ASGP Headlines
Discovery Educator Network
The Discovery Educator Network (DEN) is a global community of educators passionate about integrating media into classroom curriculum, sharing resources, collaborating, and learning together. The DEN connects teachers both on-line and face-to-face through professional development and networking events held throughout the country. Visit community.discoveryeducation.com, click on New User Registration, and join this free community of educators today.
NASA Langley-Virginia Space Grant GIS internships
The Virginia Space Grant Consortium (VSGC) in partnership with NASA Langley Research Center is offering the NASA Langley-VSGC Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Internship program. This program will place student interns at NASA Langley to support the NASA GIS team. Positions are open to high school, undergraduate and graduate students and are available in summer and fall 2008 and spring 2009.
This is a great opportunity for any student majoring in civil engineering, technology, geography or other major and interested in developing and improving their skills and experience in GIS. Prior experience in GIS is not required as training will be provided. Students will work 20 hours per week and be paid a stipend based on their academic level. Deadline for summer applications is March 24 and the deadline for fall internships is July 1. Please view the flyer and visit http://www.vsgc.odu.edu/gisintern/ for more information and to apply. The NASA Langley GIS team site can be viewed at http://gis.larc.nasa.gov/
Aerospace Science and Engineering Research Opportunities (deadline Feb 29th)
Applications deadline extended to Feb. 29, 2008.
Aerospace Science and Engineering Research Opportunities
Summer 2008http://www.ae.uiuc.edu/opportunities/reu/
The Department of Aerospace Engineering (AE) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) announces Summer 2008 Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs). Funding for the REUs comes from a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant.
The ten-week research program focuses on multidisciplinary research in aerospace science and engineering (ASE). We invite highly-motivated juniors (rising seniors) with backgrounds in engineering, computer science, and physics to apply for an REU position.
This program will involve students who will:
- Contribute actively to an intensive research project on the UIUC campus for ten weeks in the summer 2008.
- Participate in a set of aerospace-related activities (seminars, informal meetings, final paper). These activities will be designed to teach research and communication skills.
- Present the outcome of their research activities at a symposium at the end of the ten weeks.
Projects
- Project 01: Design and assessment of self-healing polymers and composites
- Project 02: Reliability analysis for Martian life support systems
- Project 03: Design and verification of safety-critical algorithms for uninhabited aerial vehicles
- Project 04: Unixial material response of Zr under dynamic tension
- Project 05: Designing, building, and testing small reconfigurable mission-flexible UAV concepts
- Project 06: Three-Axis Attitude Control for Nanosatellites
- Project 07: Computer interface for digital image correlation
- Project 08: Neural interfaces for control of semi-autonomous robotic systems
- Project 09: Multiscale analysis of thin films used in MEMS devices
- Project 10: Compressible Flows in Geological Applications: Directed volcanic blasts
- Project 11: Electrospinning Apparatus for Production of Polymeric Nanofibers
Eligibility:
- Junior (rising senior) enrolled full-time in an accredited undergraduate degree program. Preference will be given to non-UIUC students.
- GPA of 3.0/4.0 or higher
- US citizen
- The REU will take place June 2 - August 8, 2008, with a 40-hour work week. Participants will receive a $4,000 stipend (based on ten weeks of work) and $2,000 toward travel and living expenses. We will arrange for lodging.
Please go the Web site (http://www.ae.uiuc.edu/opportunities/reu/) for further information and how to apply.
ISPCS Summer Internships
The New Mexico Space Grant Consortium is proud to announce the 2008 International Symposium for Personal and Commercial Spaceflight (ISPCS) Summer Internships. The ISPCS summer internships are designed to give students real-world experience in the growing personal and commercial spaceflight industry. Students are placed with top players from business and government to participate on the ground floor of what may become the foundational enterprise of the 21st Century! Internships are available across the United States including New Mexico, Colorado, and Washington D.C. in fields as diverse as engineering, business management, graphic design, and public policy!
Students will be given a $5000 stipend for a 10 week internship which will take place during the student's summer 2008 academic term. At the end of the internship, students write a one page report on their experiences. The internships are funded by the International Symposium for Personal and Commercial Spaceflight.
Internships are open to graduate and undergraduate students. Internships are open to all majors unless specifically stated by the internship opportunity listed. New Mexico Space Grant will accept applications until the internships are filled. New internships are expected to appear regularly, so check back often!
Internship opportunities and application are listed online at: http://spacegrant.nmsu.edu/opportunities/ispcs_summer.html
Gerald A. Soffen Memorial Fund Travel Grant (deadline April 1st)
The Gerald A. Soffen Memorial Fund is pleased to announce the first of two 2008 Travel Grant application opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing studies in fields of space science and engineering.
The Travel Grants, in the amount of $500, enable student recipients to attend professional meetings to present their research. The first 2008 Travel Grant application deadline is April 1, 2008. Jerry Soffen, a biologist by training, led a distinguished career in NASA, including serving as the Project Scientist for Viking and as an architect for the NASA Astrobiology Institute. The Travel Grant continues Jerry's dedication to educating and involving future generations in space science and engineering pursuits. The electronic application materials and instructions are located on the Soffen Fund website:
http://nasa-academy.org/soffen/travelgrant/Questions regarding the application or application process may be sent to:
travelgrant@nasa-academy.org
Marshall Space Grant Research Internship (deadline March 1)
Marshall Space Flight Center is pleased to offer again the Marshall Space Grant Research (MSGR) Internship this summer. This internship provides mentored research experiences to undergraduate and graduate students at your university and affiliates. Last summer, MSFC hosted 18 MSGR interns, providing them hands-on experiences in various project offices, labs, and test facilities - from Engineering to Safety to Shuttle Propulsion, to Science and Mission Systems.
The start date for summer 2008 is June 2, which coincides with other internships at Marshall, and will continue for 10 weeks through August 8. To be considered for the MSGR, students should be enrolled full-time, and must be a U.S. citizen. There is no minimum GPA; however, students must be nominated by your office and receive funding support from Space Grant.
To apply, students should complete the Application Form (click to download), and provide a copy of their transcript along with a letter of recommendation. The transcript can be unofficial. A recommendation letter is not required, but suggested. Students can submit their application information directly to Mona Miller at:
Mona Miller
MSFC Academic Affairs Office/HS30
Marshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812The application deadline is March 1, 2008. Selections and notifications are expected no later than 1 April.
1/24/08
Reminder: ESMD Summer Internship Application Deadline January 28th
There is only one week left! The Summer 2008 Intern Application for NASA Centers is available on the ESMD Space Grant Student Working Group on PBMA until January 28th. Students need to start the process at our website: http://education.ksc.nasa.gov/ESMDspacegrant/.
