NASA Education Express Message — Oct. 1, 2015
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New This Week!
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Free NASA Educator Professional Development Webinars
Audience: In-service, Pre-service, Home School and Informal Educators
Next Event Date: Oct. 1, 2015, at 6:30 p.m. EDT
National Science Foundation’s East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes Fellowship Program
Audience: U.S. Graduate Students
Informational Webinar: Oct. 6, 2015, at 2 p.m. EDT
Application Deadline: Nov. 12, 2015
Online Educator Training About NASA’s Mars Student Imaging Project
Audience: 5-12 Educators
Training Dates: Oct. 12, 14 and 15, 2015
White House Astronomy Night
Audience: All Educators and Students
Event Date: Oct. 19, 2015
White House Office of Science and Technology Policy’s Spring 2016 Policy Internship Program
Audience: Higher Education Students
Application Deadline: Oct. 30, 2015
Journey to Mars VOICES Challenge
Audience: Students in Grades 5-12 (Formal, Informal and Homeschool)
Final Submission Deadline: Jan. 25, 2016
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PREVIOUSLY PROMOTED OPPORTUNITIES…
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Call for Proposals — NASA Research Announcement for Competitive Program for Science Museums, Planetariums and NASA Visitor Centers Plus Other Opportunities (CP4SMPVC+)
Audience: Formal and Informal Education Institutions
Optional Informational Teleconference: Oct. 1, 2015, at 1 p.m. EDT
Optional Notice of Intent Due: Oct. 8, 2015
Proposal Deadline: Dec. 7, 2015
National Climate Game Jam
Audience: All Educators and Students
Date: Aug. Oct. 2-4, 2015
Free Tours of Facilities at NASA’s Glenn Research Center
Audience: All Educators and Students
Next Event Date: Oct. 3, 2015
Family Day Events at Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum
Audience: All Educators and Students
Next Event Date: Oct. 3, 2015, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. EDT
Smithsonian TechQuest: Astronaut Academy
Audience: Designed for Families With Children Ages 10 to 14, but Open to All
Next Event Date: Oct. 3, 2015, 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. EDT
Center for Astronomy Education Teaching Excellence Workshops — Fall/Winter 2015-16
Audience: Higher Education Educators and Students
Next Event Date: Oct. 3, 2015
2016 RASC-AL Robo-Ops Competition
Audience: Higher Education Students
Entry Deadline: Oct. 3, 2015
Celebrate World Space Week 2015
Audience: All Educators
Event Date: Oct. 4-10, 2015
Historical NASA Space Artifacts Available for Educational Use
Audience: Educational Institutions, Museums and Other Education Organizations
Request Deadline: Oct. 5, 2015
Free “What’s New in Aerospace?” Lecture Series at Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
Audience: All Educators and 9-Higher Education Students
Next Lecture Date: Oct. 6, 2015, at 1 p.m. EDT
“Where Over the World Is Astronaut Scott Kelly?” Geography From Space Trivia Contest
Audience: All Educators and Students
Deadline: Ongoing Through March 2016
Free ‘Ask an Expert’ Series Presented by Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum
Audience: All Educators and Students
Next Event Date: Oct. 7, 2015, at Noon EDT
NASA Kentucky Space Grant Consortium 2015-2016 Request for Proposals
Audience: NASA Kentucky Space Grant Consortium Affiliate Institutions
Application Deadline: Oct. 8, 2015
2015 von Kármán Lecture Series — Attend in Person or View Online
Audience: All Educators and 9-Higher Education Students
Next Lecture Date: Oct. 8, 2015, at 7 pm. PDT (10 p.m. EDT)
2016 BIG Idea Challenge
Audience: Higher Education Students and Faculty
Notice of Intent Requested by Oct. 9, 2015
Entry Deadline: Nov. 15, 2015
#WhySpaceMatters Photography Competition
Audience: All Educators and Students
Next Deadline: Oct. 10, 2015
Get Ready for Earth Science Week: Visualizing Earth Systems
Audience: All Educators
Event Date: Oct. 11-17, 2015
Undergraduate Student Instrument Project — 2015 Flight Research Opportunity
Audience: Higher Education Educators and Students
Required Notice of Intent Deadline: Oct. 15, 2015
NASA Kentucky EPSCoR 2015-2016 Request for Proposals
Audience: Higher Education Institutions in Kentucky
Application Deadline: Oct. 15, 2015
NASA Swarmathon: Seeking College Students for Swarming Robotics Competition!
Audience: Higher Education Students
Application Deadline: Oct. 15, 2015
Earth Science Week 2015 Contests
Audience: All Educators and Students
Entry Deadline: Oct. 16, 2015
2016 RASC-AL Aerospace Concepts Design Competition
Audience: Higher Education Students
Notice of Intent Requested by Nov. 9, 2015
Abstract Submission Deadline: Jan. 17, 2016
U.S. Department of Energy’s BioenergizeME Infographic Challenge
Audience: Students in Grades 9-12
Registration Open: Sept. 30, 2015 to Feb. 4, 2016
Infographic Submission Deadline: March 4, 2016
Help NASA Study Mars — Planet Four: Terrains
Audience: All Educators and Students
Project Timeframe: Ongoing Through Mid-2016
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Don’t miss out on upcoming NASA education opportunities.
