Check out the latest edition of NASA Education’s “Science WOW!” — your source for NASA opportunities in science education delivered “Weekly On Wednesday.”
Science Always Starts With a Question …
This Week’s Question: Which Planet Has the Strongest Winds?
The high wind speeds caused by hurricanes and tornadoes on Earth can be intense. But are they the strongest winds in the solar system? To find out, visit http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/ask/202-Which-planet-has-the-strongest-winds-.
Have You Seen This?
Check out a new publication from Earth Observatory — EO Kids — bringing engaging science stories from Earth Observatory to a younger audience! EO Kids offers hands-on activities, experiments and more. Download it today!
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/eokids/
Opportunities for Future Scientists of All Ages
- **NEW** Girl Scout Destinations — Reaching for the Stars: NASA Science for Girl Scouts
- **NEW** Photo Contest — Win a Trip to Space Camp With Space Racers
- NASA Invites You to #SpotHubble
Science Opportunities for Educators of Grades K-12
- **NEW** Free Education Webinars From NASA Educator Professional Development
- **NEW** Sally Ride EarthKAM @ Space Camp Announces Fall 2016 Mission
Science Opportunities for Higher Education and Informal Institutions
- ROSES-16 Amendment 33: New Program Element — Interdisciplinary Science for Eclipse 2017
- Postdoctoral Fellowships in Space Biology to Study the Microbiome of the International Space Station as a Built Environment
Opportunities for Future Scientists of All Ages
**NEW** Girl Scout Destinations — Reaching for the Stars: NASA Science for Girl Scouts
Audience: Girl Scouts and Girl Scout Leaders
Application Deadline: As Early as Nov. 1, 2016, Varies by Location
Girl Scout Destinations trips are the ultimate adventure for individual girls ages 11 and older! With different trips every year, there’s something amazing for everyone to experience. Make friends from all over the country as you travel with Girl Scouts from different states and pack your bags full of inspiring, life-changing experiences.
Four upcoming Girl Scout Destinations trips have a NASA connection:
Total Eclipse of the Heartland
http://forgirls.girlscouts.org/travel/total-eclipse-of-the-heartland/
Experience the Great American Eclipse at the point of the longest duration of totality, along with new friends from NASA, scientists, your new solar sisters and other eclipse aficionados.
The Great Eclipse Adventure
http://forgirls.girlscouts.org/travel/the-great-eclipse-adventure/
Experience the Great American Eclipse and spend two days with female professors and students from the University of Missouri’s astronomy, physics and engineering departments as you do hands-on activities.
Eyes to the Sky — A Once in a Lifetime Destination
http://forgirls.girlscouts.org/travel/eyes-to-the-sky-a-once-in-a-lifetime-destination/
Blast into a total solar eclipse weekend as the eclipse path exits the continental U.S. in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of South Carolina! Time will fly as your time will be packed with amazing experiences — life as an astronaut, space missions, rocket science, planetarium trips and camping under the stars!
Astronomy Camp
http://forgirls.girlscouts.org/travel/astronomy-camp/
This camp is an adventure in scientific exploration using mountaintop telescopes at the Catalina Observatories atop scenic Mt. Lemmon in southern Arizona. You will explore the sky both day and night, make your own observations, and create your own images.
The deadline for Round 1 Destinations applications varies depending on dates set by local Girl Scout Councils. Some are due as early as Nov. 1, 2016. For more information and to find the application deadline for your area, visit http://forgirls.girlscouts.org/travel/take-a-trip/destinations/.
Please direct questions about this opportunity to destinations@girlscouts.org.
**NEW** Photo Contest — Win a Trip to Space Camp With Space Racers
Audience: Parents and/or Guardians of One or More Minor Children
Entry Deadline: Nov. 6, 2016, at 11:59 p.m. ET
Space Racers® Season 2 is launching on Nov. 5! This animated TV series follows a group of adventurous spaceship cadets and exposes young children to key aspects of the science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, curricula. Space Racers is collaborating in a partnership with the U.S. Space & Rocket Center’s Space Camp, to which NASA serves as technical and educational consultant pursuant to a cooperative agreement.
To celebrate the new season, parents and guardians are invited to submit a photo of their future astronaut for a chance to win a prize! Daily giveaways include memberships to science museums across the country. And a grand prize winner will receive an all-expenses paid family trip to Space Camp!