12/13/07
PISCES Student Design Competition Opportunity
PISCES (The Pacific International Space Center for Exploration Systems) is pleased to announce its second annual competition for designs related to the development of lunar outposts. The first competition was a roaring success, with support provided to three university teams (University of Colorado, Boulder; Colorado School of Mines; Honolulu Community College) to present their design work at the PISCES Annual Conference in Hilo, Hawaii, November 7-8, 2007. NASA is providing additional support for the competition this year, which will allow up to 6 teams to be supported for a presentation in Hawaii, November 10-11, 2008. Details on the program can be found on the PISCES web site http://pisces.uhh.hawaii.edu/. Full details of this year's competition should be posted by December 14, but the gist of the idea can be seen by looking at the announcement for last year. The program continues to look for design projects dealing with lunar outposts and their subsystems, and particularly in the area of lunar resource utilization, where NASA has requested design studies that address the possibilities for extracting water from permanently shadowed craters near the lunar poles. In addition, business students can submit business plans aimed at developing commercial opportunities for a lunar outpost or for a simulated outpost on Earth.
12/6/07
New Aeronautics competition for hich school and college students
HAMPTON, Va. - A new aeronautics competition encourages high school and college students to share their ideas of future aircraft with NASA for a chance to receive trophies, student internship offers and cash prizes.
The Fundamental Aeronautics Program of the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate recently announced this new competition for the 2007-2008 academic year. The competition challenges students to write about the next generation of aircraft, what they would look like and how they would operate.
For the competition, high school students will write a research paper that explains ideas for a future aircraft that could revolutionize passenger and cargo travel in the year 2058. Papers should include sections on fuel, environmental effects, noise levels, runway length and conditions, operating costs, passenger and cargo loads, and service operations.
A group of federal, university, industry and other expert representatives will judge the high school entries, which are limited to 12 pages. Entries will be judged on how well students focus their essays and meet four basic criteria: informed content, creativity and imagination, organization, and writing. Subject to availability of funds, team entries can win cash awards up to $1,500 and individual entries up to $1,000.
College students are challenged to write about their designs for the next generation of 21st-century aircraft. Design considerations include reduced environmental impact, reduced noise, daily operations on short runways, cost analysis for production and operation, passenger and cargo limits, structure and materials, and engines. Students should also briefly describe three valid scenarios for potential use of this vehicle in the year 2058.
Each college entry is limited to 25 pages and must be sponsored by a supervising or advising faculty member. Winning entries may be invited to a student forum sponsored by NASA and/or industry, receive offers of student internships, and receive other prizes, including up to $5,000 cash, depending on available funds.
College entries will be judged by how well they address all aspects of the problem they chose to discuss, including the following criteria: innovation and creativity, discussion of feasibility, a brief review of current literature, and a baseline comparison with the relevant current technology, system or design.
These two competitions have different eligibility and submission requirements. To learn more about the competition, visit:
http://aero.larc.nasa.gov/competitions.htm
12/6/07
FAA Design Competition for Universities
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is offering a Design Competition for Universities for the 2007 – 2008 academic year.
The Competition challenges individual students or teams of students from U.S. colleges and universities working under the mentorship of a faculty advisor to address challenges in three broad areas: Airport Operations and Maintenance, Runway Safety/Runway Incursions, and Environmental Interactions of Airports. Students must have a faculty advisor. Cash prizes are given to first, second and third place winners in each category. The first place winners will present their design solutions at the American Association of Airport Executives June 2008 Meeting in New Orleans.
Competition guidelines and full details are available at: http://www.faa.gov/runwaysafety/design_competition.htm
11/27/07
2008 JPL Space Grant Internship Opportunities
Below is a list of great opportunities for qualified students to participate in a ten-week summer internship program at JPL for Summer 2008. The program dates are June 18 – August 22, 2008. Engineering and science undergraduate students (rising juniors and seniors) and graduate students are encouraged to apply.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens and have a 3.0 or better cumulative GPA.
In addition to technical tasks, students will be able to take part in seminars, social events, and other “enrichment” opportunities offered by JPL and Caltech.
For more detail about the program, please contact Linda Rodgers at (818) 354-3274, or Linda.L.Rodgers@jpl.nasa.gov
A list of current opportunities can be viewed in an excel spreadsheet here.
Description of past projects can be viewed here.
10/16/07
NASA Reduced Gravity Systems Engineering Senior Design Flight Project Deadline: Oct 31st
Announcing a new reduced gravity flight opportunity for undergraduate teams and faculty! Yes, faculty members will be eligible to participate as a flight team member with this project!
NASA Reduced Gravity Systems Engineering Senior Design Flight Project Overview
NASA has identified ongoing projects that are systems engineering and reduced gravity related. Applications for these projects are available to all undergraduate students (at least 18 years-of-age, US Citizens and enrolled full-time in a college or university) as senior design projects. 10 projects will be selected to participate in this opportunity.
NASA's reduced gravity aircraft generally flies 30 parabolic maneuvers over the Gulf of Mexico. This parabolic pattern provides about 30 seconds of hypergravity (about 1.8G-2G) as the plane climbs to the top of the parabola. Once the plane starts to "nose over" the top of the parabola to descend toward Earth, the plane experiences about 25 seconds of microgravity (0G). At the very top and bottom of the parabola, flyers experience a mix of partial G's between 0 and 1.8 (called "dirty air").
The students attached to the selected proposals would then work with a NASA mentor lead for that project, to prepare the experiments for flight. In addition to student involvement, one university/college faculty member will be invited to fly with each team. This will help to provide faculty members with teaching materials in their classroom and can be used as a motivator to increase their students interest in systems engineering.
In addition to the student-based research, they will participate in a number of Digital Learning Network events (videoconferences). Incorporated as part of the NASA experience, and working in conjunction with other NASA and engineering organizations, student teams will participate in a minimum of three videoconferences as part of a systems engineering design challenge through the Digital Learning Network (DLN).
Conditions permitting, each investigation will be flown twice so that there can be replication of the investigation and any problems encountered during the first flight can be corrected during the second. After returning to their respective campuses, the flight teams will conduct technical outreach events for younger students.
Team composition must include these four members:
1 - faculty member
1 - undergraduate senior
2 - other undergraduate studentsProposal Deadline: October 31, 2007
For project applications and detailed information on how undergraduate teams can participate in this NASA Reduced Gravity Systems Engineering Senior Design Flight Project, visit: http://microgravityuniversity.jsc.nasa.gov/SE/
9/24/07
Reminder: ESMD Spring Internship Application Deadline October 1st
There is only one week left! The Spring 2008 Intern Application for NASA Centers is available on the ESMD Space Grant Student Working Group on PBMA until October 1st. Students need to start the process at our website: http://education.ksc.nasa.gov/ESMDspacegrant/.
Students have a very good chance of being selected for a NASA internship since the pool of applicants is small for the Spring semester.
9/11/07
ESMD Space Grant Internship Program
The Spring 2008 Intern Application for NASA Centers for is now available on the ESMD Space Grant Student Working Group on PBMA. Students need to start the process at our website: http://education.ksc.nasa.gov/ESMDspacegrant/.
A Student Information Packet can be viewed here (pdf).
A current list of the available internships can be viewed at http://www.vsgc.odu.edu/esmd/. To start the application process, students must follow the instructions on the ESMD website.