For a full list of events, opportunities and more, visit the Educator and Student Current Opportunity pages on NASA’s website:
— Educators http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/current-opps-index.html
— Students http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/current-opps-index.html
Are you looking for NASA educational materials to support your STEM curriculum?
Search hundreds of resources by subject, grade level, type and keyword at http://www.nasa.gov/education/resources/.
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NEW THIS WEEK!
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Free NASA Educator Professional Development Webinars
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. Simply click on the link provided beneath the webinar description to register.
Journey to M*A*R*S (Martian Advanced Resources for Survival): NASA InSight – Next Mars Mission
Audience: Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades K-12
Event Date: Oct. 1, 2015, at 6:30 p.m. EDT
NASA’s next mission to Mars is InSight (Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport). As the InSight spacecraft probes deep within the surface of the Red Planet, the story of Mars’ origins will unfold. InSight will send real-time data back to Earth to reveal Mars’ long historical record, hidden for eons under its rocky surface. This session will focus on some of the tools Insight will provide for the classroom so that students can perform data analysis, just as scientists do, engaging in comparative planetology across multiple themes. Register online to participate. https://www.etouches.com/140758
Journey to M*A*R*S (Martian Advanced Resources for Survival): Making Water on a Desert Planet
Audience: Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades 7-9
Event Date: Oct. 5, 2015, at 6:30 p.m. EDT
Participants will learn what it takes to stay hydrated on Mars by creating a water filtration system using the Engineering Design Process. This webinar is aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards. Register online to participate. https://www.etouches.com/141385
Journey to M*A*R*S (Martian Advanced Resources for Survival): Exploration Then and Now
Audience: Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades 3-8
Event Date: October 6, 2015, at 6 p.m. EDT
Imagine being a settler of Jamestown in 1607 and trying to survive the harsh conditions of a new and unfamiliar world. Now, imagine being one of the first astronauts to visit Mars and building a settlement in the extreme Martian environment. How would these two experiences compare? If resources are limited, how would you make decisions about items you need and those you don’t? Come explore as we travel through time and space to inhabit new worlds! Register online to participate. https://www.etouches.com/142306
Journey to M*A*R*S (Martian Advanced Resources for Survival): Mars Needs Food
Audience: Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades 4-8
Event Date: October 7, 2015, at 6 p.m. EDT
Explore future human exploration of Mars with a focus on the food and nutritional needs of those future explorers. Participants will explore NASA STEM resources to investigate the caloric content and nutritional value of space foods. Resources relating to the nutritional needs of astronauts will be used to construct a sample space food menu and develop a better understanding of space food and nutrition for future human explorers to Mars. The investigations will align with Next Generation Science Standards. Register online to participate. https://www.etouches.com/141587
Journey to M*A*R*S (Martian Advanced Resources for Survival): Getting Dirty on Mars
Audience: Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades K-12
Event Date: Oct. 8, 2015, at 6:00 p.m. EDT
Get the scoop on soil. This webinar will use comparison to teach the similarities and differences between soil properties on Earth and Mars. The focus will be on working in cooperative groups to collect and study soil samples, similar to investigations done by NASA’s robotic Phoenix Mars Mission. Key concepts will include understanding the properties of soils and examining soils for their ability to sustain organisms. This webinar will include a discussion of NASA resources on soil and Mars. The activities promote problem solving, communication skills and teamwork while engaging the students in learning that is both fun and relevant to their everyday lives. Register online to participate. https://www.etouches.com/139283
Journey to M*A*R*S (Martian Advanced Resources for Survival): Habitats and Radiation
Audience: Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades 5-9
Event Date: Oct. 13, 2015, at 6 p.m. EDT
Survival is the key when traveling to new locations, especially if that location is the Red Planet. Discover what NASA engineers are designing to house astronauts on Mars. Learn about radiation, and how Mars and Earth compare and contrast. Register online to participate. https://www.etouches.com/143047
Journey to M*A*R*S (Martian Advanced Resources for Survival): Solar System and the Periodic Table
Audience: Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades 3-Higher Education
Event Date: Oct. 14, 2015, at 6:30 p.m. EDT
This webinar features a lesson that gives an excellent introduction to our magnificent solar system! Learn the basics of what the periodic table is and why it is important to us. The featured lesson includes a game and a short writing-for-understanding exercise. Prior to the webinar, please download a copy of the table from http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sr/documents/toe5.pdf and have crayons or colored pencils available. Register online to participate. https://www.etouches.com/137338
Moving Through Space: Multidimensional Kinematics
Audience: Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades 8-12
Event Date: Oct. 15, 2015, at 6:30 p.m. EDT
NASA education specialists will present participants with an overview of resources for describing motion in multiple dimensions. Discussion will include modifications of activities and accommodations. This webinar addresses the Next Generation Science Standard PS2. Register online to participate. https://www.etouches.com/138143
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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National Science Foundation’s East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes Fellowship Program
The National Science Foundation is accepting applications for its East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes, or EAPSI, Fellowship Program. This program provides U.S. graduate students in science, engineering and education with an opportunity to spend eight weeks during the summer conducting research at one of seven host locations in East Asia and the Pacific. Host locations are Australia, China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Singapore and Taiwan. The program is a collaboration between NSF and counterpart agencies in each host location.
