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NOAA Teacher at Sea Program Audience: Formal and Informal Educators of Grades Pre-K-Higher Education Application Deadline: Nov. 30, 5 p.m. EST Contact: teacheratsea@noaa.govThe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Teacher at Sea Program is accepting applications for its 2020 opportunity. This program provides teachers with hands-on, real-world research experience working at sea with world-renowned NOAA scientists. Participants gain unique insight into oceanic and atmospheric research that can be used to enrich and enhance their approaches to teaching science and engaging with the local community. |
Small Steps to Giant Leaps: 3,2,1…Takeoff Audience: Educators of Grades K-12 Event Date: Dec. 3 at 6:30 p.m. EST Contact: barbie.buckner@nasa.govJoin the NASA STEM Engagement & Educator Professional Development Collaborative at Texas State University for a free 60-minute webinar. Get an overview of the newly released “3, 2, 1…Takeoff Activity.” Explore a series of demonstrations focusing on the forces of flight using different materials and shapes to determine which are the most and least susceptible to lift, weight, drag and thrust. Learn about NASA’s newest X-plane, the X-59 QueSST, and the research on Quiet Supersonic Flight. Online registration is required. |
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NASA Commercial Crew Program: Mission and STEM Resources Overview Audience: Educators of Grades K-12 Event Date: Dec. 4 at 6 p.m. EST Contact: steve.culivan@txstate.eduJoin the NASA STEM Engagement & Educator Professional Development Collaborative at Texas State University for a free 60-minute webinar. NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is the next phase in space transportation, enabling industry to provide safe, reliable and cost-effective access to and from the International Space Station and low-Earth orbit. Learn about the companies, the vehicles, the crew and the STEM classroom resources related to the Commercial Crew Program. Online registration is required. |
Explore Moon to Mars: Careers in Space Audience: Educators of Grades K-12 Event Date: Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. EST Contact: steve.culivan@txstate.eduJoin the NASA STEM Engagement & Educator Professional Development Collaborative at Texas State University for a free 60-minute webinar. Explore the many NASA STEM careers needed to successfully accomplish the unique, exciting missions that explore and build a better understanding of our Earth, Moon, Mars and the universe beyond. NASA science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) career education lessons and resources will be integrated. Online registration is required. |
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Lunar and Planetary Institute’s Cosmic Explorations Speaker Series: No Bugs, No Cheese: Sample Studies Since Apollo Audience: Public, Educators and Students of Grades 7-College Event Date: Dec. 5 at 8:30 p.m. EST Contact: education@lpi.usra.eduThe Lunar and Planetary Institute presents “No Bugs, No Cheese: Sample Studies Since Apollo” by Dr. Juliane Gross, deputy curator of Apollo samples at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Dr. Gross will discuss what analysis of both Apollo samples and lunar meteorites has taught us about the Moon. Attend the event in person at the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston, Texas, or watch the event live online. Archives of past lectures also are available online. |
New Applied Research STEM Curriculum Unit Available—‘Future Temperature Projections’ Audience: High School Educators Contact: matthew.d.pearce@nasa.gov“Future Temperature Projections” is a unit plan designed for grades 9-12 classrooms with access to computers and NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies RStudio software. This unit takes approximately one month to complete. The goal of this unit is for students to learn global future temperature projections based on output from a NASA global climate change model. As the future state of Earth’s climate and greenhouse gas emissions remains uncertain, students will learn how temperature on Earth is expected to change based on different scenarios regarding greenhouse gas emissions. |
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Micro-G NExT Student Inspired Tool Ready for Spacewalk Audience: Public, All Educators, Undergraduate Students and STEM Groups Event Date: Nov. 22 at 6:05 a.m. CST Contact: jsc-reducedgravity@nasa.govDid you know undergraduate students are contributing to NASA missions? The zip-tie cutter designed by Lone Star College-CyFair students will be used in an upcoming spacewalk. Broadcast of the spacewalk to repair the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer will air live on NASA TV on Nov. 22 at 6:05 a.m. CST. The student team designed the tool as part of Micro-g Neutral Buoyancy Experiment Design Teams, a NASA opportunity that challenges students to design and build solutions for current space exploration missions. Learn how you—the #Artemis generation—can contribute to NASA’s mission by visiting stem.nasa.gov/artemis. |