03/22/06
Student field research opportunity at Juneau Icefield
Graduate and undergraduate students and high-aptitude high school seniors are invited to participate in the Juneau Icefield Research Program, an intensive Earth systems science field program that emphasizes the inter-relationships of field geology, environmental geology, alpine geomorphology, ecology, geobotany, geophysics, glaciology, remote sensing, meteorology, and glacial surveying.
The program is conducted on the Juneau Icefield at numerous research sites ranging from high alpine woodland to full arctic environments. The program is held by and in partnership with NASA, the U.S. Army Research Office, Department of Defense, Academy of Applied Science, Foundation for Glacier and Environmental Research, Glacial and Arctic Sciences Institute at University of Idaho, and University of Alaska.
Participating students may earn up to six credits through the University of Idaho. Full program descriptions and application instructions are available
at: http://www.juneauicefield.org.
10/26/06
ESMD Space Grant Internship Program
Just a reminder that the ESMD Space Grant Internship Program is open
and accepting applications for internships at NASA Centers for spring, >summer, and fall semesters of 2007. The Program website can be viewed at http://education.ksc.nasa.gov/esmdspacegrant/index.htm.
A current list of the available internships can be viewed at http://www.vsgc.odu.edu/esmd/. To apply, students must complete the online applcation and follow the guidelines at
http://platinum.ts.odu.edu/esmd2007.nsf/Main?OpenPage
10/20/06
NASA Competition: Name Node 2
The student competition to name the Node 2 module of the International
Space Station has begun. NASA Education, which is responsible for the
competition, is running the contest via an existing program called NASA
Exploring Space Challenges (ESC). Information on the Node 2 Challenge,
including rules and schedules, can be found at the NASA ESC website:
http://esc.nasa.gov/
The competition is being conducted during the Fall 2006 semester.
Deadline for classes/schools to register for the competition is
November 17, with entries due December 1, 2006. The name will be
selected from the submitted entries early in 2007. NASA Headquarters
senior management will be involved in the final name selection.
Please help spread the word about the Node 2 Naming student competition
so that we have lots of entries from which to choose the name for the
ISS Node 2.
10/13/2006
Astronaut from Alaska to fly on 7 Dec 2006 night launch of the Shuttle
Mission Details
Shuttle mission STS-116
Event: Shuttle Discovery * ISS 12A.1 Date:
12/7/2006
Time: 09:38:00 PM EST Time: Launch window extends through 12/31/2006 Details: STS-116 will be the nineteenth U.S. mission to the International Space Station. The flight will deliver and attach the third port truss segment to the station -- the Integrated Truss Structure P5
Commander Details:
WILLIAM A. OEFELEIN (COMMANDER, USN)
NASA ASTRONAUT
PERSONAL DATA: Born March 29, 1965 in Ft. Belvoir, Virginia, but considers Anchorage, Alaska to be his hometown. He has two children. Recreational interests include weight lifting, wake and snow boarding, fishing, and backcountry hiking. His parents, Randall W. and Billye M. Oefelein, reside in Anchorage, Alaska.
EDUCATION:
West Anchorage High School, Anchorage, Alaska, 1983.
B.S., Electrical Engineering, Oregon State University, 1988.
M.S., Aviation Systems, University of Tennessee Space Institute, 1998.
ORGANIZATIONS: Seaplane Pilots Association.
SPECIAL HONORS: High Scholarship Graduate Oregon State University, McClarran Award for Strike/Fighter competition. Awarded the Strike/Flight Air Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, and various other service awards.
EXPERIENCE: Oefelein received his commission as an Ensign in the United States Navy from Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida in 1988. He entered flight training in Texas in 1989 and was designated a Naval Aviator in September 1990. He then reported to Marine Fighter/Attack Training Squadron 101 at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California for initial F/A-18 training. Upon completion of training, he was assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 146 at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California where he made overseas deployments aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz to the Pacific and Indian Oceans and the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch. While assigned to VFA-146, he attended the US Navy Fighter Weapons School, TOPGUN, and was assigned as the Squadron Air-to-Air Weapons and Tactics Officer. Oefelein was selected for the United States Naval Test Pilot School at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland and began the course in January of 1995. After graduation in December 1995, he was assigned to Strike Aircraft Test Squadron as an F/A-18 Project Officer and Test Pilot. In February 1997, he went back to the United States Naval Test Pilot School as an Instructor flying the F/A-18, T-2, and U-6 aircraft. In February 1998, he transferred to Carrier Air Wing 8, Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia where he was assigned duties as the Strike Operations Officer when he was selected for the astronaut program.
Oefelein has logged over 3000 hours in more than 50 aircraft and has over 200 carrier arrested landings.
NASA EXPERIENCE: Selected by NASA in June 1998, Oefelein reported to Johnson Space Center in August 1998. Having completed 2 years of training and evaluation, he is qualified for space flight assignment as a pilot. Recently, Oefelein was assigned technical duties in the Astronaut Office Advanced Vehicles Branch and CAPCOM Branch. Oefelein is assigned as Pilot on STS-116, an assembly and crew-rotation mission to the International Space Station.
JANUARY 2006
==================================================================== ====================================
For further information:
10/09/06
NASA ANNOUNCES NEW STUDENT AERONAUTICS COMPETITION
NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, Washington, announced
a new aeronautics competition for high school and college students.
The competition is sponsored by the directorate's Fundamental
Aeronautics Program, and it is part of NASA's mission is to inspire
the next generation of engineers, scientists, and explorers.
High School students are challenged to put themselves 50 years into
the future to describe how air transportation systems have evolved
with vehicles flying at various speeds. Entries are due by March 15.
College students are invited to propose solutions for complex
technical problems in hypersonic and supersonic flight; subsonic
fixed and rotary wing transports; or Mars entry, descent, and
landing. College entries are due by April 27.
Monetary awards ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 may be available for
first place winners in each category. There will be awards for second
and third places and honorable mention recognition. Winning
university students may be offered a 10-week summer internship at a
NASA field center.
For details about this competition, visit:
http://aero.larc.nasa.gov/competitions.htm
For information about other aeronautics competitions, visit:
http://www.aerospace.nasa.gov/design_comp.htm
For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/home
10/05/06
NASA SEEKS UNDERGRADS TO EXPERIMENT IN LUNAR AND ZERO GRAVITY
NASA is calling on college undergraduates interested in performing
reduced gravity experiments onboard the agency's "Weightless Wonder"
aircraft to submit their proposals by Monday, Oct. 30.
The Reduced Gravity Student Flight Opportunities Program at NASA's
Johnson Space Center, Houston, has given undergraduate teams the chance
to research, design, fabricate, fly and evaluate reduced gravity
experiments annually since 1995. This will be the first time students
can design their experiment for lunar gravity, which is one-sixth of
Earth's.
NASA's modified McDonnell Douglas DC-9 jet aircraft will give flyers
the feel of space, as it performs a series of steep climbs and
freefalls over the Gulf of Mexico, creating multiple periods of reduced gravity.