EAPSI is open to graduate students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and are enrolled in a research-oriented master’s or doctoral program in science or engineering. Applicants must propose a research project in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics field supported by NSF. Applicants identify and contact host researchers on their own prior to submitting their EAPSI proposals. Lists of prospective host institutions are available at the opportunity website.
NSF provides EAPSI Fellows with a $5,000 stipend and roundtrip airplane ticket to the host location. The program’s foreign counterparts provide in-country living expenses and accommodations. (Arrangements vary by host location.)
The application submission deadline for summer 2016 is Nov. 12, 2015.
For additional information about the program, including location-specific handbooks, a How to Apply guide and helpful tips for applicants, visit www.nsf.gov/eapsi.
Informational webinars will take place at 2 p.m. EDT on Oct. 6 and Oct. 23, 2015.Log-in instructions are available at www.nsf.gov/eapsi.
Questions about this fellowship opportunity should be directed to eapsi@nsf.gov.
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Online Educator Training About NASA’s Mars Student Imaging Project
Arizona State University’s Mars Education Program is hosting free online training for educators interested in learning about NASA’s Mars Student Imaging Project. Help your students learn about science by being the scientists and conducting authentic 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.
An in-depth, virtual training session will be offered Oct. 12, 14 and 15, 2015. This session is free, and participants will earn eight hours of professional development credit.
For more information and to register to attend, visit https://marsed.mars.asu.edu/train4mars-online
Please direct questions about the workshop to mars@asu.edu.
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White House Astronomy Night
The White House is hosting an Astronomy Night on Oct. 19, 2015. The event will bring together scientists, engineers and visionaries from astronomy and the space industry to share their experiences with students and teachers as they spend an evening stargazing from the South Lawn.
Scientists and amateur astronomers across the country are invited to join the celebration by hosting their own events at observatories, schools, planetariums, museums and astronomy clubs. If you or your organization is interested in hosting a night of observing the stars or a watch party in conjunction with the White House Astronomy Night, share your plans by visiting https://www.whitehouse.gov/webform/astronomy-night-share-your-supporting-event.
In addition, if you are a part of a professional society, university, foundation or another organization, you can get involved by making a commitment to expand access to great STEM experiences for more students and adults. If you want to take new actions to help inspire and educate the next generation of scientists, engineers and inventors, send an email to AstronomyNight@ostp.gov to share the new commitments you’re ready to make.
To learn more about White House Astronomy Night, visit https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2015/08/21/white-house-astronomy-night-celebration-science-technology-and-space.
Please direct questions about the White House Astronomy Night event to AstronomyNight@ostp.gov.
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White House Office of Science and Technology Policy’s Spring 2016 Policy Internship Program
The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy is seeking students for spring 2016 internships. The OSTP advises the President on the effects of science and technology on domestic and international affairs. The office serves as a source of scientific and technological analyses and judgment for the president with respect to major policies, plans and programs of the federal government.
Policy internships are open to interested students from all majors and programs, including law school programs. Applicants must be U.S. citizens who are enrolled, at least half-time, in an accredited college or university during the period of volunteer service. Students in undergraduate, graduate and professional programs in all fields are encouraged to apply.
While these positions are without compensation, the assignments provide educational enrichment, practical work experience and networking opportunities with other individuals in the science and technology policy arena.
Applications for spring 2016 internships are due Oct. 30, 2015.
For more information, visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ostp/about/student.
If you have questions about this opportunity, please contact Rebecca Grimm at Rebecca_L_Grimm@ostp.eop.gov.
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Journey to Mars VOICES Challenge
Rocket21, the National Institute of Aerospace and NASA want students to share their ideas and help plan the Journey to Mars. Gen Z will be the planet’s FIRST to witness human spaceflight to Mars. After learning about NASA’s plans for the Journey to Mars and the obstacles that must be overcome to make this journey, students are invited to share ideas and solutions to the challenges that will be faced in this monumental journey.
The ultimate goal is to create a script and record a 90-second podcast or vodcast for the Innovation Now radio program (www.innovationnow.us), reaching ~10.5 million listeners daily.
Final submissions must be received by Jan. 25, 2016.