The deadline to enter is Nov. 6, 2016, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
For complete rules and submission guidelines, visit http://contest.spaceracers.org/.
For more information on Space Racers, go to www.SpaceRacers.org.
Please submit questions about this opportunity to info@spaceracers.org.
NASA Invites You to #SpotHubble
Audience: All Educators and Students
Since its launch in 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope has sent back mind-blowing images that not only changed our understanding of our universe, but also changed where we see glimpses of our universe in everyday life.
Hubble is more than a science spacecraft; it’s a cultural phenomenon! Take a moment to think about where you’ve seen the Hubble Space Telescope or Hubble images in your daily life. Maybe you own a textbook with a picture of the telescope on the cover, or you walk by a mural inspired by Hubble images every day on your way to work. Perhaps you’ve even created art based on Hubble images. NASA wants to see the Hubble impact in your life! Share your photos with NASA on Instagram, Twitter, Flickr and Facebook.
Images may be submitted on the following social media platforms:
— Flickr: Submit your photos to the Spot Hubble Flickr Group.
— Instagram: Use the Instagram app to upload your photo, and in the description include #SpotHubble and #NASAGoddard.
— Twitter: Share your image on Twitter and include #SpotHubble in the tweet.
— Facebook: Share your image on Facebook and include #SpotHubble in the post.
Your #SpotHubble image may be shared on NASA Hubble social media accounts!
To learn more, visit https://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/2016/spothubble.
Science Opportunities for Educators of Grades K-12
**NEW** Free Education Webinars From NASA Educator Professional Development
Audience: In-service, Pre-service, Home School and Informal Educators
The NASA STEM Educator Professional Development Collaborative at Texas State University is presenting a series of free webinars open to all educators. Join NASA education specialists to learn about activities, lesson plans, educator guides and resources that bring NASA into your classroom. Registration is required to participate. To register, simply click on the link provided beneath the webinar description.
NASA Weathering the Storm — Earth Right Now: Meteorology Educator Guide
Audience: Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades 5-9
Event Date: Oct. 26, 2016, at 6:30 p.m. EDT
Participants will be introduced to Meteorology: An Educator’s Resource for Inquiry-Based Learning for Grades 5-9. Discussion will focus on the hands-on activities and low-cost equipment builds included in the guide. This webinar addresses Next Generation Science Standards MS-ESS2.D and HS-ESS2.D. Register online to participate. https://www.etouches.com/199129
NASA Weathering the Storm — Earth Right Now: NASA Weather Resources
Audience: Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades K-12
Event Date: Oct. 27, 2016, at 4 p.m. EDT
Rain, snow and other forms of precipitation affect every part of life on Earth. NASA’s Global Precipitation Measurement, or GPM, mission and the MY NASA Data website provide students and educators with resources to learn about Earth’s water cycle, weather, and climate, and the technology and societal applications of studying them. Discover classroom activities from these great resources. Register online to participate. https://www.etouches.com/204907
Cosmology 101
Audience: Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades 6-12
Event Date: Oct. 31, 2016, at 6:30 p.m. EDT
Participants will get an overview of the history of the varying scientific views about the structure of the observed universe, from ancient cultures to current theories. This webinar addresses Next Generation Science Standards ESS1.A. Register online to participate.
https://www.etouches.com/199132
For a full schedule of upcoming webinars, visit http://www.txstate-epdc.net/events/.
Please direct questions about this series of webinars to Steve Culivan at stephen.p.culivan@nasa.gov.
**NEW** Sally Ride EarthKAM @ Space Camp Announces Fall 2016 Mission
Audience: K-12 and Informal Educators
Mission Date: Nov. 7-12, 2016
Registration is open for the fall 2016 mission for the Sally Ride EarthKAM @ Space Camp program taking place Nov. 7-12, 2016. During the mission, students worldwide may submit requests to have a camera aboard the International Space Station capture an image of a specific location on Earth. Related resources, including images and activities, are available for use in the classroom. The optional online activities are targeted at middle school students but are adaptable for other grade levels. All students and educators are welcome, including participants in after-school programs.
For more information and to register for the upcoming mission, visit https://www.earthkam.org/.
Please submit questions about the Sally Ride EarthKAM @ Space Camp program via https://www.earthkam.org/contact.