Small Steps to Giant Leaps: Shape Your Flight Audience: Educators of Grades K-12 Event Date: Nov.21 at 6:30 p.m. EST Contact: barbie.buckner@nasa.govJoin the NASA STEM Educator Professional Development Collaborative at Texas State University for a free 60-minute webinar. Explore geometry and its relation to aircraft design through the newly released “Shape Your Flight” activity. Learn about a series of demonstrations focusing on the forces of flight using different materials and shapes to determine which are the most and least susceptible to lift, weight, drag and thrust. Take a look back at the history of X-Planes and NASA aeronautical research while also looking forward to the future of NASA aeronautics innovation. Online registration is required. |
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2020 RASC-AL Special Edition: Moon to Mars Ice and Prospecting Challenge Audience: Full-time Undergraduate and Graduate Students Project Plan Submission Deadline: Nov. 24, 2019 Contact: rascal@nianet.orgThe 2020 Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts Academic Linkage (RASC-AL) Special Edition: Moon to Mars Ice and Prospecting Challenge is an engineering design and technology demonstration contest for undergraduate and graduate students majoring in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and related disciplines at an accredited U.S.-based university. Teams will design and build prototype systems that can extract water and assess subsurface density profiles from a simulated off-world test bed. Up to 10 teams will be selected to receive $10,000 to build and demonstrate their systems’ capabilities in June 2020 at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. For more ways to get involved in NASA’s first step in the next era of exploration, visit the Artemis Student Challenges website. |
Start Your Week With Space: Take a Virtual Reality Tour of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program Audience: All Educators and Students in Grades 5 and Up Event Date: Mondays at 2 p.m. ET Contact: bethanne.hull@nasa.govStart your week with an exciting virtual reality tour of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. Through 360-degree video and virtual reality technology, students can get a behind-the-scenes look at NASA and commercial partner facilities without leaving the classroom. Tune in each week to experience virtual reality with live commentary from a NASA STEM education specialist. Upcoming virtual tours include: Visit nasa.gov/stem/ccp for more STEM educational resources featuring NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. |
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NASA STEM Activities: Forward to the Moon Audience: Educators of Grades K-12 Event Date: Nov. 25 at 5 p.m. EST Contact: susan.m.kohler@nasa.govJoin the NASA STEM Educator Professional Development Collaborative at Texas State University for a free 60-minute webinar. NASA plans to go forward to the Moon by 2024. Learn about K-12 STEM activities that will enhance classroom instruction involving this topic. Activities include: Online registration is required. |
Moon to Mars: Mission and Resources Overview—Presented in Spanish Audience: Spanish speaking Educators of Grades K-12 Event Date: Nov. 26 at 6 p.m. EST Contact: m_u52@txstate.eduJoin the NASA STEM Educator Professional Development Collaborative at Texas State University for a free 60-minute webinar presented in Spanish. As NASA expands human exploration by visiting the Moon and then Mars, deep space exploration will require innovations in transportation that include the Space Launch System, Orion and Ground Launch Systems. This webinar begins with an overview of NASA’s plans for human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit and continues with an overview of associated NASA education lessons, videos, fact sheets, printables and training opportunities. Resources covered address National Standards in Science and Mathematics Online registration is required. |
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Contact Opportunity: Amateur Radio on the International Space Station Audience: All Educators Proposal Deadline: Nov. 30 Contact: ariss.us.education@gmail.comARISS-US is accepting proposals from U.S. schools, museums and community youth organizations to host an amateur radio contact with an astronaut aboard the International Space Station between July 1 and Dec. 31, 2020. To maximize the events, ARISS-US is looking for organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed STEAM education plan. Radio contacts are approximately 10 minutes long. Visit the site for proposal guidelines, forms and upcoming pre-proposal webinars. |