For more information about the Journey to Mars VOICES Challenge, visit http://rocket21.com/journeytomarschallenge.
To find NASA resources to complement the challenge, including hands-on activities, educator professional development opportunities, and videos about NASA’s Journey to Mars, visit http://www.nasa.gov/directorates/heo/education.
Please email questions about the challenge to journeytomars@rocket21.com.
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PREVIOUSLY PROMOTED OPPORTUNITIES…
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Call for Proposals — NASA Research Announcement for Competitive Program for Science Museums, Planetariums and NASA Visitor Centers Plus Other Opportunities (CP4SMPVC+)
The NASA Office of Education invites proposals from museums, science centers, planetariums, NASA Visitor Centers, youth-serving organizations, and other eligible nonprofit institutions via this 2015 NASA Research Announcement: Competitive Program for Science Museums, Planetariums and NASA Visitor Centers Plus Other Opportunities (CP4SMPVC+), Announcement Number NNH15ZHA001N. Proposals must be submitted electronically via the NASA proposal data system NSPIRES or Grants.gov.
Proposers may request a grant or cooperative agreement to support NASA-themed science, technology, engineering or mathematics education, including exhibits, within these congressionally directed topics: space exploration, aeronautics, space science, Earth science or microgravity. CP4SMPVC+ is a competitive, high-quality, national program. The basic goal of the CP4SMPVC+ solicitation is to further NASA Strategic Objective 2.4: “Advance the Nation’s STEM education and workforce pipeline by working collaboratively with other agencies to engage students, teachers, and faculty in NASA’s missions and unique assets.”
Eligible institutions do not need to have the words “museum,” “visitor center,” “science,” “planetarium,” or “youth” in their official name, but they must be located in the United States or its Territories. See the NRA for full eligibility requirements and other limitations. Check the NSPIRES website once a week to learn if amendments or frequently asked questions have been added. Amendments and FAQs also will be announced via the NASA Education EXPRESS listserv.
Pre-proposal telecom (optional): Oct. 1, 2015, at 1 p.m. EDT
Notices of Intent Due (optional but strongly encouraged): Oct. 8, 2015
Full proposals are due Dec. 7, 2015.
For more information about this opportunity, visit NSPIRES at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method=init&solId={6105DEEC-925A-A216-322B-8E3B34FA2B07}&path=open.
Amendments Posted — Two new amendments to 2015 NASA Research Announcement: Competitive Program for Science Museums, Planetariums and NASA Visitor Centers Plus Other Opportunities (CP4SMPVC+), Announcement Number NNH15ZHA001N, has been posted on NSPIRES at http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method=init&solId={6105DEEC-925A-A216-322B-8E3B34FA2B07}&path=open. One amendment identifies information for callers from U.S. territories wishing to join the Oct. 1 pre-proposal teleconference; the other clarifies the age range definition for youth.
If you have any questions about this opportunity, please direct your questions to the Points of Contact listed within the NRA.
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National Climate Game Jam
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is announcing a national climate game jam that will be held in multiple sites around the U.S. on Oct. 2-4, 2015. This event offers a unique opportunity for educators, students, scientists, game designers and interested members of the public to work together on the development of climate game jam prototypes that span a range of platforms, topics and audiences.
In December 2014, the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy launched a Climate Education and Literacy Initiative to help connect U.S students and citizens with the best available science-based information about climate change. Federal and nongovernmental experts are collaborating to harness the promise of educational games and interactive media to enhance understanding and awareness of climate change impacts and solutions.
The Climate Game Jam will encourage the creation of new game prototypes that allow players to learn about climate change and resilience through science-based interactive experience. Promising prototypes will be made available for teachers and students to use in the classroom and for lifelong learners to use in science centers or at home. Selected prototypes may be highlighted at a climate game showcase in December 2015.
At the present time, NOAA is recruiting host sites for the game jam around the country. Each site can establish limits to hours and audience. More information about the responsibilities of a site can be found at http://climategamejam.org. A kick-off event featuring Ken Eklund, a well-known game designer, will take place via webcast on Friday, Oct. 2, 2015.
For more information, visit http://climategamejam.org.
Please direct questions about this event to Peg Steffen at Peg.Steffen@noaa.gov.
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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
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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Family Day Events at Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum
The National Air and Space Museum’s Family Day event series celebrates the diverse ethnic and cultural communities that have contributed to aviation and space exploration. Events will commemorate historic and current contributions through presentations and activities for the entire family. The events are free and open to the public.
Hispanic Heritage Month: Innovators in Aviation and Space
Oct. 3, 2015, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. EDT
National Air and Space Museum in Washington, District of Columbia
Celebrate the contributions of Latinos to aviation and space exploration during this Hispanic Heritage Month Family Day event. Meet Hispanic scientists and engineers — including a NASA astronaut — and participate in bilingual activities.
http://airandspace.si.edu/events/detail.cfm?id=17546
Please direct questions about this series of events to the Visitor Service line at 202-633-2214.
