November 2016 – NASA 'Science WOW!'

NASA Education “Science WOW!” Message — Nov. 30, 2016

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: What Is Light?

Light is all around us and takes many forms. Watch the video to learn about the different types of light and how telescopes and other instruments help us to see what would otherwise be invisible to us.

http://chandra.si.edu/learn_light.html

Have You Seen This?

Bring the excitement of computer coding into the classroom with Recoloring the Universe With Pencil Code. Using data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and other satellites, grade 4-12 students with no prior coding experience can learn how to use computers to create images and understand astronomical data. The website features tutorial videos, scaffolded sets of activities and background information.

http://chandra.si.edu/code

Opportunities for Future Scientists of All Ages

2017 Mission X: Train Like an Astronaut “Walk to the Moon” Challenge
**NEW** 2016-2017 Cassini Scientist for a Day Essay Contest

Science Opportunities for Educators of Grades K-12

**NEW** Free Education Webinars From NASA Educator Professional Development
**NEW** Educator Workshop: Making Moon Craters

Science Opportunities for Higher Education and Informal Institutions

Call for Proposals — NASA Research Announcement for Use of the NASA Physical Sciences Informatics System: Appendix C
2017 High-Altitude Student Platform Opportunity

Opportunities for Future Scientists of All Ages

2017 Mission X: Train Like an Astronaut “Walk to the Moon” Challenge
Audience: All Educators and Students, Home School Parents and After-school Groups
Registration Deadline: Dec. 31, 2016
Challenge Dates: Jan. 12 – April 28, 2017

Mission X encourages children of all ages, as well as people with particular needs, to pursue healthy lifestyles based on the model of training like an astronaut. During six- to nine-week “challenges” each fall and spring, schools and student groups from around the world complete Mission X classroom-based science lessons and physical education activities.

In 2017, Mission X is challenging Fit Explorers around the world to work together to perform activities that will move Astro Charlie the 478 million steps it would take to walk from Earth to the moon! That’s 238,857 miles, or 384,403 kilometers! At an average walking speed, that would take one person about nine years to complete.

The challenge kicks off in January. For full challenge details and to do your part to help reach this out-of-this-world goal, visit http://trainlikeanastronaut.org/wttm. The deadline to register for this challenge is Dec. 31, 2016. You may apply for Team USA at http://trainlikeanastronaut.org/usa_application.

In 2016, Mission X was represented by 30 countries and more than 53,000 participants. The challenge was available in 17 languages.

Please direct questions about this opportunity to Nubia Carvajal at nubia.a.carvajal@nasa.gov.

**NEW** 2016-2017 Cassini Scientist for a Day Essay Contest
Audience: 5-12 Students
Entry Deadline: Feb. 24, 2017

The Cassini Scientist for a Day contest challenges students to become NASA scientists studying Saturn. Participants examine three of the best scientific targets imaged by the Cassini spacecraft in its 12 years at Saturn. After researching the topics, students are to choose the one they think yielded the best scientific results. This year’s targets are Enceladus’ plumes, Titan’s lakes and Saturn’s hexagon. After researching the three options, students write an essay of fewer than 500 words explaining their choice.

The contest is open to all students in the United States in grades 5-12. The essays will be divided into three groups for scoring: grades 5-6, 7-8 and 9-12. All submissions must be students’ original work. Participants may enter as individuals or as part of a team of up to four students.

The deadline for entries is Feb. 24, 2017.

For more information, visit http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/scientist-for-a-day.

If you have questions about this contest, please email scientistforaday@jpl.nasa.gov.

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.

Teachers Connect: LaRC Centennial Badge Webinar
Audience: Pre-service, In-service, Home School, and Informal Educators of Grades 6-8
Event Date: Nov. 30, 2016, at 4 p.m. EST
This webinar will focus for the first half-hour on clouds and their role in Earth’s “energy budget” and on implementation ideas using GLOBE for different classroom settings as part of the Earth Right Now: LaRC 100th digital badge. We also will talk about student badge implementations, extension ideas and extra resources. The second half-hour will be very similar but centered on the engineering design process using the Drag Race to Mars Engineering Design Challenge as part of the Journey to Mars: LaRC 100th digital badge. This portion of the webinar will focus on forces and motion and math calculations using paper airplanes and testing different materials as part of the Aeronautics: LaRC 100th digital badge. This webinar meets requirements of teacher discussions within the NASA Langley 100th EPDC digital badges. To learn more about the Langley 100th digital badges, log in to https://nasatxstate-epdc.net/ and search for LaRC 100th. Register online to participate.
https://www.etouches.com/207894

Picking Up STEAM: Using Models and Data to Understand Clouds
Audience: Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades 4-10
Event Date: Dec. 6, 2016, at 5 p.m. EST
Practice STEAM through the use of inquiry-based science activities from NASA curriculum guides. The activities and NASA educational websites introduced will provide participants with new curriculum ideas to assist in reaching the Next Generation Science Standards and CORE learning outcomes standards. This STEAM workshop will guide participants through inquiry-based learning activities related to clouds, phase change, light, water cycle, weather and climate. Participants will use authentic data sets to model STEAM lessons. Register online to participate. https://www.etouches.com/205303

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** Educator Workshop: Making Moon Craters
Audience: Pre-service Educators and Educators of Grades 1-6
Event Date: Dec. 17, 2016, 10 a.m. – Noon PST

Learn how to use baking ingredients to whip up a moonlike crater as a demonstration for students in classrooms, camps or at home. Join NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory on Dec. 17, 2016, from 10 a.m. to noon PST for this workshop at the Columbia Memorial Space Center in Downey, California.

