NASA Education Express Message — June 25, 2015

This update is issued weekly by the NASA Education Office. To subscribe to this weekly update by email go to the NASA Education EXPRESS mailing list at http://www.nasa.gov/education/express and follow the instructions.

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/

New Educational Materials Available at NASA.gov

Are you looking for lesson plans that share the excitement of flight and aeronautics with young learners? Do you want to know more about NASA Education and everything it has to offer? Or maybe you’re hunting for activities to supplement summer learning. NASA Education has you covered!

The following items are now available for downloading.

NASA Education Brochure — All Educators
The mission of NASA Education is to advance high-quality STEM education using NASA’s unique capabilities. This brochure includes a brief overview of NASA Education and our mission: who we are; what we do; and how we do it. The brochure also explains the four initiatives and two primary programs for achieving that mission and lists the main websites for NASA Education. Learn how you can get involved.
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/NASA_Education_Brochure.html 

‘We’re With You When You Fly — Aeronautics for Pre-K’ Educator Guide — Grades Pre-K
Based on principles within popular children’s books, each of the STEM lesson plans in this guide helps preschool children learn about the science of aeronautics. The six themes are Gliders in Nature, Balloons, Parachutes, Kites, Helicopters and Airplanes, and World Flyers.
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/With_You_When_You_Fly/

NASA Educator Resource Guide for Living in the Age of Airplanes — Grades Pre-K-12
Seven standards-based activities help students explore the social and scientific advances in the speed and distance of human travel, as well as NASA’s contribution to aviation. From comparing walking speeds to flying speeds and calculating how long it will take to reach certain destinations, to playing an air cargo game and creating map projections, the activities show students how air transportation has changed the world. This guide was developed as a supplement for the IMAX feature film “Living in the Age of Airplanes,” which was released in 2015 by National Geographic.
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Living_in_Age_of_Airplanes/

Looking for more? NASA’s new Educational Resource Search Tool can help you find lesson plans, posters, educator guides and other materials to boost your science, technology, engineering and mathematics curriculum. Search hundreds of resources by subject, grade level, type and keywords.

To check out the search tool and begin your hunt for educational resources, visit http://www.nasa.gov/education/materials/.

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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 link provided beneath the webinar description to register.

ISS Across the Curriculum Series: Space Faring — The Radiation Challenge
Audience: Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades 6-12
Event Date: June 25, 2015, at 3 p.m. EDT
Design your own spacecraft that will shield astronauts from radiation. Discuss with colleagues how the space radiation studies on the International Space Station will influence the design of the Orion spacecraft that will journey to Mars. Radiation is an interdisciplinary science — biology, physics, astrophysics, planetary science and engineering design — that examines the effects of radiation on living systems. Explore the engineering design process and its application to real-world problem solving. Register online to participate. https://www.etouches.com/131355

Exploring Strange New Worlds Series: Taking a Closer Look at Asteroids — The Dawn Mission
Audience: Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades 6-8
Event Date: July 1, 2015, at 12 p.m. EDT
Join NASA Educator Professional Development for a free 60-minute webinar presenting an overview of the Dawn Mission. Take a closer look at asteroids, and learn how to use them to integrate mathematics, science and language arts in the classroom. Register online to participate.https://www.etouches.com/132081

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

Please direct questions about this series of webinars to Steve Culivan at stephen.p.culivan@nasa.gov.

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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.

NASA GIRLS and NASA BOYS Mentoring Project

NASA is looking for the next generation of scientists, engineers and innovators. To jump-start the future of potential explorers, Women@NASA has created a mentoring project that offers a one-of-a-kind experience for middle school students. Participants will explore the possibilities of a career in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. 

The project will feature one-on-one mentoring from NASA employees. Participants will complete online lessons with their mentors while virtually connected through Skype or Google Chat. 

Applicants must be U.S. citizens in grades 5-8 or the home-school equivalent. The mentoring project will take place over a five-week period during the summer. 

Applications are due June 28, 2015. 

For more information and to register online, visit http://women.nasa.gov/nasagirls/.