Science Opportunities for Higher Education and Informal Institutions
ROSES-16 Amendment 33: New Program Element — Interdisciplinary Science for Eclipse 2017
Audience: Informal and Higher Education Institutions
Step-1 Proposal Deadline: Oct. 27, 2016
A total solar eclipse is widely regarded as one of the most incredible natural phenomenon visible from Earth. On Aug. 21, 2017, a total solar eclipse will traverse the continental U.S. from Oregon to South Carolina. For approximately 90 minutes, city after city along the centerline will experience two to nearly three minutes of darkness during daytime as totality moves from west to east. While the path of totality will cover a swath only 60 miles wide, the contiguous U.S. States will see at least 65% of the sun disappear behind the moon during its progression of phases. A large fraction of the population in North America is expected to witness this natural event (http://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/).
The purpose of this program element is to support development of new research or enhancement of existing research, applied to the 2017 eclipse. NASA is seeking proposals that would use the special opportunity presented by the solar eclipse to study the sun, Earth, the moon, astronomy, and/or space science, including the ionosphere-thermosphere-mesosphere system. Building on existing partnerships and the use of interdisciplinary or citizen science approaches is encouraged. Citizen science involves public contributions to science, including formulating research questions, conducting experiments, collecting and analyzing data, interpreting results, making new discoveries, and/or developing new/existing technologies and applications. Citizen science is distinguished from public outreach in that the primary purpose of public involvement is to make contributions to science. All proposals must demonstrate links to the 2017 solar eclipse.
Step-1 proposals are due by Oct. 27, 2016.
Step-2 proposals are due by Nov. 30, 2016.
For more information, visit http://go.nasa.gov/2cZzz8T.
Please direct questions concerning this program element to Madhulika Guhathakurta at madhulika.guhathakurta@nasa.gov.
Postdoctoral Fellowships in Space Biology to Study the Microbiome of the International Space Station as a Built Environment
Audience: Postdoctoral Students
Required Notice of Intent Deadline: Oct. 31, 2016
NASA is seeking proposals from potential postdoctoral fellows to conduct studies to characterize microbial populations isolated from the International Space Station. Selected studies will provide insight into how microbes and microbial populations adapt to spaceflight. Proposed experiments will use microbial isolates collected from the space station that have been archived at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Proposals will be accepted from graduate students in their final year of their Ph.D. or equivalent degree program; from postdoctoral fellows (Ph.D., M.D., D.D.S., D.V.M., or equivalent doctoral degree from an accredited domestic or foreign institution); or from applicants who received a doctoral degree within the past two years but have not yet had postdoctoral training. Applicants must have no more than four years of postdoctoral research experience at the time of the initial or the subsequent resubmission or revision application. The program is open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or persons with pre-existing visas obtained through their sponsoring institutions that permit postdoctoral training for the project’s duration. Sponsoring institutions must be U.S. academic, government or commercial institutions that will provide appropriate mentors.
Interested applicants must submit a required notice of intent no later than Oct. 31, 2016.
For more information, visit http://go.nasa.gov/2eup7bg.
Please direct questions about this opportunity to Dr. David Tomko at dtomko@nasa.gov.
Check out the new ‘Explore NASA Science’ website!
Science starts with questions, leading to discoveries. Explore the redesigned NASA Science site and send us feedback. Visit https://science.nasa.gov. To view the site in Spanish, visit http://ciencia.nasa.gov.
Don’t miss out on upcoming NASA education opportunities.
For a full list of events, opportunities and more, visit the Educators and Students Current Opportunity pages on NASA’s website:
— Educators https://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/current-opps-index.html
— Students https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/current-opps-index.html
Are you looking for NASA educational materials to support your STEM curriculum?
Search hundreds of resources by subject, grade level, type and keyword at https://www.nasa.gov/education/resources/.
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. http://nasawavelength.org/
Visit NASA Education on the web:
NASA Office of Education: https://www.nasa.gov/education
For Educators: https://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/index.html
For Students: https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/index.html
NASA Kids’ Club: https://www.nasa.gov/kidsclub
Did you miss last week’s NASA Education Science WOW! newsletter?
Visit the Science WOW! blog for an archive of previous messages.
https://blogs.nasa.gov/educationsciencewow/