NASA Education Express -- August 23, 2012
Posted on Aug 23, 2012 02:43:00 PM | Mindi Capp | 1 Comments    |
Check out the following NASA opportunities for the education community. Full descriptions are listed below.

2012-2013 NASA’s University Student Launch Initiative
Audience: Higher Education Students
Proposal Deadline: Aug. 31, 2012

Become a NASA Galileo Educator Network Fellow
Audience: K-12 Educator Professional Development Providers
Application Deadline: Aug. 31, 2012

Minorities Striving and Pursuing Higher Degrees of Success in Earth System Science
Audience: Higher Education Students
Application Deadline: Aug. 31, 2012

Presenters Needed for 2013 Space Exploration Educators Conference
Audience: All Educators
Proposal Deadline: Sept. 6, 2012

NASA’s Science Mission Directorate Education Professional Development Survey
Audience: All Educators
Survey Deadline: Sept. 10, 2012

2013 NASA Lunabotics Mining Competition
Audience: Higher Education Educators and Students
Registration Limited to 50 Teams

Green Strides Webinar Series
Audience: K-12 Educators
Event Dates: Multiple dates through May 2013

New DIY Podcast Module Available -- Recycling
Audience: 5-12 Educators and Students

New NASA eClips Videos Available
Audience: 6-12 Educators

What's New at NASA's Space Place Website
Audience: K-6 Educators

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2012-2013 NASA’s University Student Launch Initiative

NASA’s University Student Launch Initiative, or USLI, is a competition that challenges university-level students to design, build and launch a reusable rocket with a scientific or engineering payload to one mile above ground level. The project engages students in scientific research and real-world engineering processes with NASA engineers.

Once selected, teams design their rockets and payloads throughout the academic year. USLI requires a NASA review of the teams' preliminary and critical designs. The project also requires flight and launch readiness reviews before the rockets and payloads are approved for launch. Teams complete a Post-Launch Assessment Review to include conclusions from their science or engineering experiment and the overall flight performance. The Preliminary Design Review, Critical Design Review and Flight Readiness Review are conducted by a panel of scientists and engineers from NASA, NASA contactors and external partners.

NASA’s Student Launch Projects are sponsored by ATK Aerospace Systems. The annual launch event is hosted at Bragg Farms in Toney, Ala., and launch services are provided by the National Association of Rocketry. The 2012-2013 launch will be on April 20, 2013. Proposals are due Aug. 31, 2012.

The Statement of Work and instructions for submitting a proposal can be found on the USLI website at http://education.msfc.nasa.gov/usli.

Questions about this opportunity should be directed to Julie Clift at julie.d.clift@nasa.gov.

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Become a NASA Galileo Educator Network Fellow

The NASA Galileo Educator Network is accepting applications for a professional development institute in September 2012, at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, Ill.

The 15-hour institute will focus on the integration of science content, science practices and the nature of science as outlined in the national Framework for K–12 Science Education. The goal of this program is to train participants to assist K-12 teachers with the implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards, in the context of astronomy and space science.

Lodging support for out-of-town participants and stipends for all participants are available.

Applications are due Aug. 31, 2012.

For more information about the NASA Galileo Educator Network and to apply for the professional development institute online, visit http://astrosociety.org/education/GEN/index.html.

Questions about this opportunity should be emailed to Brian Kruse at bkruse@astrosociety.org.

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Minorities Striving and Pursuing Higher Degrees of Success in Earth System Science

The Minorities Striving and Pursuing Higher Degrees of Success in Earth System Science, or MS PHD’S, initiative was developed by and for underrepresented minorities to facilitate increased participation in earth system science. Each year, the initiative engages approximately 25 minority undergraduate and graduate students in a series of activities.

The project starts with orientation and a broad earth system science and engineering exposure during MS PHD’S community-building activities at the American Geophysical Union fall meeting in San Francisco, Calif.