Each parabolic maneuver produces about 25 seconds of weightlessness,
and by changing its flight path, the jet can produce periods of lunar
gravity.
"These students will be the ones helping to design our trips back to
the moon and beyond," said Donn Sickorez, university affairs officer at
Johnson. "By putting them through the same procedures as our space
research scientists and providing them with a three-dimensional reduced
gravity laboratory, we're better preparing students for these future
missions."
Each proposal will be evaluated for technical merit, safety and an
outreach plan. The selected proposals will be announced Dec. 11 and
flown in 2007. Selected teams may also invite a full-time, accredited
journalist to participate with them to document the experience.
With this project, NASA continues the agency's tradition of investing
in the nation's education programs. It is directly tied the agency's
major education goal of strengthening NASA and the nation's future workforce.
Through this and other college and university programs, NASA will
identify and develop the critical skills and capabilities needed to
achieve the Vision for Space Exploration.
For more information about the Reduced Gravity Student Flight
Opportunities Program or submitting a proposal, contact Mat Bartley
at: 281-483-7185; or by e-mail at: mathew.bartley-1@nasa.gov; or
visit:
>http://microgravityuniversity.jsc.nasa.gov
For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/home
05/10/06
NASA Seeking Volunteers for Bed Rest Study
NASA NEEDS YOUR HELP!!! Here's your chance to learn more and participate first hand in NASA's Vision for Space Exploration.
NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston is recruiting volunteers to participate in spaceflight simulation studies to help prepare NASA to send astronauts back to the moon and on to Mars and beyond. These studies will use long-term bed rest to simulate the effects of weightlessness on the human body.
Eligible participants must be between 25 and 55 years old, in good physical condition, and willing to spend from 41 up to 119 days in a NASA research facility in Galveston, Texas. The featured 41 day "summer" study involves the use of a human centrifuge to generate "artificial gravity" as a countermeasure against bone loss and other adverse effects on the human body known to occur during spaceflight. Participants can use free time between testing to develop lesson plans, take an internet class, work on hobbies, or chronicle their adventures to share with students for years to come.
Participants will be reimbursed for their time and travel. For more information about the studies, and to apply online, visit www.bedreststudy.com Below are some FAQs about this opportunity. These answers are for general guidance. Complete study participation rules and guidelines will be discussed in detail after applications are received. You can also call
1-800- JSC-TEST for more information
Q: Do I need to be in excellent health to participate in the study?
A: Excellent health is not required, but good physical condition is necessary. Medical tests will be performed as well as an Air Force Class III physical exam prior to study admission.
Q: Will I be able to leave the facility during the study?
A: It is important you remain at the facility for the entire 41 or 119 day duration, but visitations with family and friends can be scheduled. Study personnel will assist you with activities by bringing in books, magazines or hobby related materials if needed. In addition, laptops with internet access are provided for use during the study..
Q: Will my school or I receive recognition for my participation?
A: Maybe. Several newspaper and magazine articles featuring study participants have been written, as well as appearances on national news shows.
Q: Will I be paid for my time in the study?
A: Volunteers will be reimbursed for time spent in the study as well as travel. The 41 day Artificial Gravity study typically reimburses subjects approximately $6100, while the 119 day study reimburses subjects about $17,000.
04/20/06
Join NASA and AOL's Kids Online (KOLT) for a Space Day Webcast Event
on May 4, 2006.
If you don't have your Space Day plans already, you're in luck.
NASA, AOL, and the Space Day organization are working together to
give your students a front-row seat for a great Space Day event.
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center will be hosting a Space Day event
featuring insights from astronauts and other spaceflight experts.
Radio KOL's DJ, Rick Adams, will emcee the hour-long webcast.
Approximately 2,000 students have been invited to attend the event
in person and will be able to ask questions of the speakers.
Space Day participation isn't limited just to people ON the planet.
Plans are for the Expedition 13 crew on the International Space
Station to talk with students through a video downlink.
NASA Edspace Homepage
KOL Space Day
Space Day Homepage
NASA Education
04/10/06
xplore Alaska9 - Nine New Accredited Teacher Training Sections
As part of each course, we9ll explore curriculum and teaching tools as we practice ways to incorporate natural history education into classroom settings.
All are accredited through the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) for continuing education credit.
Click on the link to learn more.
Bears and Wilderness of Admiralty Island
June 5-11, 2006
$750 including 3 credits
Study brown bear behavior and experience the concept of true wilderness by foot and by kayak in the heart of the Tongass National Forest in southeast Alaska. Offered in partnership with Discovery Southeast, U.S. Forest Service, Alaska Discovery, Alaska Natural History Institutes, and Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
Sculpted by Ice: Geology and Ecology of Chugach National Forest
(A course of the Anchorage School District Teacher Academy. Open to teachers
statewide)
June 12-17, 2006
$750 including 3 credits
Discover the rainforests and coastlines of the Chugach National Forest and
Prince William Sound - and the glaciers that have shaped them - by charter
boat and on foot. Offered in partnership with the Alaska Natural History
Institutes, U.S. Forest Service, and the Anchorage School District Teacher
Academy.
From the Forest to the Sea: Glaciers, Ocean, and Rainforest of the Copper
River Delta
June 19-23, 2006
$600 including 2 credits
Based out of a field camp 25 miles outside of Cordova, study the dynamic
wetlands and ocean ecosystems of Prince William Sound and the Copper River
Delta by canoe and by trail. Offered in partnership with Prince William
Sound Science Center, U.S. Forest Service, and the Alaska Natural History
Institutes.
Using I-Movie to Capture Interest In Science
June 26-28, 2006
$340 including 1 credit
Join us in Denali National Park to discover how I-movie helps students
demonstrate abstract concepts and tackle project-based learning, renewing
student interest in science. Offered through the Murie Science and Learning
Center, in partnership with the National Park Service and the Alaska Natural
History Institutes.
Seals, Ice, and the Wilderness Idea
June 27-July 3, 2006
$750 including 3 credits
Experience the calving glaciers, towering granite fjords, and harbor seal
habitat of Endicott Arm, southeast of Juneau, by foot and by kayak. Offered
in partnership with Discovery Southeast, U.S. Forest Service, Alaska
Discovery, and the Alaska Natural History Institutes.
Science Writing in the Heart of Denali
July 7-9, 2006
$400 including 2 credits
Surround yourself in Denali9s natural history and ongoing research as we
explore the literacy of science, learning ways to reinforce Alaska State
Standards for both language arts and science. Offered through the Murie
Science and Learning Center, in partnership with the National Park Service
and the Alaska Natural History Institutes.
Denali9s Dinosaurs
July 10-12, 2006
$340 including 1 credit
Investigate rocks of the Cantwell Formation, learn how to record geological
data, and take home paleoecology lessons for classroom use. Offered through
the Murie Science and Learning Center, in partnership with the National Park
Service and the Alaska Natural History Institutes.
Connecting Natural History and Test-Taking
July 24-26, 2006
$340 including 1 credit
Investigate the natural history, habitat, and ecology of Denali National
Park as we correlate this living classroom to Alaska State Standards and
testing scenarios. Offered through the Murie Science and Learning Center, in
partnership with the National Park Service and the Alaska Natural History
Institutes.