The workshop is free for all pre-service and fully credentialed teachers! Participants must bring their teacher or student ID the day of the workshop. Lunch will be provided. Pre-registration is required.

For more information and to register to attend, visit http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/events/2016/12/17/making-moon-craters/.

Can’t make it to the workshop? Explore the lesson online at http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/activity/make-a-crater/.

Please direct questions about this workshop to Sandra Valencia at (562) 231-1205.

Science Opportunities for Higher Education and Informal Institutions

Call for Proposals — NASA Research Announcement for Use of the NASA Physical Sciences Informatics System: Appendix C
Audience: Graduate Students
Proposal Deadline: Dec. 15, 2016

NASA is seeking ground-based research proposals from graduate students and established researchers to use NASA’s Physical Sciences Informatics system to develop new analyses and scientific insights. The PSI system is a resource for researchers to data mine information generated from completed physical sciences experiments performed on the International Space Station or from related ground-based studies.

This solicitation appendix focuses on the following five research areas: combustion science, complex fluids, fluid physics, fundamental physics and materials science.

For graduate students (students working toward an advanced degree), this NASA Research Announcement is soliciting proposals that advance fundamental research in one of the physical sciences disciplines identified above and also assist in the awarding of an advanced degree to the graduate student. This call is open to students who meet the following eligibility requirements:

— The student is pursuing an advanced degree directly related to a physical sciences discipline. Only technical degrees are permitted (not degrees in policy or management).
— The student is a U.S. citizen, a permanent resident alien of the U.S., or on a student visa at an accredited U.S. university at the time of application submission.
— The student is enrolled in a master’s or doctoral degree program at an accredited U.S. university at the time of application submission. Or, if the student is an undergraduate starting graduate studies, he or she has been accepted to a master’s or doctoral degree program at an accredited U.S. university at the time of application submission and will start during the next academic year.
— The student has an academic graduate advisor who will submit the application for the graduate student. The student must perform the proposed research under the guidance of the assigned graduate advisor.

The agency expects to make approximately 10 awards in spring 2016. Research and development efforts will take place over two years. The typical award will be $75,000-$100,000 per year, for up to two years.

The deadline for submitting proposals is Dec. 15, 2016.

For information, visit http://psi.nasa.gov/.

Please direct questions about this NASA Research Announcement to Dr. Francis Chiaramonte at francis.p.chiaramonte@nasa.gov.

2017 High-Altitude Student Platform Opportunity
Audience: Higher Education Educators and Students
Application Deadline: Dec. 16, 2016

The Louisiana Space Consortium, or LaSPACE, is accepting applications from students at U.S. colleges and universities who want to send experiments to the edge of space on a high-flying scientific balloon.

The annual project, supported by the NASA Balloon Program Office and LaSPACE, provides near-space access for 12 undergraduate and graduate student experiments to be carried by a NASA high-altitude research balloon. The flights typically last 15 to 20 hours and reach an altitude of 23 miles. Experiments may include compact satellites or prototypes.

The experiments are flown aboard the High-Altitude Student Platform, or HASP, a balloon-born instrument stack launched from the Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility’s remote site in Fort Sumner, New Mexico. The goals of the project are to provide a space test platform to encourage student research and stimulate the development of student satellite payloads and other space-engineering products.

HASP seeks to enhance the technical skills and research abilities of students in critical science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines.

The deadline for applications is Dec. 16, 2016.

For application information and technical details about the program, visit http://laspace.lsu.edu/hasp.

Questions about the High-Altitude Student Platform opportunity should be directed to T. Gregory Guzik at guzik@phunds.phys.lsu.edu.

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/

NASA Education “Science WOW!” Message — Nov. 23, 2016

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: How Did the Solar System Form?

The solar system has all kinds of planets, moons, asteroids and comets zipping around our sun. But how did this busy stellar neighborhood come to be? Watch the video and download the poster to find out!

http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/solar-system-formation/en/

Have You Seen This?

Join teenager Hannah on a trip through the solar system with “Space School Musical,” a “hip-hopera” that uses song and dance to introduce the planets, moons, asteroids and more. Download the lyrics for students to learn and perform, or just play the videos in class.