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Smithsonian TechQuest: Astronaut Academy
Smithsonian TechQuest: Astronaut Academy, at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, is a free alternate-reality game that will challenge you to become an astronaut-in-training for a future trip to Mars. Choose what role you will play on the mission; engage in fun interactive activities; and explore the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics skills you will need as a next-generation space traveler. Along the way, you’ll learn about some of the museum’s fascinating artifacts.
Instructions and guidance are given via a special webpage accessed on your mobile device. Players should bring their own phones or devices equipped with an internet browser and a camera. Having a digital picture-taking device (smartphone, tablet, camera) is highly recommended but not required.
The game is aimed at upper elementary and middle school visitors and their families. Do you want to bring a group? Reservations are required for groups larger than 15.
The next offering of the Astronaut Academy is on Oct. 3, 2015. Begin your training with Astronaut Orientation in the Claude Moore Education Center Classroom 1 located on the first level across from the restrooms. Astronaut Orientation is offered at regular intervals between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. The last opportunity to start the game is at 2:30 p.m. A self-guided activity, the game should take between 60 and 90 minutes, and staff will help you along the way.
For more information, including a full list of upcoming Astronaut Academy dates, visit http://airandspace.si.edu/events/techquest/.
Please direct questions about the Smithsonian TechQuest: Astronaut Academy to the visitor service line at 202-633-2214.
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Center for Astronomy Education Teaching Excellence Workshops — Fall/Winter 2015-16
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.
Oct. 3, 2015 — Guilford Technical Community College in Jamestown, North Carolina
CAE Southeast Regional Teaching Exchange
Oct. 17, 2015– Everett Community College in Everett, Washington
CAE Northwest Regional Teaching Exchange
November 2015 — American Center for Physics in College Park, Maryland
New Faculty Workshop for Physics and Astronomy
Jan. 3-4, 2016– Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Kissimmee, Florida
CAE Tier I Teaching Excellence Workshop for Current and Future Astronomy and Space Science Instructors
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.
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2016 RASC-AL Robo-Ops Competition
NASA and the National Institute of Aerospace announce the 2016 Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts-Academic Linkage Exploration Robo-Ops, also known as the RASC-AL Robo-Ops, competition. This design competition is aimed at university-level engineering students.
The Robo-Ops contest challenges participants to build a planetary rover prototype and demonstrate its capabilities in field tests at NASA’s Johnson Space Center’s Rock Yard. Up to three members of the team (plus the faculty advisor) may travel to Johnson for the onsite testing. The remaining team members will stay behind at the local university to conduct mission control tasks. The prototype rovers will be tele-operated by the mission control team members and must negotiate a series of obstacles while accomplishing a variety of tasks that include sample collection and acquisition. The only information available to the rover controller to perform the required tasks will be information transmitted through onboard rover video camera(s), microphone(s), or other onboard sensors.
Interested teams must submit a project plan for their proposed project by Oct. 3, 2015.
The Robo-Ops Steering Committee of NASA experts will evaluate the project plans and select up to eight teams to compete against each other at the Rock Yard in late May 2016. Each of the selected teams will be provided with a $10,000 stipend to develop their rover.
The Robo-Ops competition is open to full-time undergraduate or graduate students majoring in engineering, science or related disciplines at an accredited university. University design teams must include one faculty or industry advisor with a university affiliation and two or more undergraduate or graduate students. Multidisciplinary teams are encouraged.
For more information about this competition, visit http://robo-ops.nianet.org.
If you have questions about this competition, please contact the RASC-AL team at rascal@nianet.org.
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Celebrate World Space Week 2015
Join educators and space enthusiasts around the world to celebrate World Space Week, Oct. 4-10, 2015. This international event commemorates the beginning of the Space Age with the launch of Sputnik 1 on Oct. 4, 1957.
World Space Week is the largest public space event in the world, with celebrations in more than 60 nations. During World Space Week, teachers are encouraged to use space-themed activities.
To learn more about World Space Week, search for events in your area, and find educational materials, visit http://www.worldspaceweek.org.
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Historical NASA Space Artifacts Available for Educational Use
NASA invites eligible U.S. educational institutions, museums and other organizations to screen and request historical artifacts of significance to spaceflight. This is the 28th screening of artifacts since 2009.
Eligible schools, universities, museums, libraries and planetariums may view the artifacts and request specific items through Oct. 5, 2015. Online registration should include an assigned Department of Education number. Registration also may be made through the requester’s State Agency for Surplus Property office. For instructions on how to register and to view and request artifacts online, visit http://gsaxcess.gov/NASAWel.htm.
The artifacts are free of charge and are offered “as-is.” Organizations must cover shipping costs and any handling fees. Shipping fees on smaller items will be relatively inexpensive; however, larger items may involve extensive disassembly, preparation, shipping and reassembly costs. NASA will work closely with eligible organizations to address any unique handling costs.