Whales of Icy Strait
July 28-August 3, 2006
$850 including 3 credits
Travel by kayak through humpback whale feeding grounds in the rich waters
near Point Adolphus and Glacier Bay National Park. Explore forest ecology
with a naturalist9s perspective. Offered in partnership with Discovery
Southeast, U.S. Forest Service, Alaska Discovery, and the Alaska Natural
History Institutes.
04/01/06
Subject: Online Classroom Expedition Underway - GoNorth! Arctic National Wildlife Refuge 2006
Online Classroom Expedition Underway
GoNorth! Arctic National Wildlife Refuge 2006For further information,:GoNorth!
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GoNorth! is a five-year program consisting of online dogsled expeditions exploring the circumpolar Arctic and offering unique learning opportunities for K-12 classrooms.The first of five expeditions, GoNorth! Arctic National Wildlife Refuge 2006, began in February and aims to explore the prospects of oil exploration and the value of traditional ecological knowledge, as well as document the realities of arctic climate change. The GoNorth! team, consisting of 27 Polar Huskies and seven international educators, scientists, and explorers, is traveling through Alaska to learn from the Gwiich'n and Inupiat Eskimo (Inuit) people along the trail while gathering scientific data from the field.
GoNorth! was developed by the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota and NOMADS Online Classroom Expeditions and is partly funded by the Office of Polar Programs at NSF.
Learn how real-time learning adventures create a standards-aligned curriculum resource for the K-12 classroom, covering science, math, language arts, and social studies. Register your class and take your students to the Arctic.
04/01/06
Space Science Weekly Problem
When is a planet not a planet? [PDF] - Grade level: 9-11 In 2003, Dr. Michael Brown and his colleagues at CalTech discovered an object nearly 30% larger than Pluto, which is designated as 2003UB313. It is also known unofficially as Xenia, after the famous Tv Warrior Princess! Is 2003UB313 really a planet? In this activity, students will examine this topic by surveying various internet resources that attempt to define the astronomical term 'planet'. How do astronomers actually assign names to astronomical objects? Does 2003UB313 deserve to be called a planet, or should it be classified as something else? What would the new classification mean for asteroids such as Ceres, or objects such as Sedna, Quaoar and Varuna?
3/29/06
Space Science Weekly Problem
Drake's Equation and the Search for Life...sort of! [PDF] - Grade level: 9-11 Way back in the 1960's Astronomer Frank Drake invented an equation that helps us estimate how much life, especially the intelligent kind, might exist in our Milky Way. It has been a lively topic of discussion in thousands of college astronomy courses for the last 30 years. In this simplified version, your students will get to review what we now know about the planetary universe, and come up with their own estimates. The real fun is in doing the research to track down plausible values (or their ranges) for the factors that enter into the equation, and then write a defense for the values that they choose. Lots of opportunity to summarize basic astronomical knowledge towards the end of an astronomy course, or chapter.
3/28/06
ASEC Deadline Fast Approaches
The deadline for applying to be an Airspace Systems Education Cohort (ASEC)
is March 31. Please let us know at wshaw@mail.arc.nasa.gov if you plan to
apply.
Educators selected for this opportunity will attend a 3-day institute at
Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA July 19 - 23, 2006. This institute
will engage participants in scientific inquiry at the leading edge of
education and technology and prepare them to share their experiences with
students and colleagues.Go to http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/projects/asec/. Notification will be mailed
the week of April 24, 2006.
3/15/06
Astrobiology Workshops for teachers in Hawaii
1. ALI'I for Gr. 7-12 teachers , July 9-14, 2006 $500 subsidy for mainland teachers plus $500 stipend for follow up workshops
2. Computational Astrobiology for Graduate students, July 24 - Aug. 11
Includes on-campus lodging and possible travel expenses.
Website with applications: http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/UHNAI/epo.htm
3/09/06
Getting A Round in the Solar System! [PDF] - Grade level: 9-11 How big does
a body have to be
before it becomes round? In this activity, students examine images of
asteroids and planetary moons to determine the critical size for an object
to become round under the action of its own gravitational field. Thanks to
many Internet image archives this activity can be expanded to include
dozens of small bodies in the solar system to enlarge the research data for
this problem. Only a few example images are provided, but these are enough
for the student to get a rough answer!
03/03/06
Dear Elementary and Middle School Teachers,
I am writing to tell you about an exciting science outreach program in which I would like to encourage you to participate. It is called the Student Signatures in Space program, and it is part of the annual Space Day celebration sponsored by NASA and Lockheed Martin Corporation.
The way the Student Signatures in Space program works is that in late April, NASA will send your school a giant poster (along with a few minor Space Day souvenirs, such as one T-shirt for the school9s project coordinator, a mouse pad, a few pens, key chains, etc. to be used as giveaways). Then on or close to Space Day (celebrated the first Thursday in May - which is May 4 this year), you have your students sign your school9s poster. You ship the posters back to NASA using a Federal Express account number supplied by Lockheed Martin Corporation (this will come with your poster participant package). NASA then scans the signatures onto a disc, and the disc is flown in space aboard a Space Shuttle mission. Your school will receive follow-up lesson plans to help your instructors make the experience relevant for the students (participation in these lessons is entirely optional). Students will receive certificates verifying that their signatures will be flying in space. After the Space Shuttle mission, NASA will return your school9s poster to you for permanent display, along with a certification verifying that the signatures flew in space.
The program is totally free, it's easy to do, and the "personal touch" of sending their signatures into space gives kids a great reason to learn about space. In addition, Lockheed Martin and NASA will provide you with sample press releases to send out to local media if you want to try to get news coverage of your school9s participation (again, this part is optional).
For more info, you can visit the Space Day web site at www.spaceday.org, then click on the "Teachers/Event Planners" link on the home page, then click on the "Student Signatures in Space" link (ninth link down in the column on the left). Space is limited to only 500 schools per year, and the program is open to elementary and middle schools. This year's registration deadline is Monday, March 20. To register your school to participate in this free educational outreach program, email the info below to signatures@mindspring.com :
1. Name of school
2. Physical/FedX-deliverable address of school, including street address, city, state, and zip code (no P.O. boxes, please)
3. School9s phone number, including area code (FedX will not accept packages that have no phone number)
4. Name of school9s principal
5. Name and job title of person who will be coordinating project at school (if different from principal) - NOTE: This person needs to be somebody who works at the school to ensure that the front office staff recognizes the name when the participant package arrives.
6. Email address of person in #5 above
7. How did you hear about the Student Signatures in Space program?
3/01/06
Space Science Weekly Problem
How many stars are there? [PDF] - Grade level: 9-11 For thousands of years, astronomers have counted the stars to determine just how vast the heavens are. Since the 19th century, 'star gauging' has been an important tool for astronomers to assess how the various populations of stars are distributed within the Milky Way. In fact, this was such an important aspect of astronomy between 1800-1920 that many cartoons often show a frazzled astronomer looking through a telescope, with a long ledger at his knee - literally counting the stars through the eyepiece! In this activity, students will get their first taste of star counting by using a star atlas reproduction and bar-graph the numbers of stars in each magnitude interval. They will then calculate the number of similar stars in the sky by scaling up their counts to the full sky area.