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/teach/activity/space-school-musical/

Opportunities for Future Scientists of All Ages

**NEW** NASA’s Digital Learning Network Event – Science on Station Webcast
**NEW** 2017 Mission X: Train Like an Astronaut “Walk to the Moon” Challenge

Science Opportunities for Educators of Grades K-12

**NEW** Free Education Webinars From NASA Educator Professional Development

Science Opportunities for Higher Education and Informal Institutions

Center for Astronomy Education Regional Teaching Exchanges and Workshops — Fall/Winter 2016-2017

Opportunities for Future Scientists of All Ages

**NEW** NASA’s Digital Learning Network Event – Science on Station Webcast
Audience: Middle and High School Students and Educators
Event Date: Nov. 28, 2016, 11 – 11:45 a.m. EST

Tune in Nov. 28 and #askDLN questions on the NASA DLiNfo Channel at 11 a.m. EST.

How does a pill dissolve in your body after you swallow it? Connect your middle or high school class with the Digital Learning Network, or DLN, to talk with Dr. Kenneth Savin, a chemist at Eli Lilly and Company studying hard-to-wet surfaces on the International Space Station. The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, or CASIS, manages the U.S. National Laboratory and sponsors this experiment.

Savin’s research on the space station evaluates the role of microgravity on wettability and ultimate dissolution rates of drugs to gain a better understanding of fundamental processes. Many active pharmaceutical ingredients and inert substances commonly used in formulating modern-day pharmaceuticals are characterized as hard-to-wet solids. As such, these ingredients represent a challenge to their ultimate pharmaceutical effectiveness as well as their development and manufacturing. In space, the behavior of these hard-to-wet solids may be totally different, so this research can tell us many things about what we must do before traveling away from Earth into deep space.

Please direct questions about this event to DLiNfochannel@gmail.com, ATTN: CASIS Academy Live.

The 45-minute event will be webcast on the NASA DLiNfo Channel on Nov. 28, 2016, at 11 a.m. EST.

For more information about this and other DLN events, visit https://www.nasa.gov/dln.

**NEW** 2017 Mission X: Train Like an Astronaut “Walk to the Moon” Challenge
Audience: All Educators and Students, Home School Parents and After-school Groups
Registration Deadline: Dec. 31, 2016
Challenge Dates: Jan. 12 – April 28, 2017

In 2016, Mission X was represented by 30 countries and more than 53,000 participants. The challenge was available in 17 languages.

Please direct questions about this opportunity to Nubia Carvajal at nubia.a.carvajal@nasa.gov.

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

Teachers Connect: LaRC Centennial Badge Webinar
Audience: Pre-service, In-service, Home School, and Informal Educators of Grades 6-8
Event Date: Nov. 30, 2016, at 4 p.m. EST
This webinar will focus for the first half-hour on clouds and their role in Earth’s “energy budget” and on implementation ideas using GLOBE for different classroom settings as part of the Earth Right Now: LaRC 100th digital badge. We also will talk about student badge implementations, extension ideas and extra resources. The second half-hour will be very similar but centered on the engineering design process using the Drag Race to Mars Engineering Design Challenge as part of the Journey to Mars: LaRC 100th digital badge. This portion of the webinar will focus on forces and motion and math calculations using paper airplanes and testing different materials as part of the Aeronautics: LaRC 100th digital badge. This webinar meets requirements of teacher discussions within the NASA Langley 100th EPDC digital badges. To learn more about the Langley 100th digital badges, log in to https://nasatxstate-epdc.net/ and search for LaRC 100th. Register online to participate.
https://www.etouches.com/207894

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.

Science Opportunities for Higher Education and Informal Institutions

Center for Astronomy Education Regional Teaching Exchanges and Workshops — Fall/Winter 2016-2017
Audience: Current and Future College Instructors of Astronomy
Next Event Date: Jan. 4, 2017

NASA’s Center for Astronomy Education, or CAE, announces a series of regional teaching exchanges and workshops for astronomy and space science educators.

Teaching exchanges foster a sense of community among geographically linked current and future college instructors of astronomy. Regional experts from the broader CAE community are ready to provide the opportunity for you to meet your neighbors, expand your instructional repertoire and share your own expertise.

Workshops provide participants with experiences needed to create effective and productive active-learning classroom environments. Workshop leaders model best practices in implementing many different classroom-tested instructional strategies. But more importantly, workshop participants will gain first-hand experience implementing these proven strategies.

Jan. 4, 2017 — Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas
CAE Tier I Teaching Excellence Workshop — New Methods for Teaching About Exoplanets

Jan. 5, 2017 — Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas
CAE Tier I Teaching Excellence Workshop — New Methods for Teaching in the Flipped Classroom

For more information and to register for the teaching exchanges, visit http://astronomy101.jpl.nasa.gov/workshops/index.cfm.

Inquiries about this series of events should be directed to Gina Brissenden at gbrissenden@as.arizona.edu.

CAE is funded through NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s Exoplanet Exploration Program.

NASA Education “Science WOW!” Message — Nov. 16, 2016

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: What Is La Niña?

NASA’s weather satellites help forecasters keep an eye on weather patterns and it looks like the La Niña pattern may form this year. Check out the link below to find out what that means.

http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/la-nina/en/

Have You Seen This?