Please direct questions about this opportunity to hq-women@nasa.gov.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope’s release into space. The 2015 Exploring Space Lectures will feature world-class scholars discussing some of the most innovative scientific research conducted using Hubble and exploring the insights the telescope has uncovered about our universe. Presenters will also discuss the telescope’s serviceability, design, administration, execution, and place in history.

The Hubble Space Telescope: The Agony and the Ecstasy
June 30, 2015, at 8 p.m. EDT
The Hubble Space Telescope is the most famous scientific instrument ever built, but its remarkable history has seen numerous ups and downs. Professor Robert Smith, author of the definitive history of the Hubble Space Telescope, will explore some of the most exciting and telling episodes in this rich history.

The lecture will be held at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in the District of Columbia, and attendance is free. However, tickets are required. Come early to see a free film and to meet the lecturer. The lecture will be webcast live for free viewing. Lecture videos will be archived.

For more information about the Smithsonian’s Exploring Space Lecture Series, visit http://airandspace.si.edu/events/lectures/exploring-space/.

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

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U.S. Department of Education ‘First in the World’ Grant Competition

The U.S. Department of Education is accepting proposals for the “First in the World” grant competition. The goal of this highly competitive program is to build evidence for what works in postsecondary education by testing the effectiveness of innovative strategies to improve student persistence and completion outcomes. The department will award grants in development and validation tiers.

Applications are due June 30, 2015.

For proposal specifications and submission requirements, visit http://www2.ed.gov/programs/fitw/index.html.

Questions about the “First in the World” program should be directed to OPEFirstintheWorld@ed.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.

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Cast Your Vote in the Ceres “Bright Spot” Mystery Poll

On March 6, 2015, NASA’s Dawn spacecraft began orbiting Ceres, the largest body in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Even before the spacecraft arrived at the dwarf planet, images revealed mysterious bright spots that captivated scientists and observers alike.

Can you guess what’s creating those unusual bright spots on Ceres? Until Dawn gets a closer look over the next few months, it’s anyone’s guess what those spots could be. 

To learn more and to cast your vote, visit http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/dawn/world_ceres/. 

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

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NASA Postdoctoral Program Fellowships

The NASA Postdoctoral Program, or NPP, supports NASA’s goal to expand scientific understanding of the Earth and the universe in which we live.

Selected by a competitive peer-review process, NPP fellows complete one- to three-year fellowships that offer scientists and engineers unique opportunities to conduct research in fields of science relevant to NASA.

These opportunities advance NASA’s missions in earth science, heliophysics, astrophysics, planetary science, astrobiology, space bioscience, aeronautics and engineering, human exploration and operations, and space technology. Opportunities are available at NASA centers and other NASA-approved sites.

As a result, NPP fellows contribute to national priorities for scientific exploration, confirm NASA’s leadership in fundamental research and complement the efforts of NASA’s partners in the national science community.

U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents and foreign nationals eligible for J-1 status as a research scholar may apply. Applicants must have completed a doctorate or equivalent degree before beginning the fellowship, but may apply while completing degree requirements. Applicants who earned the Ph.D. more than five years before the deadline date are categorized as senior fellows; all applicants, no matter their category, must apply and become eligible for an NPP award via the same process.

Interested applicants may apply by one of three annual application deadlines: March 1, July 1 and November 1.

For more information and application procedures, go to http://nasa.orau.org/postdoc/.

Questions about this opportunity should be directed to nasapostdoc@orau.org.

Call for Abstracts: 31st American Society for Gravitational and Space Research Conference

A call for abstracts has been released for the 31st annual American Society for Gravitational and Space Research, or ASGSR, Conference taking place Nov. 11-14, 2015, in Alexandria, Virginia.

Applicants must submit abstracts electronically no later than July 1, 2015, using the abstract submittal form and instructions posted on the ASGSR website. All submitted abstracts will be peer-reviewed by the conference organizing committee.