Participants will engage in additional professional development activities at one of the MS PHD'S organizational partners' meetings. These activities could include attending meetings of the American Meteorological Society, the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography, the National Association of Black Geologists and Geophysicists, and the Ecological Society of America, among others. Each participant will attend the meeting that most closely aligns with his or her specific academic and professional interests.

The final phase will occur at the National Academies in Washington, D.C., where participants will visit government agencies and engage in dialogs with professional society and foundation representatives. Each student will also receive a scholarship award of up to $1,000 and participate in a tour of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.

The deadline for submitting the online application is Aug. 31, 2012.

For more information about the MS PHD’S initiative and how to apply, visit http://www.msphds.org/.

Questions about this opportunity should be emailed to pdp@msphds.org.


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Presenters Needed for 2013 Space Exploration Educators Conference

The 19th Annual Space Exploration Educators Conference, or SEEC, is taking place Feb. 7-9, 2013, at Space Center Houston. The goal of SEEC is to encourage K-12 educators to use space to teach all subjects in their classrooms. Over 700 educators gather for this event each year.

Conference organizers are looking for 170 interactive sessions that present exciting classroom activities. All sessions must have a hands-on component; lecture sessions will not be accepted. Proposals are due Sept. 6, 2012.

For more information, visit http://spacecenter.org/TeachersSEEC.html.

If you have any questions about the conference, please call 281-244-2149 or email seec@spacecenter.org.

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NASA’s Science Mission Directorate Education Professional Development Survey

NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, or SMD, is strongly committed to enhancing the nation's science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, education. As part of that commitment, each of the four divisions within the SMD established an Education and Public Outreach, or E/PO, Forum. Each Forum consists of a team of scientists and educators that coordinates activities using NASA science content, expertise and facilities.

One of the areas for the Forums is teacher professional development. In an effort to continue offering the most valuable professional development experience possible, the Forums are seeking your expert input.

Please fill in the survey found at the website listed below. The survey should take less than 20 minutes. We are asking for your response by Sept. 10, 2012.

http://bit.ly/NASAscienceteacher

Please email any questions about this survey to Theresa Schwerin at theresa_schwerin@strategies.org.

Thank you very much for your contribution to NASA Science E/PO Forums!

The NASA Science E/PO Forums
Cassie Soeffing, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies
Earth Science Forum

Lindsay Bartolone, Adler Planetarium
Astrophysics Forum

Ruth Paglierani, University of California, Berkeley
Heliophysics Forum

Sheri Klug Boonstra, Arizona State University
Planetary Science Forum

Liz Burck, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center/Wyle Information Systems, LLC
Earth Science Forum

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2013 NASA Lunabotics Mining Competition

NASA is challenging U.S. and international undergraduate and graduate student teams to design and build a telerobotic or autonomous excavator, called a Lunabot, that may result in clever ideas and solutions which could be applied to an actual lunar excavation device or payload. The lunabot must be able to mine and deposit a minimum of 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of lunar simulant in 10 minutes.

Design teams must include one faculty advisor from a college or university and at least two undergraduate or graduate students. Universities may work in collaboration, and multidisciplinary teams are encouraged.

Selected teams will compete in the Lunabotics Mining Competition at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 20-24, 2013. Registration is limited to the first 50 approved teams. Registration is limited to one team per university campus. Internationally, registration is limited to five teams per country.

Registration will end when NASA approves 50 applications.

For more information about the competition and to apply online, visit http://www.nasa.gov/lunabotics.

Please email any questions about this opportunity to Susan Sawyer at Susan.G.Sawyer@nasa.gov.

Like NASA Lunabotics on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/Lunabotics.
Watch Lunabotics videos on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/Lunabotics.
Follow Lunabotics on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/NASALunabotics
.

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Green Strides Webinar Series

The U.S. Department of Education presents the Green Strides Webinar Series. These webinars feature experts from various federal programs. The webinars are free, and events are scheduled through the end of the 2012-2013 school year.