Are you looking for models to print using a 3-D printer? Check out the 3-D models and textures NASA has available for downloading and printing. Visit the NASA 3-D Resources page to get started.

https://nasa3d.arc.nasa.gov/

Opportunities for Future Scientists of All Ages

**NEW** New Publication from NASA’s Earth Observatory — EO Kids
**NEW** Free von Kármán Lecture — The James Webb Space Telescope: Successor to Hubble
Future Engineers Mars Medical Challenge

Science Opportunities for Educators of Grades K-12

**NEW** Free Education Webinars From NASA Educator Professional Development
Free “NASA’s Journey to Mars” Planetarium/Dome Show

Science Opportunities for Higher Education and Informal Institutions

2017 High-Altitude Student Platform Opportunity
NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowships Program Accepting Proposals for 2017-2018 Academic Year

Opportunities for Future Scientists of All Ages

**NEW** New Publication from NASA’s Earth Observatory — EO Kids
Audience: K-12 Educators and Students

NASA is introducing a new publication from its Earth Observatory — EO Kids — bringing engaging science stories from the Earth Observatory to a younger audience.

The premier issue of EO Kids explores how NASA observes and measures fresh water from space. Find out why Lake Mead appears to have a bathtub ring around its shoreline and how less snow in the mountains means less drinking water for California. Explore satellite images of where fresh water is stored in and on Earth. Discover what NASA does in the field with an update from scientists on the Olympic Mountain Experiment (OLYMPEX) campaign.

EO Kids offers hands-on activities, experiments and more. The Maker Corner provides instructions for making a model aquifer and a self-watering planter. Explore the science behind fresh water with a snowmelt experiment, and be a data detective by analyzing satellite data like a scientist. Kids can even create their own data visualization by coloring in a map showing ice thickness on Greenland.

To download your copy of the EO Kids: Fresh Water issue, visit http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/eokids.

To learn more about NASA’s missions to study Earth, visit the Earth Observatory at http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/.

**NEW** 2016 von Kármán Lecture Series — Attend in Person or View Online
Audience: All Educators; Students in Grades 9-12 and Higher Education
Next Lecture Date: Nov. 17, 2016, at 7 p.m. PST (10 p.m. EST)

The Theodore von Kármán Lecture Series, named after the founder of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and presented by JPL’s Office of Communication and Education, shares the excitement of the space program’s missions, instruments and other technologies.

Lectures take place twice per month, on consecutive Thursdays and Fridays. The Thursday lectures take place in JPL’s Theodore von Kármán Auditorium, and Friday lectures take place at Pasadena City College’s Vosloh Forum. Both start at 7 p.m. PST (10 p.m. EST). Admission and parking are free for all lectures. No reservations are required, but seating is limited. The Thursday evening lectures are streamed live for viewing online. Archives of past lectures are also available online.

Next Lecture in the Series:

The James Webb Space Telescope: Successor to Hubble
Event Date: Nov. 17 and Nov. 18, 2016, at 7 p.m. PST (10 p.m. EST)
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/events/lectures_archive.php?year=2016&month=11
After its launch in late 2018, the James Webb Space Telescope will help revolutionize study of the cosmos. Built to address the questions beyond the capabilities of the Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes, JWST will look more deeply at infrared wavelengths with instruments with capabilities not previously available. Join Dr. Michael Ressler for a discussion about JWST as a whole but focused on the Mid-Infrared Instrument, the longest wavelength instrument on JWST.

For more information about the Theodore von Kármán Lecture Series, including a complete list of upcoming lectures, visit http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/events/lectures.php.

Questions about this series should be directed to http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/contact_JPL.php.

Future Engineers Mars Medical Challenge
Audience: Educators and Students Ages 5 to 19
Entry Deadline: Jan. 25, 2017

Calling all students! NASA wants your help to design an object that could be used by an astronaut to maintain physical health on a three-year mission to Mars. The Mars Medical Challenge is the fifth in a series of Future Engineers Challenges where students in grades K-12 create and submit a digital 3-D model intended to be printed in 3-D and used for a wide range of medical needs including diagnostic, preventive, first-aid, emergency, surgical and/or dental purposes.

As NASA continues to investigate how the human body adjusts to weightlessness, radiation and stress that occur long-duration spaceflight, Future Engineers proposes to engage students with a related challenge. The Mars Medical Challenge asks students to design a 3-D printed object that will keep astronauts healthy during the long trip to the Red Planet. Specifically, medical and dental hardware will be emphasized during this challenge.

Students ages 5-19 are invited to become the creators and innovators of tomorrow by using 3-D modeling software to submit their designs for hardware that could be used by astronauts on a future mission to Mars. Students have the opportunity to win prizes ranging from a Mars prize pack or a 3-D printer for their school to a trip to Houston for a tour of NASA’s Johnson Space Center. The challenge closes on Jan. 25, 2017, and winners will be announced on March 28, 2017.

What health-related items do you think an astronaut will need on that journey, and why would these items require a 3-D printer? It’s time to start flexing your problem-solving and design skills to find a solution – good luck!

For more information about the challenge and how to enter, visit www.futureengineers.org/marsmedical.

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

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.

Free ‘NASA’s Journey to Mars’ Planetarium/Dome Show
Audience: Formal and Informal Educators

Are you looking for ways to prepare your students for STEM-related career opportunities? Do you want to spark their interest in pushing the boundaries of technology and innovation? Right now, NASA’s fleet of Mars robotic explorers is paving the way for human exploration of the solar system in the coming decades. Have your students join NASA in preparing for a monumental journey of a lifetime — to Mars!