02/28/06
Space Science Weekly Problem
This weeks Problem is about asteroids inside the orbit of Mars, and which have orbits in the inner solar system. You and your students will be surprised to learn about the basic properties of this asteroidal 'cloud' by using a scaled drawing of their locations on a specific day of the year.
As always, you will find the problem posted at http://image.gsfc.nasa.gov/weekly/weekly.htmlBy the way, keep sending me your comments about the number of students that have been 'touched' by these problems. It will help me promote this project to future sponsors at NASA. Without this input, I have no way to 'sell'
this program and keep it available to you next year!
Ok..enough preaching..here is the problem synopsis!!Asteroids and comets and meteors - Oh My! [PDF] - Grade level: 9-11 Astronomers have determined the orbits for over 30,000 minor planets in the solar system, with hundreds of new ones discovered every year. Working from a map of the locations of these bodies within the orbit of Mars, students will calculate the scale of the map, and answer questions about the distances between these objects, and the number that cross earth's orbit. A great, hands-on introduction to asteroids in the inner solar system! Links to online data bases for further inquiry are also provided.
02/15/06
Do your students ever ask you why we only see one side of the moon? How to scratch your nose is a spacesuit? Or why does NASA launch its rockets from Florida? NASA is offering a free downloadable program called "Ask NASA" that answers these questions and others. Each video clip is sixty seconds or shorter and shares an interesting "gee-whiz" fact or answers a frequently-asked question relating to science or the space program. Video clips are available for download at http://brainbites.nasa.gov/ and can be used as supplemental instruction in the classroom.
02/14/2006
The Sombrero Galaxy Close-up [PDF] - Grade level: 9-11 The Sombrero Galaxy in Virgo is a dazzling galaxy through the telescope, and has been observed in detail by both the Hubble Space Telescope and the Spitzer Infrared Observatory. This exercise lets students explore the dimensions of this galaxy as well as its finest details, using simple image scaling calculations.
02/06/2006
Essays by Starlight [PDF] - Grade level: 9-11 Being an astronomer is far more than just knowing facts and measurements. Sometimes you can learn important things about the universe by listening to your own feelings. Song lyrics are often a great stimulus for thinking about space in a different way. Students will select three song lyric fragments from popular Rock songs and write a short essay for each of them. The challenge is to explain what the songs make you think of, from both a human and an astronomical point of view!
For next week's problem, students will quantitatively explore the exciting new pictures of the Sombrero Galaxy taken by the Spitzer Space Telescope and Hubble! I know it's not 'space science' but, hey, I'm an astronomer and sometimes I like to look at the rest of the universe too...as do your students I'm sure!!!
01/27/06
This weeks puzzler takes us from Earth to the distant reaches of the universe, in a hunt for the 'youngest' galaxy formed after the Big Bang. It uses skills such as histograming, and lets students use an on-line cosmology calculator. In working this problem, encourage the students to define the various terms that appear in the problem, and to learn what the cosmology calculator does based on the resource material at that web site.
As usual, these problems are located at
http://image.gsfc.nasa.gov/poetry/weekly/weekly.html
Exploring Distant Galaxies [PDF] - Grade level: 9-11 Astronomers determine the redshifts of distant galaxies by using spectra and measuring the wavelength shifts for familiar atomic lines. The larger the redshift, denoted by the letter Z, the more distant the galaxy. In this activity, students will use an actual image of a distant corner of the universe, with the redshifts of galaxies identified. After histograming the redshift distribution, they will use an on-line cosmology calculator to determine the 'look-back' times for the galaxies and find the one that is the most ancient galaxy in the field. Can students find a galaxy formed only 500 million years after the Big Bang?
Last weeks problem did not include a URL...but it is the same as the one above.
Astronomy: A Moving Experience! [PDF] - Grade level: 9-11 Objects in space move. To figure out how fast they move, astronomers use many different techniques depending on what they are investigating. In this activity, you will measure the speed of astronomical phenomena using the scaling clues and the time intervals between photographs of three phenomena: A supernova explosion, a coronal mass ejection, and a solar flare shock wave.
01/26/06
Mars Rovers Advance Understanding of the Red Planet
Mars Rovers Advance Understanding of the Red Planet NASA's Mars rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, have been working overtime to help scientists better understand ancient environmental conditions on the red planet. The rovers are also generating excitement about the exploration of Mars outlined in NASA's Vision for Space Exploration. The rovers
continue to find new variations of bedrock in areas they are exploring on opposite sides of Mars. The geological information they have collected adds evidence about ancient Martian environments that included periods of wet, possibly habitable conditions. "The extended journeys taken by the two rovers across the surface of Mars has allowed the science community to continue to uncover discoveries that will enable new investigations of the red planet far into the future." said Mary Cleave, associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters. NASA's third mission extension for the rovers lasts through September 2006, if they remain usable that long. During their three-month primary missions, the rovers drove farther and examined more rocks than the prescribed criteria for success. Opportunity begins its third year on Mars today. It is examining bedrock exposures along a route between "Endurance" and "Victoria" craters. Opportunity found evidence of a long-ago habitat of standing water on Mars. On Jan. 3, Spirit passed its second anniversary inside the Connecticut-sized Gusev Crater. Initially, Spirit did not find evidence of much water, and hills that might reveal more about Gusev's past were still mere bumps on the horizon. By operating eight times as long as planned, Spirit was able to climb up those hills, examine a wide assortment of rocks and find mineral fingerprints of ancient water. While showing signs of wear, Spirit and Opportunity are still being used to their maximum remaining capabilities. On Spirit, the teeth of the rover's rock abrasion tool are too worn to grind the surface off any more rocks, but its wire-bristle brush can still remove loose coatings. The tool was designed to uncover three rocks, but it exposed interiors of 15 rocks. On Opportunity, the steering motor for the front right wheel stopped working eight months ago. A motor at the shoulder joint of the rover's robotic arm shows symptoms of a broken wire in the motor winding. Opportunity can still maneuver with its three other steerable wheels. Its shoulder motor still works when given extra current, and the arm is still useable without that motor. The rovers are two of five active robotic missions at Mars, which include NASA's Mars Odyssey and Mars Global Surveyor and the European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiters. The orbiters and surface missions complement each other in many ways. Observations by the rovers provide ground-level understanding for interpreting global observations by the orbiters. In addition to their own science missions, the orbiters relay data from Mars. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., a division of the California Institute of Technology, manages the Mars Exploration Rover, Odyssey and Global Surveyor
projects for NASA9s Science Mission Directorate. For information about
NASA and other agency exploration programs on the Web, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/home
For images
and information about the rovers and their discoveries on the Web, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/mars
01/24/06
Did you know the Anchorage Museum is expanding? The Anchorage Museum of
History and Art, the Smithsonian's Arctic Studies Center and The
Imaginarium Science Discovery Center are joining forces to create a
new, expanded museum. You can be a part of the excitement and help
guide the design of exhibits and experiences just by voicing your
opinion.