All accepted abstracts from students will be presented as posters or orally in competitions. The student poster competition will be judged by society members, and monetary awards will be given during the banquet scheduled for Nov. 14, 2015. Students must be present at the banquet to receive the monetary award. Student competition winners will be encouraged to submit an extended abstract or a communication article to the ASGSR journal “Gravitational and Space Research.” All students should coordinate with their advisors when submitting an abstract for the conference.

Student travel assistance of up to $500 is available on a limited basis. Students requesting consideration for travel assistance should check the box on the abstract submittal form.

For more information, visit https://www.asgsr.org/index.php/2015-call-for-abstracts. Please direct questions about this opportunity to Ms. Jobi Cook at admin@asgsr.org.

“Where Over the World Is Astronaut Scott Kelly?” Geography From Space Trivia Contest

During his year-long stay on the International Space Station, astronaut Scott Kelly wants to test your knowledge of the world through a geography trivia game on Twitter. Traveling more than 220 miles above Earth, and at 17,500 miles per hour, he circumnavigates the globe more than a dozen times a day. This gives Kelly the opportunity to see and photograph various geographical locations on Earth. In fact, part of his job while in space is to capture images of Earth for scientific observations. 

Follow @StationCDRKelly on Twitter. Each Wednesday, Kelly will tweet a picture and ask the public to identify the place depicted in the photo. The first person to identify the place correctly will win an autographed copy of the picture. Kelly plans to continue posting weekly contest photos until he returns from the space station in March 2016.

For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/feature/where-over-the-world-is-astronaut-scott-kelly.

To learn more about the One-Year Mission, visit http://www.nasa.gov/content/one-year-crew.

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NASA’s Journey to Mars Challenge

As NASA embarks on an ambitious journey to Mars, the agency is looking for your innovative and creative ideas to help make the journey possible! The public is invited to share their ideas, in detail, for developing the elements of space pioneering necessary to establish a continuous human presence on the Red Planet. These ideas could include shelter, food, water, breathable air, communication, exercise, social interactions and medicine, but NASA encourages participants to consider elements beyond these examples.

NASA’s efforts for sending humans to Mars are well underway, with rovers exploring the planet’s surface and spacecraft monitoring Mars from orbit. The International Space Station is testing systems and serving as a lab to learn more about the health impacts of extended space travel. NASA is testing and developing its next generation of launch and crew vehicles — the Space Launch System rocket and Orion crewed spacecraft. 

Given spacecraft limitations on weight and volume — and a minimum 500 days between resupply opportunities — a mission to Mars that is not dependent on Earth for resources requires innovative solutions.

NASA seeks technical submissions that describe the development of capabilities and operations necessary, in both the near- and long-term, to advance this bold journey. Submissions may consist of proposed approaches, capabilities, systems, or a set of integrated systems that enable or enhance a sustained human presence on Mars. Solutions should include the assumptions, analysis and data that justify their value. Submissions should include a process to develop, test, implement, and operate the system or capability.

NASA will judge submissions on relevance, creativity, simplicity, resource efficiency, feasibility, comprehensiveness and scalability. NASA expects to make up to three awards at a minimum of $5,000 each from a total award pool of $15,000.

Entries are due July 6, 2015. 

For more information about the challenge, visit http://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-announces-journey-to-mars-challenge-seeks-public-input-on-establishing-sustained. 

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.

NASA’s Mars Student Imaging Project Educator Training — In-person or Online

Arizona State University’s Mars Education Program is hosting three training opportunities for educators interested in learning how to facilitate NASA’s Mars Student Imaging Project. Help your students learn about science by being the scientists and conducting research on another planet — Mars! The Mars Student Imaging Project is designed specifically for the Next Generation Science Standards and embeds 21st Century Skills. 

Learn how you can facilitate this project in your classroom. You don’t need any background in planets or geology to participate. This is project-based learning, and your students will learn how science works by formulating research questions, collecting and analyzing data, and reporting their findings to NASA scientists. Students’ work will be driven by their own interests about Mars! 

The Mars Student Imaging Project is appropriate for grades 5-12. 