“NASA’s Journey to Mars” is a short planetarium presentation that can be used in the educational domes of your school district, as well as local planetariums, to inspire interest in STEM. To learn more, including how you can acquire the show for use in your area, visit https://www.nasa.gov/feature/journey-of-a-lifetime-mars-education-resources/.

Please direct questions about the “NASA’s Journey to Mars” planetarium/dome show to Elsie Weigel at elsie.weigel@nasa.gov.

Science Opportunities for Higher Education and Informal Institutions

2017 High-Altitude Student Platform Opportunity
Audience: Higher Education Educators and Students
Application Deadline: Dec. 16, 2016

The Louisiana Space Consortium, or LaSPACE, is accepting applications from students at U.S. colleges and universities who want to send experiments to the edge of space on a high-flying scientific balloon.

HASP seeks to enhance the technical skills and research abilities of students in critical science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines.

The deadline for applications is Dec. 16, 2016.

For application information and technical details about the program, visit http://laspace.lsu.edu/hasp.

Questions about the High-Altitude Student Platform opportunity should be directed to T. Gregory Guzik at guzik@phunds.phys.lsu.edu.

NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowships Program Accepting Proposals for 2017-2018 Academic Year
Audience: Higher Education Educators and Students
Proposal Deadline: Feb. 1, 2017

The NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship program is soliciting applications from accredited U.S. universities on behalf of individuals pursuing master’s or doctoral degrees in Earth and space sciences, or related disciplines, for the 2017-2018 academic year. The purpose of NESSF is to ensure continued training of a highly qualified workforce in disciplines needed to achieve NASA’s scientific goals. Awards resulting from the competitive selection will be training grants to the respective universities, with the advisor serving as the principal investigator. Financial support for the NESSF program comes from the Science Mission Directorate’s four science divisions: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Planetary Science and Astrophysics.

Initially, NESSF awards are made for one year. They may be renewed for up to two additional years, contingent upon satisfactory progress (as reflected in academic performance, research progress and recommendation by the faculty advisor) and the availability of funds.

The maximum amount of a NESSF award is $45,000 per year.

Proposals for this opportunity are due Feb. 1, 2017.

For more information about this solicitation, visit http://go.nasa.gov/2f2baB3.

Questions about Earth Science Research NESSF opportunities should be directed to Claire Macaulay at Claire.I.Macaulay@nasa.gov.

Questions about Heliophysics Research, Planetary Science Research and Astrophysics Research opportunities should be directed to Dolores Holland at hq-nessf-Space@nasa.gov

NASA Education “Science WOW!” Message — Nov. 9, 2016

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: What Is a Supermoon?

Step outside on Nov. 14, 2016, to get a view of the most remarkable supermoon of the 21st century! Not sure what a supermoon is? Visit this site to find out!

https://science.nasa.gov/sciencecasts/2016-ends-with-three-supermoons

Have You Seen This?

Did you know that educators can borrow samples of moon rocks and meteorites from NASA? Visit the Astromaterials Samples for Education site to learn more!

https://curator.jsc.nasa.gov/education/index.cfm

Opportunities for Future Scientists of All Ages

Join NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center for Maryland STEMFest 2016 Events
Celebrate National Distance Learning Week With NASA’s Digital Learning Network
**NEW** Future Engineers Mars Medical Challenge

Science Opportunities for Educators of Grades K-12

Free Education Webinars From NASA Educator Professional Development
Mars Survival Kit: Lessons and Activities to Guide Your Exploration of Mars!

Science Opportunities for Higher Education and Informal Institutions

**NEW** 2017 High-Altitude Student Platform Opportunity
**NEW** NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowships Program Accepting Proposals for 2017-2018 Academic Year

Opportunities for Future Scientists of All Ages

Join NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center for Maryland STEMFest 2016 Events
Audience: All Educators and Students
Event Dates: Nov. 4-13, 2016

NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center will celebrate Maryland STEMFest 2016 in a very special way: by highlighting next year’s total solar eclipse! On Aug. 21, 2017, all 48 contiguous states will have the opportunity to view a solar eclipse — an event that has not been seen across the lower 48 states in 38 years! The event will provide scientists the chance to collect valuable research on the sun, its corona and other features. Goddard’s programs for Maryland STEMFest 2016 will highlight the STEM behind solar eclipses, so please join us this year as we celebrate this monumental occasion!

New Interactive Classroom Experience From NASA’s Digital Learning Network — Our Magnificent Sun: Solar Eclipse 2017 Edition
Scheduling Options Available Nov. 4-13, 2016
https://www.nasa.gov/dln/lessons#Our Magnificent Sun
With the solar eclipse of 2017 approaching, Our Magnificent Sun for younger grades will help students answer their questions about the sun in a highly interactive session. During this web-based, interactive classroom program, students illustrate features of the sun by participating in a story time. Our Magnificent Sun for upper grades uses a teachable moment to introduce space weather and answer questions students might have about a solar eclipse.