We need your input! Please fill out this survey and help us to create
two new galleries at the Anchorage Museum, the General Science area and
the Young Learners Discovery Area.
Click on the link below, and you will be taken directly to the survey.
It should only take between 10 and 15 minutes to complete.
Those that do complete the survey will be entered into a drawing to win
one of two $250 cash prizes! The survey will close on January 31, 2006.
Educator Survey
01/04/05
Space Science Weekly
Measuring the size of
a Star Cluster[PDF] -Grade level: 9-11 Astronomers often use a photograph
to determine the size of astronomical objects. The Pleiades is a famous
cluster of hundreds of bright stars. In this activity, students will
determine the photographic scale, and use this to estimate the projected
(2-D) distances between the stars in this cluster. They will also use
internet and library resources to learn more about this cluster.http://image.gsfc.nasa.gov/poetry/weekly/2Week14.pdf
Sunspots Close-up and
Personal [PDF]Grade level: 9-11 Students will analyze a picture of a
sunspot to learn more about its size, and examine the sizes of various
other features on the surface of the sun that astronomers study.
Sten Odenwaldhttp://image.gsfc.nasa.gov/poetry/weekly/2Week17.pdf
12/05/05
Space Science Weekly
An Astronomical Perspective. [PDF]Grade level: 9-11 Astronomers use
scientific notation because the numbers they work with are
usually..astronomical in size. This collection of problems will have
students reviewing how to perform multiplication and division with large
and small numbers, while learning about some interesting astronomical
applications. They will learn about the planet Osiris, how long it takes to
download all of NASA's data archive, the time lag for radio signals to
Pluto, and many more real-world applications.
11/30/05
Space Science Weekly
Problem 11:
"Astronomers use scientific notation because the numbers they work with are
usually..astronomical in size. This
collection of problems will have students reviewing how to perform
multiplication and division with large and small numbers, while
learning about some interesting astronomical applications. They will learn
about the planet Osiris, how long it takes to download all of
NASA data archive, the time lag for radio signals to Pluto, and many more
real-world applications."
11/10/05
Design a Planet Completes NASA's Astro-Venture Web Site
http://astroventure.arc.nasa.gov
Grades 5-8 can now test their ability to design a planet that would be
habitable to humans on the newly released Design a Planet module. Students
can also study the habitability requirements of other living creatures in
the newly released Biology Mission module, and teachers will find a wealth
of standards-based, inquiry activities in the revised educator guides.
Astro-Venture is an interactive, multimedia Web site in which students
role-play NASA careers, as they search for and design a planet that would be
habitable to humans. After designing their planet, cla! ssrooms can submit
their solutions and interact with astrobiologists through a one-hour NASA
Quest Webcast on Nov. 17, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. PST.
NASA Quest
http://quest.nasa.gov
10/25/05
Subject: New Science Teaching Resources at FREE
Astronomy, earth science, engineering, oceans, physics,
nutrition, physical activity, & aging are among the topics of
9 new resources at FREE, the website that makes it easier to
find teaching resources from federal agencies.
http://www.ed.gov/free
=======
Science
=======
"Astronomycenter.org"
features reviewed resources for teaching about asteroids,
astrobiology, the big bang theory, black holes, cosmology,
dark matter, galaxies, the Milky Way, telescopes & satellites,
planet formation, planetary atmospheres, space exploration,
stars, the sun, & more. (NSF)
http://www.astronomycenter.org/
"Astrophysics Science Project: Integrating Research & Education (ASPIRE)"
offers lessons for exploring cosmic rays, force, gas
particles, kinetic energy, lunar phases, machines, momentum,
the night sky, refraction, the scientific method, scientific
notation, seasons, seismic waves, stars, the angle of the sun,
tides, & waves. Find out about careers; read interviews with
scientists. (NSF)
http://aspire.cosmic-ray.org/
"Digital Library for Earth System Education"
presents thousands of reviewed resources on atmospheric
science, biology, chemistry, climatology, cryology, ecology,
environmental science, forestry, geography, geology,
mineralogy & petrology, hydrology, mathematics, natural
hazards, ocean sciences, physics, soil science, space science,
& more. (NSF)
http://www.dlese.org/dds/index.jsp
"Engineering Is Elementary"
provides lessons & overviews on acoustical engineering,
agricultural engineering (insects), civil engineering (balance
& forces), environmental engineering (water), industrial
engineering (simple machines), materials engineering (earth
materials), mechanical engineering (air & weather). (NSF)
http://www.mos.org/doc/1545
"NASA Robotics"
invites students & teachers to start robotics teams, "botball"
teams, & enter robotics competitions. Take online courses in
robotics. Follow along with scientists who are developing
technologies to drill for life on Mars. Find lessons for
teaching robotics & related topics. (NASA)
http://robotics.nasa.gov/home/home.php
"Nutrition & Physical Activity"
focuses on physical activity & good nutrition. Examine the
new food pyramid. Learn about body mass, bone health, cancer,
dietary guidelines, fruits & vegetables & weight management,
healthy eating tips, heart disease, intensity levels of
various activities, obesity, physical activity statistics &
recommendations, stairwells, tips for parents, & weight
management ideas. (CDC)
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/
"Oceans Alive"
explores the mountains, abysses, & other physical features of
the ocean floor, as well as the movement of the continents,
the water cycle, the four oceans, waves & wind, currents,
tides, marine life near the surface, & ocean predators & prey.
Activities are provided for learning about the water cycle,
water currents, web of life, & tides. (NSF)
http://www.mos.org/oceans/
"The Physics Front"
provides selected resources for teachers of high school
physics. Hundreds of lessons, labs, & activities can be found
in four categories: conceptual physics, algebra-based physics,
AP physics, & K-8 physical sciences. They can be accessed
also by topic: measurement, motion, forces, momentum, energy,
springs, heat & temperature, wave energy, electrostatics,
electricity & circuits, magnetism, electromagnetism, optics,
particles & interactions, & astronomy. (NSF)
http://www.thephysicsfront.org/
"Secrets of Aging"
examines what scientists are learning about aging, what we can
do to live longer & healthier, & how the growing proportion of
older to younger people is changing our world. Learn about
"fluid & crystallized" intelligence. Test your memory.
Compare factors that might determine the longevity of
different species. Explore the demographics of aging. (NSF)
http://www.secretsofaging.org/
Acronyms
~~~~~~~~
CDC -- Centers For Disease Control & Prevention
NASA -- National Aeronautics & Space Administration
NSF -- National Science Foundation
10/03/05
2006 LARSS Program at NASA Langley Research Center
The 2006 Langley Aerospace Research Summer Scholars (LARSS) Program in Hampton, Virginia is seeking Space Grant Consortiums that are interested in sponsoring undergraduate (rising juniors and seniors) and graduate college students for a 10-week internship at NASA Langley Research Center. The LARSS Program gives students an opportunity to work alongside NASA LaRC scientists and engineers doing cutting edge research related to STEM fields. Each student will work under the direction of a NASA LaRC researcher who assumes the position of mentor for the summer. The program will run from June 5 th through August 11 th, 2006.