A live training session will take place at the Arizona State University campus in Tempe, Arizona, July 8-9, 2015. The training fee is $10, and participants will earn eight hours of professional development credit. For more information and to register to attend, visit http://marsed.asu.edu/msip/at-asu-training-2015.

Two in-depth, virtual training sessions also will be offered. These sessions are free, and participants will earn eight hours of professional development credit.

Session #1 will take place July 14-16, 2015. For more information and to register to attend, visit https://marsed.mars.asu.edu/msip/online-training-7-14-2015.

Session #2 will take place July 21-23, 2015. For more information and to register to attend, visit https://marsed.mars.asu.edu/msip/online-training-7-21-2015.

Please direct questions about the workshop to mars@asu.edu.

NASA’s Digital Learning Network Event — Pluto Flyby: The Final Countdown

New Horizons, the fastest spacecraft ever launched, rocketed atop an Atlas V from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station more than nine years ago. Now days away from the Pluto Flyby, Chuck Tatro, Launch Site Integration branch chief for NASA’s Launch Services Program, joins NASA Education for a special live-streamed event from the Digital Learning Network. With Pluto on the horizon, join us for a look back at where the journey began and count down to the historic first close-up view of the dwarf planet. Submit questions via Twitter using #askDLN or via email toDLiNfochannel@gmail.com.

The 60-minute event will be webcast on the NASA DLiNfo Channel on July 9, 2015, at 1 p.m. EDT.

For more information and to view the webcast, visit http://dln.nasa.gov.

Please direct questions about this event to the Kennedy Space Center DLN at DLiNfochannel@gmail.com.

Call for Proposals — Early Stage Innovations NASA Research Announcement

NASA is seeking proposals from universities for early-stage technology development that will support the agency’s long-term plans for human exploration of Mars and scientific study of our solar system and beyond. The Early Stage Innovations NASA Research Announcement calls for innovative space technology proposals that could benefit NASA’s space program, other government agencies and the greater aerospace community.

The proposals may cover transformative space technologies in different fields, including planetary exploration capabilities, such as payload technologies for assistive free-flyers and robotic mobility technologies for the surfaces of icy moons. They also may cover material science, such as discrete cellular materials assembly, repair and reconfiguration, and computationally guided structural nanomaterials design.

Other topics could include optical communication for space using integrated photonics, atmospheric entry modeling development using data from the first flight test of NASA’s Orion spacecraft in December 2014, and high-voltage power management and distribution electronics for space applications.

The agency expects to make approximately 12 awards this fall, with total award amounts of as much as $500,000. Research and development efforts will take place over two to three years.

Only accredited U.S. universities may submit proposals under this solicitation. The deadline for submitting final proposals is July 10, 2015.

For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-invites-universities-to-submit-innovative-early-stage-technology-proposals. 

Questions about the Early Stage Innovations NASA Research Announcement should be directed to Claudia Meyer at hq-esi-call@mail.nasa.gov.

Free Tours of Facilities at NASA’s Glenn Research Center

NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, is offering tours that take visitors behind the scenes and inside certain research facilities. Glenn scientists and engineers serve as guides. Tours will be offered each month through October 2015. Tours are free of charge for groups and individuals on an advance reservation basis. Visitor parking is also available free of charge.

A tour bus departs from Glenn’s main gate every hour beginning at 10 a.m. The last tour departs at 1 p.m. Each tour lasts about 45 minutes and is followed by a stop at Glenn’s Gift Shop.

Glenn’s 2015 Tour Schedule

July 11, 2015 — Breeze by a Wind Tunnel: Tour the Abe Silverstein Supersonic Wind Tunnel. This facility has conducted supersonic propulsion testing on aircraft components such as inlets, nozzles and engines. It is ideally suited for launch vehicle tests and other fuel-burning applications.

Aug. 1, 2015 — See Things a Different Way: Check out Glenn’s Graphics and Visualization, or GVIS, and the Reconfigurable User-interface and Virtual Reality Exploration, or GRUVE, Laboratories. The GVIS Lab uses advanced computer input and output devices paired with a variety of natural user interface devices and 3-D displays. The GRUVE lab is used to analyze data obtained either by computer simulation or from research test facilities.