Please direct questions about this opportunity to GSAXcessHelp@gsa.gov.
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Free “What’s New in Aerospace?” Lecture Series at Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
Are you curious about recent research, developments and discoveries related to space? Come to the Smithsonian’s “What’s New in Aerospace?” lecture series presented in collaboration with NASA. The lectures will be held in the Moving Beyond Earth gallery at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. Each hourlong lecture begins at 1 p.m. ET and will be streamed live online.
Upcoming lectures include:
Oct. 6, 2015 — Sally Ride: Curating Her Life
Join Tam O’Shaughnessy, Sally Ride’s partner in life and author of a new Ride biography; historians Valerie Neal and Margaret Weitekamp; and archivist Patti Williams for a discussion of the personal possessions and papers that are part of the museum’s new Sally K. Ride Collection. Learn how the selected objects and papers signify Sally Ride the public figure and private person, and how Sally Ride’s story intersects with social and cultural themes of her era.
Dec. 15, 2015 — Sewing Machines, Balloons and Rocket Fuel
Join in a discussion about the process and technologies used to land the Mars Science Laboratory, or Curiosity, on Mars. Ian Clark from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory will provide historical context for the development of those technologies and talk about the need for improvements as Mars missions move to larger and larger payloads.
For more information about the “What’s New in Aerospace?” lecture series and to watch the live webcast events, visit http://airandspace.si.edu/explore-and-learn/whats-new-aerospace/.
Questions about this lecture series should be directed to the visitor service line at 202-633-2214.
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“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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Free ‘Ask an Expert’ Series Presented by Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum
Join the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., for a series of “Ask an Expert” events. Each 15-minute discussion is presented by a member of the museum staff at Noon EDT at the museum’s “Great Seal” in the Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall on the first floor.
Upcoming space-related discussions include:
Oct. 7, 2015 — Sputnik
http://airandspace.si.edu/events/detail.cfm?id=18048
Join Cathleen Lewis for a discussion about Sputnik. Launched by the Soviet Union on Oct. 4, 1957, this beach ball-sized artificial satellite marked the start of the space age and the U.S.-U.S.S.R. space race.
Oct. 14, 2015 — Instrumentation as Eyes: How We See Earth From Space
http://airandspace.si.edu/events/detail.cfm?id=18070
Join Brian Jirout for a discussion about satellite imagery and its various uses, including weather forecasting. Find out what you’re looking at when you watch a weather forecast and where that information comes from.
Oct. 21, 2015 — Laika: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
http://airandspace.si.edu/events/detail.cfm?id=18049
Join Cathleen Lewis for a discussion about Laika, the Russian dog who became the first animal to orbit Earth. Launched by the Soviet Union on Nov. 3, 1957, Laika helped pave the way to human spaceflight.
For more information about the “Ask an Expert” series, visit http://airandspace.si.edu/events/ask-an-expert/.
Please direct questions about this series to the Visitor Service line at 202-633-2214.
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NASA Kentucky Space Grant Consortium 2015-2016 Request for Proposals
The NASA Kentucky Space Grant Consortium is seeking proposals for programs supporting STEM areas that are of interest to NASA and Kentucky. Space Grant promotes networking and cooperation among education, industry, and local, state and federal government. Space Grant also focuses on the recruitment and training of U.S. citizens, especially women, underrepresented minorities and persons with disabilities, for careers in aerospace science and technology.
Space Grant Consortium programs support faculty, students and outreach through graduate fellowships, undergraduate fellowships, team fellowships, research initiation and mini-grant awards.
Proposals will be accepted from NASA Kentucky Space Grant Consortium Affiliate Institutions. A list of these affiliate institutions may be found at http://nasa.engr.uky.edu/space-grant.
Applications are due Oct. 8, 2015.
For more information and instructions for submitting a proposal, visit http://nasa.engr.uky.edu/files/2015/08/RFP-16-001.pdf.
Please direct questions about this request to Jacob Owen at Jacob.Owen@uky.edu.
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2015 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, 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:
Unveiling an Alien World: Dawn at Ceres
Event Date: Oct. 8 and Oct. 9, 2015, at 7 pm. PDT (10 p.m. EDT)
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/events/lectures_archive.php?year=2015&month=10
Before the Dawn spacecraft’s arrival earlier this year, the dwarf planet Ceres was the largest unexplored world in the inner solar system. Recent observations tell us that the nearly 1,000-km-diameter Ceres is a unique object, straddling the boundary between the rocky bodies of the inner solar system and the ice- and water-rich moons of the outer solar system. Join Dr. Carol Raymond, Deputy Principal Investigator for the Dawn mission, for a discussion about the mysterious Ceres.
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.