For more information and registration, visit http://www2.ed.gov/programs/green-ribbon-schools/webinar-series.doc.

Questions about this opportunity should be directed to Green.Ribbon.Schools@ed.gov.


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New DIY Podcast Module Available -- Recycling

NASA’s Do-It-Yourself Podcast offers resources for educators and students to create podcasts using free NASA images, video footage and audio clips. The newest DIY Podcast topic module focuses on recycling. While recycling may be a relatively new task for humans, it is common practice for Mother Nature. Air and water are constantly recycled by nature for use on Earth. NASA recycles too, on Earth and in space.

NASA centers recycle paper, plastic, batteries, excess materials from construction and demolition projects, and other items. But what does NASA recycle in space?

NASA uses special purification systems on the space station to recycle water, sweat, urine and air so that astronauts have clean water to drink and use and have fresh air to breathe.

Challenge your students to brainstorm about how to make recycling a common part of their lives. And then visit NASA’s DIY Podcast site today to integrate podcasting into your classroom. Encourage your students to mashup audio and video clips to develop informative and creative podcasts about recycling. Video and audio clips feature interviews with astronauts and NASA specialists. The site also provides background information on recycling.

Additionally, educators may visit the DIY Podcast blog for tips and ideas on how to use podcasting in your lessons.

For more information and to access the Recycling topic module, visit NASA’s DIY Podcast site today at http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/diypodcast/index.html.

If you have questions or comments about NASA’s DIY Podcast, please email educationpodcast@nasa.gov.


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New NASA eClips Videos Available

Check out the new videos that NASA eClips™ has rolled out for August.

-- Real World: NASA Harnesses Half Life (Grades 6-8) -- Learn about isotopes and radioactive decay. See how NASA uses the predictable decay of certain elements to power spacecraft in remote locations. Find out why a Radioisotope Power System, or RPS, provides dependable energy for the Mars Science Laboratory.
-- Launchpad: What Are Radioisotope Power Systems? (Grades 9-12) -- NASA uses Radioisotope Power Systems, or RPS, to convert heat from radioactive decay to electricity, creating predictable, continuous power for long missions in extreme environments. But learn how a next generation Radioisotope Stirling Engine will perform four times more efficiently and help NASA use even less of a precious resource.
-- Launchpad: History, Benefits and Safety of Radioisotope Power Systems (Grades 9-12) -- With safety designed from inside out and outside in, see how NASA has used Radioisotope Power Systems, or RPS, for more than 20 missions over the last 50 years. Discover the advantages of an RPS that allow spacecraft like Voyager to do important scientific maneuvers even after being in the extreme environment of space for 30 years! Find out where an RPS could take us in the future.

To learn more about NASA eClips, visit www.nasa.gov/nasaeclips.

Follow NASA eClips on Facebook and Twitter!


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What's New at NASA's Space Place Website

NASA’s Curiosity rover gears up to begin its study of Mars just in time for the start of school. Following Curiosity’s adventures of exploration can help keep kids excited about science and space. The Space Place, along with our new mobile applications, can help too.

Introducing Space Place Prime!
Space Place Prime is a spinoff of The Space Place, but for the iPad and a multigenerational audience. It is a content presentation app, updated daily via wireless connection, which gathers some of the best and most recent offerings from NASA. It taps timely educational and easy-to-read articles from the website, as well as daily updates of NASA space and Earth images and the latest informative videos.

The interface is a grid of images, which you can slide with your finger any which way to your heart’s content. Each feature is represented by a unique image, labeled with an icon to show whether it is an image, video, article or activity. Tapping on the image takes you to the feature.

For a more organized view, a list mode presents separate menus of images, videos and articles (including activity articles).

You can share the images and short videos with your class using a digital projector and a high-definition multimedia interface adapter for the iPad.

Space Place Prime is available free in the Apple App Store. See iTunes preview at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/space-place-prime/id543935008?mt=8.