From the Digital Learning Network at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center: STEM Shorts
Nov. 9, 2016, at 10 a.m. EST — Engineering: Designing a Satellite
Nov. 10, 2016, at 10 a.m. EST — Math: How Does Math Relate to the Solar Eclipse?
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nasa-gsfc
Explore solar eclipses with NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center through the new STEM Shorts digital program! Each presentation will be a brief 15-minute informational lesson followed by a live question and answer session from the audience. Questions can be submitted via twitter @GSFCEducation using #STEMShorts or by email to gsfceducation@gmail.com. Please contact Lindsey Jones at lindsey.jones-1@nasa.gov for more information or general inquiries about the program.

Join STEM@NASA Goddard in Celebrating STEM During Maryland STEM Fest 2016
Nov. 7-10, 2016, 1-1:30 p.m. EST
Celebrate Maryland STEM Fest 2016 with STEM@NASA Goddard! During these daily events, participants can interact live with scientists and engineers as they discuss how they practice STEM in their careers. Each day will highlight a letter in STEM: Science Monday, Technology Tuesday, Engineering Wednesday, and Math Thursday. The programs will stream live on NASA Goddard’s Ustream channel, and participants may submit questions by email and Twitter. For more information, please contact Erin McKinley at erin.e.mckinley@nasa.gov.

Professional Development Opportunity: NASA Goddard’s Solar Eclipse Spotlight Digital Badge for Educators
Ongoing Throughout the School Year With Special Incentive for Completion Before Nov. 13, 2016
Digital badging is an online professional development process for certifying learning. The NASA STEM EPDC Digital Badging System allows you to select from a wide variety of STEM topics, engage in exciting learning opportunities, demonstrate your mastery of the topic, and receive a badge of accomplishment for your work that you can share with others. The latest NASA Goddard Solar Eclipse Spotlight 2017 badge is a great way to prepare for the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse! Educators who complete this digital badge by Nov. 13, 2016, will have the opportunity for priority scheduling to take part in a Solar Eclipse 2017 module from NASA’s Distance Learning Network.

To sign up, visit https://nasatxstate-epdc.net/ and use the login buttons to begin exploring this digital badge as well as other exciting professional development opportunities available to you through the NASA STEM EPDC Digital Badging System. Please contact Kelly Kohli at kelly.kohli@nasa.gov for questions or additional information.

Join NASA’s Goddard Space Center and GLOBE for “Maryland-wide Eyes on the Skies”
Nov. 9, 2016, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. EST
http://observer.globe.gov/about/citizen-science
Join NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland and NASA’s GLOBE program on Nov. 9, 2016, for a statewide day of citizen science! GLOBE Observer invites you to make environmental observations that complement NASA satellite observations to help scientists studying Earth and the global environment. Version 1.1 includes GLOBE Clouds, which allows you to photograph clouds and record sky observations and compare them with NASA satellite images. GLOBE is now the major source of cloud observations by humans, which provide more information than automated systems. Recommended observation hours are between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. EST.

University of Maryland Eastern Shore 2nd Annual Maryland STEM Festival
Nov. 9, 2016, 6-7:30 p.m. EST
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore is hosting the 2nd Annual Maryland STEM Festival. STEM activities will include underwater robotics, amphibious vehicles, 3-D printing, space exploration and more. K-12 students are invited to embark on this virtual experience to NASA Goddard’s Digital Learning Network and will be able to discuss what it is like to live and work in space, how space exploration affects lives here on Earth, and challenges that astronauts living in space must overcome. Please contact Jocelyn Koller at jckoller@umd.edu for additional information.

NASA Technology in Your Classroom: Solar Eclipse 2017
Nov. 10, 2016, at 4 p.m. EST
https://www.etouches.com/196478
Participants in this webinar will discuss Solar Eclipse 2017 “Spotlights” for the classroom using NASA’s unique resources. Educators will discover NASA websites, digital badging and applications to implement with students before the 2017 solar eclipse! Register online to participate.

STEM@NASA Goddard: Library Edition — NASA Heliophysics
Nov. 10, 2016, 5-6 p.m. EST
NASA heliophysics experts will be broadcast live to county libraries across Maryland. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about the incredible work NASA does and the upcoming 2017 Total Solar Eclipse! Contact your local library http://directory.sailor.lib.md.us/pub_use/county_map.cfm for more information on how to participate. Participants will be able to pose questions to NASA expert via email and Twitter. For more information on how to interact with our experts, please contact Jordan Snyder at jordan.a.snyder@nasa.gov.

Celebrate National Distance Learning Week With NASA’s Digital Learning Network
Audience: All Educators and Students
Event Dates: Nov. 7-11, 2016

Join NASA’s Digital Learning Network in celebrating National Distance Learning Week, Nov. 7-11, 2016. The DLN invites you to take part in one or more of the special programs listed below and visit their website for classroom lessons and special events throughout the year.

