploration Educators Conference
Make plans to attend the 21st Annual Space Exploration Educators Conference, to be held Feb. 5-7, 2015, at Space Center Houston. This conference is for all K-12 educators. Activities presented use space-related themes to teach across the curricula and can be used for science, language arts, mathematics, history and more.
Attend sessions hosted by scientists and engineers working on the International Space Station, Mars exploration and the planets beyond. Hear from astronauts who will be leading the charge in exploration. Attend sessions presented by educators and receive ready-to-implement classroom ideas. Attendees can earn up to 24 hours of continuing professional education credit.
For more information, visit http://spacecenter.org/education-programs/teacher-programs/teachers-seec/.
Please email any questions about the conference to seec@spacecenter.org.
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2015 NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge
NASA has opened team registration for the 2015 NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge. Organized by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, the event will be held April 16-18, 2015, at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, also in Huntsville.
The challenge engages high school, college and university students in hands-on, experiential learning activities, while also testing potential technologies needed for future deep space exploration. Both U.S. and international teams may register to participate. For U.S. teams, registration closesFeb. 6, 2015.
Student teams participating in the Rover Challenge must design, engineer and test a human-powered rover on a mock course designed to simulate the harsh and demanding terrains future NASA explorers may find on distant planets, moons and asteroids.
For more information on the 2015 Human Exploration Rover Challenge and registration, visit http://go.nasa.gov/14dikMF.
Follow the Rover Challenge on social media for the latest news and updates:
https://www.facebook.com/roverchallenge?ref=hl
https://twitter.com/RoverChallenge
http://instagram.com/nasa_marshall.
View images from the 2014 Rover Challenge at http://go.nasa.gov/1iEjGRp.
International teams with questions about this event or registration may email Amy McDowell at Amy.McDowell@nasa.gov. U.S. teams with questions may contact Diedra Williams at MSFC-RoverChallenge2015@mail.nasa.gov.
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Engineering for You Video Contest 2
The National Academy of Engineering, or NAE, is launching the Engineering for You Video Contest 2, or E4U2.
Throughout history, engineering has advanced civilization from the way we connect with each other, to the way we heal, to how we get around and simply have fun. But society still faces major obstacles. The NAE has outlined 14 game-changing opportunities for the 21st century called the Grand Challenges for Engineering. Review the challenges and produce a one- to two-minute video showing how achieving one or more of the NAE Grand Challenges for Engineering will lead to a more sustainable, healthy, secure and/or joyous world.
The competition is open to all individuals or teams in the following competition categories:
— Middle school students and younger (grades K-8)
— High school students (grades 9-12)
— Tertiary education students (two-year college through graduate school, full or part time)
— The general public
The main prize is $25,000, and videos will be accepted through March 2, 2015.
For more information, visit http://www.nae.edu/e4u2/.
Questions about the E4U2 Video Contest should be directed to E4Uvideocontest@nae.edu.
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2015 NASA Aeronautics Scholarship Program
The NASA Aeronautics Scholarship Program is accepting applications from students majoring in aeronautics-related fields. Undergraduates with at least two years of study remaining are eligible to receive up to $15,000 per year for two years and a summer internship with a $10,000 stipend. Graduate student awards include up to $11,000 in tuition offset, a $35,000 stipend per year for two years and a summer internship with a $10,000 stipend. Applicants must be U.S. citizens.
Applications are due March 31, 2015.
Applications should be submitted through the NASA One Stop Shopping Initiative at http://intern.nasa.gov. Applicants should be sure to select “scholarship” for the type of application.
Questions about the 2015 NASA Aeronautics Scholarship opportunity should be emailed to NASA.ASP2015@nasaprs.com.