New Resource for Space Place en Español
This year has been an amazing one for daytime sky watchers. On May 20, we had a solar eclipse, partial or annular, depending on your viewing location. And on June 5 (or 6), a very rare Venus transit occurred, which is similar to an eclipse. Both of these events and the basic concept of eclipses are explained in a new “Explore” page in both English and Spanish on The Space Place. Check it out at http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/sp/venus-transit/.

Spotlight on Mars
“Let’s go to Mars!” The Mars adventure game gives kids the task of picking items that would be useful to take on a long trip to Mars. The player’s game success depends on the usefulness and practicality of the items chosen. For example, dumb-bells wouldn’t be very useful for exercising in a weightless environment. And potato chips take up too much space. But notepaper and some crayons might come in handy, as would a first-aid kit. Blast off at http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/mars-adventure/.

For the Classroom
What’s the difference between a comet and an asteroid? Most of us know that a comet has a tail and maybe a certain level of predictability. But what, fundamentally, distinguishes one from the other? Or is there a fuzzy area where either term could apply? Our new “Comets vs. Asteroids” four-page flyer tells all with pictures, easy explanations, fun facts and even a word search puzzle. Download and print it at http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/posters/#asteroids.

For out-of-school time
Make Space Place t-shirts. Print our beautiful Space Place art on iron-on transfer paper you can buy at a crafts store. Iron the transfer onto any t-shirt, old or new. You can also iron a colorful solar system transfer graphic onto the back of the shirt to help students (either the ones wearing the shirt or the ones looking at their backs) learn the names of the planets.

Alternatively, Lands’ End® has created an embroidered Space Place insignia, which you can order on any Lands’ End® shirt, hat, bag or other product. Either way, go to http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/t-shirt/ to get started.

Special Days

Sept. 15: Respect for the Aged Day in Japan
(Why don’t we have such a holiday in the U.S.?) A fun way to observe this day is to play the “How Old Do I Look?” game. Go to http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/whats-older/.

Sept. 16: Collect Rocks Day
You never know when the rock you pick up might have fallen from Mars or another extraterrestrial locale. See what rock collecting did for one NASA scientist by watching a Space Place Live episode at http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/space-place-live/#burnett.

Sept. 23, 1846: Johan G. Galle Discovered Neptune
This smallest of the gas giants would still hold 60 Earths! Find out more about Neptune and all the other planets by reading the interactive or .pdf storybook, “The First Annual Planet Awards!” It’s at http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/story-planet-awards/.

October: Energy Awareness Month
The “Power Up!” game on our sister website, NASA’s Climate Kids, will help students become more aware of renewable energy sources. Go to http://climate.nasa.gov/kids/powerupcleanly/.

Oct. 13: Train Your Brain Day
Flex your memory muscles by playing “Spitzer Concentration.” Match space images from the Spitzer Space Telescope. Go to http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/spitzer-concentration/.

Oct. 21: Orionids Meteor Shower Peaks
Find out all about meteor showers and the best way to watch them at http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/meteor-shower/.

A Reminder…
The Space Place monthly wall calendar for this school year is available to print at http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/calendar/. Also, back issues of this newsletter are available, with timeless suggestions on using The Space Place to enrich classroom and out-of-school experiences for students. Check them out at http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/educator-newsletter/.

iPad and iTunes are registered trademarks of Apple Inc.


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Don't miss out on education-related opportunities available from NASA. For a full list of Current Opportunities, visit http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/current-opps-index.html.

Visit NASA Education on the Web:
For Educators: http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/index.html
For Students: http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/index.html
NASA Kids’ Club:
http://www.nasa.gov/kidsclub



Tags : Education Websites, Educational Resources, Opportunities for Educators, Student Competitions, Student Internships, Webcasts  

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1 Comments so far ( Post your own )
1 On Aug 25, 2012 07:31:52 AM  evab  added a comment on your blog post. 

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