From the DLN at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center: STEM Shorts
Nov. 9, 2016, at 10 a.m. EST — Engineering: Designing a Satellite
Nov. 10, 2016, at 10 a.m. EST — Math: How Does Math Relate to the Solar Eclipse?
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nasa-gsfc
Explore solar eclipses with NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center through the new STEM Shorts digital program! Each presentation will be a brief 15-minute informational lesson followed by a live question and answer session from the audience. Questions can be submitted via twitter @GSFCEducation using #STEMShorts or by email to gsfceducation@gmail.com. Please contact Lindsey Jones at lindsey.jones-1@nasa.gov for more information or general inquiries about the program.

From the DLN at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center: NASA STARS en Español With Alex Bengoa From NASA’s Ground Systems Development and Operations Program
Nov. 10, 2016, at Noon EST
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nasa-dlinfo
NASA STARS en Español promotes awareness of NASA’s diverse career opportunities for minority populations and highlights Hispanic professionals as role models in STEM careers. This monthly webcast is live-streamed in Spanish. DLN invites you to participate with your STEM classes, Spanish classes, Spanish clubs, etc. Bring your classroom into the conversation because Students Talking About Real STEM are the STARS of tomorrow. Learn about November’s guest speaker at https://www.txstate-epdc.net/epdc-post/alex-j-bengoa/. Questions can be submitted during the event via Twitter using #NASASTARS or by email to astrosdenasa@gmail.com. For more information about the program, visit https://www.txstate-epdc.net/nasa-stars/.

NASA’s Digital Learning Network celebrates distance learning every day through a wide variety of programs that include:
— DLN Interactive Classroom — DLN specialists connect with one or more schools to deliver an interactive classroom lesson. Descriptions of the lessons can be found at: https://www.nasa.gov/dln/lessons.
— DLN Live — DLN specialists or subject matter experts present a special topic related to current events that may involve interviews, demonstrations and live questions from the audience.
— DLN Virtual Visits — The DLN specialists connects a subject matter expert with a specific classroom where topics about careers and NASA experiences are discussed.
— DLN Virtual Field Trip — A DLN specialist gives a virtual tour of points of interest such as a laboratory or launch on a NASA center.

For more information and other DLN events, visit https://www.nasa.gov/dln.

**NEW** Future Engineers Mars Medical Challenge
Audience: Educators and Students Ages 5 to 19
Entry Deadline: Jan. 25, 2017

For more information about the challenge and how to enter, visit www.futureengineers.org/marsmedical.

Science Opportunities for Educators of Grades K-12

Free Education Webinars From NASA Educator Professional Development
Audience: In-service, Pre-service, Home School and Informal Educators

NASA Technology in Your Classroom: Solar Eclipse 2017
Audience: Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades K-12
Event Date: Nov. 10, 2016, at 4 p.m. EST
Participants in this webinar will discuss Solar Eclipse 2017 “Spotlights” for the classroom using NASA’s unique resources. Educators will discover NASA websites, digital badging and applications to implement with students before next year’s 2017 stellar event! Register online to participate. https://www.etouches.com/196478

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.

Mars Survival Kit: Lessons and Activities to Guide Your Exploration of Mars!
Audience: K-12 Educators

NASA is embarking on a journey to Mars! Are your students ready to join in the adventure? Spark excitement in your classroom with the Mars Survival Kit.

The Mars Survival Kit is a collection of educational activities for students in grades K-12. Each educational activity includes a brief description, as well as information about how the activities and lessons align to the Next Generation Science Standards.

Start your classroom’s journey to Mars at http://go.nasa.gov/1NnZ0Rg.

To learn more about NASA’s Journey to Mars, visit https://www.nasa.gov/topics/journeytomars/index.html.

Science Opportunities for Higher Education and Informal Institutions

**NEW** 2017 High-Altitude Student Platform Opportunity
Audience: Higher Education Educators and Students
Informational Webinar: Nov. 11, 2016 at 9 a.m. EDT
Application Deadline: Dec. 16, 2016

The Louisiana Space Consortium, or LaSPACE, is accepting applications from students at U.S. colleges and universities who want to send experiments to the edge of space on a high-flying scientific balloon.

HASP seeks to enhance the technical skills and research abilities of students in critical science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines.

A question-and-answer teleconference will take place on Nov. 11, 2016, at 9 a.m. EST. Groups who previously have flown experiments on HASP, as well as new organizations, are encouraged to attend. To participate, dial in to 1-844-467-4685 a few minutes before conference time. When requested, enter the conference ID number 780290 followed by the # key.

The deadline for applications is Dec. 16, 2016.

For application information and technical details about the program, visit http://laspace.lsu.edu/hasp.

Questions about the High-Altitude Student Platform opportunity should be directed to T. Gregory Guzik at guzik@phunds.phys.lsu.edu.

**NEW** NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowships Program Accepting Proposals for 2017-2018 Academic Year
Audience: Higher Education Educators and Students
Proposal Deadline: Feb. 1, 2017

The NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship program is soliciting applications from accredited U.S. universities on behalf of individuals pursuing master’s or doctoral degrees in Earth and space sciences, or related disciplines, for the 2017-2018 academic year. The purpose of NESSF is to ensure continued training of a highly qualified workforce in disciplines needed to achieve NASA’s scientific goals. Awards resulting from the competitive selection will be training grants to the respective universities, with the advisor serving as the principal investigator. Financial support for the NESSF program comes from the Science Mission Directorate’s four science divisions: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Planetary Science and Astrophysics.