NASA’s Centennial Challenges: Carbon Dioxide Conversion Challenge—Phase Two Audience: All Interested U.S. Citizens Registration Deadline: Nov. 30 Contact: questions@co2conversionchallenge.orgPhase Two of the NASA Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Conversion Challenge invites members of the public, academia and industry to build a system demonstrating the conversion of CO2 with hydrogen—without the use of plants—to produce simple sugar molecules known as D-sugars. A $750,000 prize purse is available for this phase of the challenge. Participation in phase one is not required to participate in phase two. Visit the website for registration information and challenge details. |
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2020 Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Fellowship Program Audience: Predoctoral and Postdoctoral Researchers Application Deadline: Dec. 1 Contact: NASM-Fellowships@si.eduThe Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is accepting applications for its 2020 Fellowship Program. A variety of fellowships for predoctoral and postdoctoral researchers are available. Applicants should state how they intend to use the museum’s collections and facilities. Participants will receive stipends and allowances. Visit the website for the full list of fellowship opportunities and details. |
2019-20 OPTIMUS PRIME Spinoff Promotion and Research Challenge Audience: Students in Grades 3-12 Entry Deadlines: Mission Universe: Dec. 1 Mission Solar System: Dec. 1 Mission Sun: March 1, 2020 Mission Earth: March 1, 2020 Contact: OPSPARC@privo.comNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, invites students to enter the OPTIMUS PRIME Spinoff Promotion and Research Challenge (OPSPARC). This year’s challenge features four new missions that demonstrate how NASA spinoffs are MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE just like OPTIMUS PRIME, the leader of the AUTOBOTS. OPSPARC encourages students to channel their inner entrepreneur and solve the world’s problems by creating their own spinoff concepts. Winners will be invited to a workshop at Goddard, attend a VIP awards ceremony and meet actor Peter Cullen, the voice of OPTIMUS PRIME. TRANSFORMERS, AUTOBOTS, OPTIMUS PRIME and MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE are trademarks of Hasbro and used with permission (c) 2019 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved. |
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Join the NOAA Planet Stewards 2020 Stewardship Community Audience: Formal and Informal Educators of Grades K-Higher Education Application Deadline: Dec. 1 Contact: Bruce.Moravchik@noaa.govThe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Planet Stewards Education Project is accepting applications for its 2020 Stewardships Community. This network supports the development and implementation of hands-on, action-based projects. Participants receive one-on-one guidance on designing, implementing and evaluating an environmental stewardship project, and writing for a federal funding opportunity. Those who successfully complete the program’s requirements are eligible to apply for $2,500 in funding support. |
Call for Proposals: Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology Audience: Higher Education Educators and Students Pre-Proposal Informational Teleconference: Dec. 2, 1-2:30 p.m. EST Proposal Deadline: Feb. 4, 2020 Contact: HQ-FINESST@mail.nasa.govNASA’s Science Mission Directorate is seeking proposals from accredited U.S. universities for research grants to begin in the 2020-21 academic year. Each proposal must identify a student seeking a master’s or doctorate degree in Earth and space sciences as the participating future investigator. Project proposers may request up to a three-year period of performance. Visit the website for details and proposal requirements. |
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Proposal Writing Workshop—American Geophysical Union’s Fall Meeting Audience: Graduate and Post-graduate Students and Researchers Workshop Date: Dec. 8, 8 a.m. – Noon PST Contact: christina.r.richey@jpl.nasa.govThe success of scientists depends on their ability to obtain funding. Join NASA’s Science Mission Directorate for a workshop that will use NASA’s Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) as an example to teach key points in writing a successful proposal. NASA will guide participants through the proposal lifecycle, give tips on writing for specific audiences and discuss evaluation criteria. This workshop is part of the American Geophysical Union’s Fall Meeting taking place in San Francisco, California. Registration is required. |
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Celebrate Computer Science Week and Hour of Code Audience: K-12 Educators and Students Event Date: Dec. 9-15 Contact: Kimberly.M.Orr@jpl.nasa.govComputer Science Education Week is an annual event that encourages and inspires K-12 students to explore coding. Students and teachers are encouraged to participate by using an hour of their week to create computer code as part of the Hour of Code initiative. The education team at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California has compiled a set of NASA resources to help you celebrate with a space-themed twist. Visit the site for resources to take part, whether you’re an experienced programmer or just learning the basics. For even more NASA resources related to computer science, visit the NASA Computer Science Educational Resources site. |