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2016 BIG Idea Challenge
NASA’s Game Changing Development Program and the National Institute of Aerospace announce the 2016 Breakthrough, Innovative, and Game-changing Idea Challenge. The BIG Idea Challenge seeks novel and robust ideas and applications for generating lift using Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator, or HIAD, technology. Concepts can engage new approaches such as shape morphing and pneumatic actuation to dynamically alter the HIAD inflatable structure. Teams will design and analyze potential concepts and systems to provide the ability to achieve a modulated lift-to-drag ratio of 0.2 to 0.5 during hypersonic entry.
Interested teams of three to five undergraduate and/or graduate students will submit white papers describing their BIG Idea. Selected teams will continue in the competition by submitting full technical papers on the concept. These efforts will culminate in up to four teams being asked to present their concept to a panel of NASA judges at the 2016 BIG Idea Forum to be held in April 2016 at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.
Each selected team will receive a $6,000 stipend to facilitate full participation in the forum. BIG Idea Challenge winners will receive offers to participate in paid internships with the Game Changing Development Program team at NASA Langley where they can potentially work towards a flight test of their concept.
Interested teams are encouraged to submit a notice of intent by Oct. 9, 2015. Teams must submit the project design white paper by Nov. 15, 2015.
For more information about this competition, please visit http://BigIdea.nianet.org.
Please direct questions about this competition to BigIdea@nianet.org.
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#WhySpaceMatters Photography Competition
NASA and the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, or UNOOSA, have launched a global photography competition to highlight how the vantage point of space helps us better understand our home planet, improve lives, and safeguard our future by aiding sustainable development on Earth.
To highlight the role of space-based science and technologies and their applications on Earth, NASA and UNOOSA are inviting the public to submit photos depicting why space matters to us all in our daily lives. To participate, post a picture and description on Instagram using the hashtag #whyspacematters and tagging @UNOOSA.
NASA astronaut Scott Kelly, who is three months into a one-year mission aboard the International Space Station, will announce the winning photo each month by posting it from his Instagram account @StationCDRKelly.
For more information about the competition, visit http://www.unoosa.org/oosa/contests/whyspacematters/index.html.
For more information about the International Space Station and the One-Year Mission, visit http://www.nasa.gov/content/one-year-crew.
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Get Ready for Earth Science Week: Visualizing Earth Systems
NASA frequently produces stunning visualizations, whether of distant worlds or of our own home planet. These remarkable images come out so frequently that it’s easy to forget the science and engineering that goes on behind the scenes to bring these visualizations to life.
This year, Oct. 11-17, 2015, Earth Science Week will focus on the theme “Visualizing Earth Systems.” Learn how visualizations are created and used by real scientists. This year, a series of blog posts will take readers through some tough science questions being asked and explain how visualizations are helping answer these questions.
This year’s lineup of blog writers includes experienced NASA visualizers, scientists and educators. All will discuss their relationship with “Visualizing Earth Systems” as part of their work. The blog posts will roll out in the weeks leading up to and will continue to be released throughout Earth Science Week.
For more information, and to read the latest blog entries, visit https://esw.climate.nasa.gov/.
Do you want the latest information on NASA Earth Science Week activities? Follow NASA’s Earth Science Week team on Twitter (@NASAESW) or Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/NASAESW).
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Undergraduate Student Instrument Project — 2015 Flight Research Opportunity
NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, in collaboration with the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, is seeking proposals from U.S. institutions of higher education for the Undergraduate Student Instrument Project’s Student Flight Research Opportunity. Proposals should outline plans to develop an undergraduate-led project team that will fly a science and/or technology payload relevant to NASA’s strategic goals and objectives on a sounding rocket, balloon, aircraft, suborbital reusable launch vehicle or CubeSat launched on an orbital launch vehicle.
Funding is available to all U.S. institutions of higher education (e.g., universities, four-year colleges, community colleges, or two-year institutions) and to institutions involved in the Space Grant program. Prospective project teams can be composed only of undergraduate students from U.S. institutions of higher education. Graduate students are not eligible to be project team members; however, they are encouraged to serve as mentors to the undergraduate student team and are permitted to request a mentoring stipend.
Interested institutions must submit a Notice of Intent by email by 11:59 p.m. EDT, Oct. 15, 2015. Proposals are due on Nov. 20, 2015.
For more information and instructions for submitting a proposal, visit http://go.nasa.gov/1WR586S .
Please direct questions about this request to David Pierce at david.l.pierce@nasa.gov.
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NASA Kentucky EPSCoR 2015-2016 Request for Proposals
The NASA Kentucky EPSCoR (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) programs strengthen research capability in the state in areas of importance to NASA and Kentucky by promoting development of research infrastructure, improving capabilities to gain support outside EPSCoR, and developing partnerships with NASA.
Proposals will be accepted from institutions of higher education in Kentucky for Research Infrastructure Development Grants, or RIDG, with a funding level of $50,000 and for Workshop/Conference/Seminar, or WCS, Awards with funding levels of up to $3,000.
Applications are due Oct. 15, 2015.
For more information and instructions for submitting a proposal, visit http://nasa.engr.uky.edu/files/2015/08/RFP-16-002.pdf or the NASA Kentucky website at http://nasa.engr.uky.edu.