Sept. 12, 2015 — Go to the Extreme: Join us on a tour through Glenn’s Extreme Environments Rig, or GEER. As NASA ventures through the solar system and beyond, spacecraft will experience hostile environments of Venus and other planetary bodies. Temperatures can reach hundreds of degrees. Air pressure is crushing, and the toxic atmosphere is thick. GEER is designed to simulate those temperatures and pressure extremes and accurately reproduce the atmospheric compositions of bodies in the solar system. GEER is currently in its commissioning phase for operations simulating Venus’ surface temperature, pressure and chemistry.

Oct. 3, 2015 — Explore Locomotion on Planets: Come explore the Simulated Lunar Operations facility, which is home to a 60-foot-long, 20-foot-wide sandpit filled with simulated lunar soil and a lunar rover test bed. Other areas simulate Martian soil conditions. Research in this facility will help NASA develop the components of rovers capable of traveling long distances and investigating planetary surfaces during future human and robotic missions to keep NASA’s journey to Mars moving forward.

Tours are open to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents. To guarantee admission, reservations are required. For more information on tours and how to make reservations, visit http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/events/tours.html. 

Questions about the tours should be directed to Sheila Reese at sheila.d.reese@nasa.gov.

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3-D Printed Habitat Challenge — Design Competition

NASA and the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute, known as America Makes, are holding a new $2.25 million competition to design and build a 3-D printed habitat for deep space exploration, including the agency’s journey to Mars. The multi-phase 3-D Printed Habitat Challenge, part of NASA’s Centennial Challenges program, is designed to advance the additive construction technology needed to create sustainable housing solutions for Earth and beyond.

The first phase of the competition, a design competition, calls on participants to develop state-of-the-art architectural concepts that take advantage of the unique capabilities 3-D printing offers. The top 30 submissions will be judged, and a prize purse of $50,000 will be awarded at the 2015 World Maker Faire in New York.

The deadline to submit a registration packet for the design competition phase is July 15, 2015. 

The second phase of the competition is divided into two levels. The Structural Member Competition (Level 1) focuses on the fabrication technologies needed to manufacture structural components from a combination of indigenous materials and recyclables, or indigenous materials alone. The On-Site Habitat Competition (Level 2) challenges competitors to fabricate full-scale habitats using indigenous materials or indigenous materials combined with recyclables. Both levels open for registration Sept. 26, and each carries a $1.1 million prize.

For more information, rules and to register for the 3-D-Printed Habitat Challenge, visit http://www.nasa.gov/3DPHab. 

Questions about the 3-D Printed Habitat Challenge should be directed to project manager John Wilczynski at john.wilczynski@ncdmm.org.

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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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, share 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 pm. 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 also streamed live for viewing online. Archives of past lectures are also available online.

The next lecture in the series is:

Discovery at Mars
Event Date: July 16 and July 17, 2015, at 7 pm. PDT (10 p.m. EDT)
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/events/lectures_archive.php?year=2015&month=7 
July 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of Mariner 4, the first spacecraft to successfully fly by the planet Mars. After a half-century of exploring the Red Planet, scientists continue to be surprised by findings there. Join Blaine Baggett, director of the Office of Communication and Education at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, for an evening to celebrate the past, survey the present and ponder the future possibilities of discovery at Mars.

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 the http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/contact_JPL.php.

Future Engineers: 3-D Space Container Challenge

NASA and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Foundation are challenging K-12 students to create a model of a container for space using 3-D modeling software. Astronauts need containers of all kinds — from advanced containers for studying fruit flies to simple containers for collecting Mars rocks or storing an astronaut’s food. The ability to 3-D print containers in space — on demand — will let humans venture farther into space. That’s why we are challenging students to start designing for space now.

Design entries could be for a container designed for microgravity on the International Space Station or a container designed for future astronauts on Mars! Space is a big place, but your imagination is even bigger. Multiple prizes, based on age groups, are available.