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Space Robotics Challenge: Phase 2 Audience: All Interested U.S. Citizens, Including Higher Education Educators and Students Registration Deadline: Dec. 20 Contact: info@spaceroboticschallenge.comNASA, in partnership with Space Center Houston, has opened registration for phase two of the Space Robotics Challenge, a $1 million prize competition designed to advance the autonomous capabilities of lunar surface robots. The goal of phase two is to develop software that enables a team of virtual robots to operate fully autonomously for a specified length of time in a virtual lunar environment. |
Save the Date: 2020 Space Port Area Conference for Educators Audience: K-12 Formal and Informal Educators Event Date: July 8-10, 2020 Contact: goforspace@gmail.comAre you interested in attending the third annual SPACE Conference hosted by the Astronauts Memorial Foundation? Mark your calendar and make plans to head to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida for this conference for K-12 formal and informal educators who are U.S. citizens teaching in the United States. Experience stimulating presentations from astronauts and NASA science and engineering experts; tour Kennedy and surrounding facilities. Get lesson plans and creative ideas to infuse your classroom with STEM and multifaceted, space-related content. |
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U.S. Department of Energy: Doctoral Thesis Research Opportunity in Marine Energy, Hydrokinetic Audience: Full-time Doctoral Graduate Students Application Deadline: Dec. 9 Contact: DOE-RPP@orise.orau.govThe U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Water Power Technologies Office is accepting applications from students interested in advancing their doctoral thesis using the expertise, resources and capabilities available at DOE laboratories and facilities. Participants will have the opportunity to collaborate and learn from experts researching, developing and testing emerging technologies in marine and hydrokinetics. Participants will receive stipends and allowances. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents. |
ROADS on Mars Student Challenge Audience: Students in Grades 3-12 Registration Deadline: Dec. 15 Contact: nwessp@uw.eduIn the summer of 2020, NASA will launch its next rover to study Mars. NASA’s Northwest Earth and Space Science Pipeline team invites students to participate in a Red Planet rover mission of their own! The Rover Observation And Drone Survey (ROADS) on Mars Challenge will follow the path of the Mars 2020 rover. Teams will face challenges including engineering and programming, analyses of biological signatures and geologic features, not to mention flying to Mars and landing successfully. Top teams nationwide will win a trip to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the Mars 2020 launch! |
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NASA Internships Audience: High School, Undergraduate, Graduate Students Application Deadlines: Summer 2020—March 8 Contact: NASA-Internships@mail.nasa.govBeing an astronaut isn’t the only cool thing about space. NASA interns use their creativity and innovation to work on projects that impact NASA’s mission, like sending the first woman and next man to the Moon by 2024. As a NASA intern, you’ll be a part of an amazing team dedicated to the advancement of space exploration. You will work alongside leading experts and gain valuable experience by advancing research and projects to the next level. Come dream with us and let’s change the future together. |
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Are you looking for NASA STEM materials to support your curriculum?
Search hundreds of resources by subject, grade level, type and keyword at https://www.nasa.gov/education/materials/.
Find NASA science resources for your classroom. NASA Wavelength is a digital collection of Earth and space science resources for educators of all levels — from elementary to college, to out-of-school programs. https://science.nasa.gov/learners/wavelength
Check out the ‘Explore NASA Science’ website! Science starts with questions, leading to discoveries. Visit https://science.nasa.gov. To view the site in Spanish, visit http://ciencia.nasa.gov.
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Visit NASA STEM Engagement on the Web:
NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement: https://stem.nasa.gov
For Educators: https://www.nasa.gov/stem/foreducators
For Students: https://www.nasa.gov/stem/forstudents
NASA Kids’ Club: https://www.nasa.gov/kidsclub