The LARSS Program is requesting Space Grant Consortiums to provide each rising junior and senior that they are sponsoring with a $4,500 stipend, and each graduate student with a $5,000 stipend. NASA Langley mentors will be requested to cover the $700 administrative fee for each student. The Space Grant Consortiums can also provide round-trip travel expenses for the students if desired, although LARSS interns generally pay their own travel expenses out of their stipends, which are considered scholarships.
The LARSS Program staff will work to get students housed in furnished apartments on condominiums, with four students per unit, to reduce their expenses. Students who arrive without cars will be housed with other students who can provide them with transportation to and from NASA Langley Research Center, in exchange for sharing the cost of gas.
Thousands of college students have participated in the LARSS Program, which was established in 1986. Linked to this article is a LARSS Fact Sheet that provides details about the LARSS Program and it can be forwarded to college students, faculty, and administrators. The LARSS Program was recently recognized in a Feb. 18 th Wall Street Journal article entitled “America’s A-List Internships.”
Space Grant Consortia that would like to sponsor students for the LARSS Program should send LARSS application packets to Dr. Denise Siegfeldt, LARSS Director and P.I., NASA Langley Research Center, Mail Stop 400-LARSS, 17 Langley Boulevard, Hampton, VA 23681-2199, no later than Feb. 1, 2006. The 2006 LARSS application can be found at http://edu.larc.nasa.gov/larss/. Application packets will be reviewed and NASA Langley researchers will make the selections.
For more detail about the LARSS Program, please contact Dr. Denise Siegfeldt at (757) 864-5298, or Denise.V. Siegfeldt@larc.nasa.gov.
9/28/05
IMAGE - Weekly Problem Archive - Year 2
This web page contains the individual problem sets (PDF or DOC files as noted) for the IMAGE Weekly Space Science Problem program. Each file is in ready-to-go, PDF format.
The goal of these problems is to teach students about Space Weather, using basic math, reading and physical science concepts appropriate for grades 7-10. To learn more about this topic and why it is important, visit the Human Impacts of Space Weather website at www.solarstorms.org.
Solar Storm Timeline [DOC] How long does a solar storm last? How fast does it travel? Students will examine an event timeline for a space weather event and use time adition and subtraction skills to calculate storm durations and speeds.
9/26/05
NASA Means Business Student Competition 2006
PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENTNASA and the Texas Space Grant Consortium are pleased to announce NASA Means Business Student Competition 2006.
Eligibility
The program is open to teams of graduate and undergraduate students enrolled in accredited U.S. institutions of higher education.
Particularly encouraged are interdisciplinary student teams with members representing both the traditional "space disciplines" (engineering, natural sciences, etc.) AND some not normally associated with space exploration, like advertising, marketing, journalism, survey research, sociology/psychology, radio-TV-film, education, communication, fine arts, performing arts, and other similar disciplines.
Competition Topics
Fall Semester '05 Open Competition: Proposals containing video, radio, print and Internet storyboard and media concepts with description of audience(s) targeted and supporting data. Goal: Help NASA effectively articulate to the general public the value and anticipated contributions to life on Earth of its space exploration programs.
Spring Semester '06 Finalist Competition: A NASA Strategic Communications and Education Plan, with and flagship promotion projects in the form of digital video, radio, print, and Internet productions.
Important Dates
Fall 2005 Semester (All teams)
* 11/4/05 - Deadline for Submission of Letters of Intent to Compete (encouraged, not mandatory)
* 11/18/05 - Deadline for Submission of Proposals (mandatory)
* 12/16/05 - Announcement of 5 Finalist Teams
Spring 2006 Semester (Finalist Teams)
* Early February 2006 - NASA Orientation Seminar (Johnson Space Center, TX)
* Week of 3/6/06 - Midpoint Videoconferences
* 5/22-24/06 - Eighth Annual NASA Customer Engagement Conference (Kennedy Space Center, FL)Awards
Finalist Team Cash Awards: $1,000 per team - Upon selection as a Finalist Team Travel Expenses Cash Awards: To each Finalist Team: one to attend the NASA Orientation Seminar and two to attend the Customer Engagement Conference Grand Prize Cash Award: Trip to NASA Headquarters to present work; to the team with the best overall performance, based on criteria set forth in the Competition Guidelines.
For More Information
The Competition Guidelines have been posted at http://www.tsgc.utexas.edu/nmb/.
9/26/05
Team America Rocketry Challenge
Arlington, Va. - Teams interested in taking part in the world's largest
rocket contest can start their efforts by downloading the application
for the Team America Rocketry Challenge from www.rocketcontest.org.
The first 750 teams to submit an application package postmarked on or
before Nov. 15 will be allowed to compete in the 2006 event. About
10,000 middle and high school students participated during the last
contest, which a team from the Dakota County 4-H Federation in Minnesota
won in May.
The contest is sponsored by the Aerospace Industries Association and the
National Association of Rocketry. The Defense Department and NASA are
both government partners in the fourth annual TARC and 39 AIA member
companies are supporting the event financially. Student team members,
which can be from schools or non-profit educational groups, must design,
build and fly rockets.
Winners will share $60,000 in cash and savings bonds. Successful teams
may also go on to take part in NASA advanced rocketry programs.
Teams have until April 9, 2006 to qualify for the final round of
competition scheduled for May 20 at Great Meadow in The Plains, Va. The
registration fee is $110 and all additional information is available at
www.rocketcontest.org .
09/02/2005
Partners in Science Grant Program via The Murdock Trust Partners in Science is a program originated by Research Corporation, a national private foundation headquartered in Tucson, Arizona. The Program is
designed to provide research opportunities for high school science teachers to work with investigators in academic labs in cutting edge research.
The Murdock Trust assumed administration of the program in 1999 and will accept proposals from eligible applicants in the states of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.
Since 1990, the Trust has funded the formation of 124 teacher-mentor partnerships with high school teachers coming from nearly as many different high schools in the region.
More information on this Program can be obtained from the Guidelines which are available for viewing and Application Forms may be downloaded for completion. Be sure to also view the required attachments that must be submitted with application materials.
From the webssite (with links)
http://www.murdock-trust.org/
and choose "Formal Grants Programs" on the left.
About the Alaska Space Grant Program
The National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program Established by Congress in 1988 and implemented by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in 1989, the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program (also known as Space Grant) contributes to the nation's science enterprise by funding research, education, and public service projects through a national network of 52 university-based Space Grant consortia. These consortia administer programs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The consortia's 703 affiliates include 493 academic institutions and 62 businesses. Other partners include state and local government agencies, other federal agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Space Grant celebrates its tenth year of service in 1999. Since its inception, Space Grant has awarded over 12,000 U.S. citizens with tuition assistance in science, engineering,and related fields of study.