Please direct questions about this request to Jacob Owen at Jacob.Owen@uky.edu.
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NASA Swarmathon: Seeking College Students for Swarming Robotics Competition!
The Swarmathon is a NASA challenge to develop cooperative robotics to revolutionize space exploration. Selected teams will receive three Swarmie robots (valued at $6,000), training and instruction, a $1,000 stipend for their faculty member who is serving as their mentor, and a chance to compete against other teams from across the United States for a $5,000 cash prize.
The First Annual Swarmathon, will occur April 18-22, 2016, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Participants will be challenged to develop search algorithms for robotic swarms. Swarmathon participation will improve students’ skills in robotics and computer science, and further advance technology for future NASA space exploration missions.
NASA seeks students from Minority Serving Universities and Community Colleges to apply and compete. All teams must submit an online application by Oct. 15, 2015.
For more information, visit http://nasaswarmathon.com/.
Please direct questions about the NASA Swarmathon to Info@NASASwarmathon.com.
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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.
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2016 RASC-AL Aerospace Concepts Design Competition
NASA and the National Institute of Aerospace announce the 2016 Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts-Academic Linkage Aerospace Concepts competition. RASC-AL is a design project competition for university-level engineering students and faculty.
The 2016 RASC-AL competition challenges participants to design projects based on real NASA problems by responding to one of four themes:
— Crew-Tended Co-Orbiting ISS (International Space Station) Facility
— Lunar Ice-Trap ISRU (In-Situ Resource Utilization) Mining, Processing and Storage Facility
— Crewed Mars Moons Mission
— Earth-Independent 1G Space Station
NASA could potentially implement concepts derived from the design projects.
Interested teams are encouraged to submit a notice of intent by Nov. 9, 2015, and teams must submit an abstract for their proposed project by Jan. 17, 2016.
For the first time, the 2016 RASC-AL Competition will include a two-tiered down-select process. The RASC-AL Steering Committee of NASA and industry experts will evaluate the abstract proposals and select as many as 20 undergraduate or graduate teams to move to the next phase of the competition. Based on evaluation of three-page midproject papers submitted by these teams in mid-March, the field will be narrowed once again to 14-16 teams who will be selected for the final round of the competition. These teams will present their concepts to the panel of judges (the RASC-AL Steering Committee) at the RASC-AL Forum in June 2016 in Florida.
The RASC-AL competition is open to full-time undergraduate or graduate students majoring in engineering or science at an accredited college or university. University design teams must include one faculty or industry advisor with a university affiliation and two or more undergraduate or graduate students. A group of universities also may collaborate on a design project entry. Multidisciplinary teams are encouraged.
For more information about this competition, visit http://rascal.nianet.org.
If you have questions about this competition, please contact the RASC-AL team at rascal@nianet.org.
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U.S. Department of Energy’s BioenergizeME Infographic Challenge
Registration opens soon for the U.S. Department of Energy’s new BioenergizeME Infographic Challenge. This competition challenges teams of high school students to design an infographic that responds to one of four specific cross-curricular bioenergy topics.
Selected infographics will be promoted nationally on the challenge website and via social media. One team of students will be selected to present their infographic at the Bioenergy Technologies Office’s annual conference in Washington, D.C.
To make the challenge easy and effective, the U.S. Department of Energy and the Library of Congress have provided a resource guide with steps for doing research, along with valuable links and references to help students learn about bioenergy topics. Participants also have access to rubrics and guides for creating infographics and designing social media campaigns. Students can participate in this interdisciplinary STEM-focused challenge through classroom learning or informal education programs.
Registration for student teams is open from Sept. 30, 2015 to Feb. 4, 2016, and teams have until March 4, 2016, to submit their infographics.
For more information, visit http://www.energy.gov/eere/bioenergy/infographic-challenge.
Please direct questions about this challenge to BioenergizeME@ee.doe.gov.
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Help NASA Study Mars — Planet Four: Terrains
Help NASA study exotic landscape features near the south pole of Mars! In this citizen science project, you’ll view images from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter’s Context Camera. Your input will help scientists identify possible areas for even more detailed examination with the orbiter’s High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment camera. HiRISE can reveal more detail than any other camera ever put into orbit around Mars.
Some of Mars resembles deserts on Earth, but seasonal freezing and thawing of carbon-dioxide ice (known on Earth as “dry ice”) at the Martian poles creates some unusual landscape features. There’s a lot of territory to cover, so scientists need your help identifying what and where these features are.
For more information and to learn how to participate, visit the “Planet Four: Terrains” website at https://www.zooniverse.org/#/projects/mschwamb/planet-four-terrains.
To learn more about NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and its mission at the Red Planet, visit http://mars.nasa.gov/mro/.
Please direct questions about this opportunity to Whitney Clavin at whitney.clavin@jpl.nasa.gov.