Entries must be submitted by Aug. 2, 2015.

The Design a Space Tool Challenge is the second in a series of challenges where students in grades K-12 create and submit a digital 3-D model of a container that they think astronauts might need in space. Future Engineers is a multiyear education initiative that consists of 3-D space challenges and curriculum videos that parents and educators can use to get kids designing today. 

For more information about the challenge and to watch an introductory video, visit http://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-challenges-students-to-design-3-d-space-containers.

If you have any questions about the 3-D Space Container Challenge, please email info@futureengineers.org.

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

NASA’s Center for Astronomy Education, or CAE, announces a series of educator workshops for astronomy and space science educators.

These workshops provide participants with experiences needed to create effective and productive active-learning classroom environments. Workshop leaders model best practices in implementing many different classroom-tested instructional strategies. But more importantly, workshop participants will gain first-hand experience implementing these proven strategies. During many microteaching events, you will have the opportunity to role-play the parts of student and instructor. You will assess and critique each other’s implementation in real time as part of a supportive learning community. You will have the opportunity to use unfamiliar teaching techniques in collaboration with mentors before using them with your students. CAE is funded through NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Exoplanet Exploration Program.

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

August 15, 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.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Stewards Education Project is hosting a free climate-science workshop for formal and informal educators on Aug. 5, 2015, at the NOAA Science Center in Silver Spring, Maryland. Participants will hear from and interact with climate science, education and communication experts.

The workshop will focus on an introduction to global climate models exploring the subject of climate change in the same way that research scientists do. Simulations and activities for modeling regional and/or topical impacts of climate change will be shared with a goal of connecting educators and their students/audiences to the best-available, science-based information and resources about climate change.

Attendance is limited and availability will be on a first come, first serve basis, so register early. Participation is free, but attendees are responsible for arranging their own transportation, lodging and meals unless otherwise indicated in workshop details.

All attendees will receive a certificate acknowledging their participation in the workshop as well as the number of professional development hours they have engaged in.

For more information and to register to attend, visit http://climate.gov/teaching/professional-development/climate-education-regional-workshop-silver-spring-md. 

For more information about NOAA’s Climate Stewards Project, visit http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/climate-stewards/. 

Questions about this workshop should be directed to Peg Steffen at Peg.Steffen@noaa.gov.

Earth Science Week 2015 Contests

The American Geosciences Institute is sponsoring a series of contests to celebrate Earth Science Week 2015. This year’s celebration takes place Oct. 11-17, 2015. 

Earth Science Week 2015 Photography Contest — Open to All Ages
http://www.earthsciweek.org/contests/photography/index.html
Geoscientists study our planet’s geosphere (land), hydrosphere (water), atmosphere (air), and biosphere (living things). These spheres — or Earth systems — continually affect and influence one another. With a camera, you can capture evidence of the dynamic impact of change processes in your home, neighborhood, school, workplace or local public spaces. In a photo, show at least one Earth system affecting another Earth system in your community.

Earth Science Week 2015 Visual Arts Contest — Open to Students in Grades K-5
http://www.earthsciweek.org/contests/visualarts/index.html
Earth science is the study of Earth systems — land, water, air and living things. Scientists pay special attention to the ways these things affect each other, such as the way wind shapes the landscape or falling rain nourishes plants. Use artwork to show how land, water, air and living things interact in the world around you.

Earth Science Week 2015 Essay Contest — Open to Students in Grades 6-9
http://www.earthsciweek.org/contests/essay/index.html
Since the earliest hand-drawn maps and diagrams, “visualization” has been an important way of explaining and understanding the interactions of land, water, air and living things. Earth scientists today use more sophisticated technology to monitor and represent these Earth systems — the geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere. In an original essay no more than 300 words in length, explain one way that geoscientists’ use of cutting-edge visualization is advancing Earth science today.

The entry deadline for all three contests is Oct. 16, 2015. Visit the contest websites for full details.

If you have any questions about these contests, please email the Earth Science Week staff at info@earthsciweek.org.