The maximum amount of a NESSF award is $45,000 per year.

Proposals for this opportunity are due Feb. 1, 2017.

For more information about this solicitation, visit http://go.nasa.gov/2f2baB3.

Questions about Earth Science Research NESSF opportunities should be directed to Claire Macaulay at Claire.I.Macaulay@nasa.gov.

Questions about Heliophysics Research, Planetary Science Research and Astrophysics Research opportunities should be directed to Dolores Holland at hq-nessf-Space@nasa.gov

NASA Education “Science WOW!” Message — Nov. 2, 2016

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: Is Mars Really Red?

Mars is often called the ‘Red Planet,’ but is it really red? Watch this short video to find out!

https://youtu.be/Q7UL8hvlk7k?list=PLiuUQ9asub3TDPzGOi_L2hYJGnYwWUAVU

Have You Seen This?

Do you have a question for a NASA scientist? Check out the Ask a Scientist page. Divided into different areas of expertise, this series of pages has answers to frequently asked questions and more!

https://science.nasa.gov/ask-a-scientist

Opportunities for Future Scientists of All Ages

**NEW** Join NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center for Maryland STEMFest 2016 Events
**NEW** Celebrate National Distance Learning Week With NASA’s Digital Learning Network
Photo Contest — Win a Trip to Space Camp With Space Racers

Science Opportunities for Educators of Grades K-12

**NEW** Free Education Webinars From NASA Educator Professional Development
Sally Ride EarthKAM @ Space Camp Announces Fall 2016 Mission
**NEW** What’s New at NASA’s Space Place Website?

Science Opportunities for Higher Education and Informal Institutions

DEADLINE EXTENDED: 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** Join NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center for Maryland STEMFest 2016 Events
Audience: All Educators and Students
Event Dates: Nov. 4-13, 2016

Join NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center at Greenbelt Observatory Public Star Party
Nov. 5, 2016, 6-9 p.m. EDT
The Astronomical Society of Greenbelt and the Goddard Astronomy Club are hosting a special Maryland STEM Festival star party at the City of Greenbelt Observatory, weather permitting. This event will start an hour earlier than regular ASG star parties in order to give children and young adults a chance to see the various telescopes being set up. Attendees will have the opportunity to observe the moon, planets, and deep sky objects such as galaxies, nebulae and star clusters. For information, contact Goddard’s Astronomy Club (joseph.novotka-1@nasa.gov) or Deanna Trask (deanna.m.trask@nasa.gov).

From the Digital Learning Network at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center: STEM Shorts
Nov. 7, 2016, at 10 a.m. EST — Science: The Science of the Sun
Nov. 8, 2016, at 10 a.m. EST — Technology: Studying Earth and Our Solar System
Nov. 9, 2016, at 10 a.m. EST — Engineering: Designing a Satellite
Nov. 10, 2016, at 10 a.m. EST — Math: How Does Math Relate to the Solar Eclipse?
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nasa-gsfc
Explore solar eclipses with NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center through the new STEM Shorts digital program! Each presentation will be a brief 15-minute informational lesson followed by a live question and answer session from the audience. Questions can be submitted via twitter @GSFCEducation using #STEMShorts or by email to gsfceducation@gmail.com. Please contact Lindsey Jones at lindsey.jones-1@nasa.gov for more information or general inquiries about the program.

**NEW** Celebrate National Distance Learning Week With NASA’s Digital Learning Network
Audience: All Educators and Students
Event Dates: Nov. 7-11, 2016

From the DLN at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center: STEM Shorts
Nov. 7, 2016, at 10 a.m. EST — Science: The Science of the Sun
Nov. 8, 2016, at 10 a.m. EST — Technology: Studying Earth and Our Solar System
Nov. 9, 2016, at 10 a.m. EST — Engineering: Designing a Satellite
Nov. 10, 2016, at 10 a.m. EST — Math: How Does Math Relate to the Solar Eclipse?
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nasa-gsfc
Explore solar eclipses with NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center through the new STEM Shorts digital program! Each presentation will be a brief 15-minute informational lesson followed by a live question and answer session from the audience. Questions can be submitted via twitter @GSFCEducation using #STEMShorts or by email to gsfceducation@gmail.com. Please contact Lindsey Jones at lindsey.jones-1@nasa.gov for more information or general inquiries about the program.

From the DLN at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center: Working for the National Park Service: Live From Little River Canyon National Preserve Presented by: Niki Wayner, Little River Canyon National Preserve
Nov. 7, 2016, at 2 p.m. EST
Have you ever imagined yourself working for the National Park Service? Are you interested in a career in science? Meet some of the people who help protect the plants, animals, sounds and oceans in the National Park Service. The National Park Service preserves the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education and inspiration of this and future generations. In this videoconference, you will learn about some of the fascinating careers available.
Note: This video conference is only for schools in the state of Alabama. For more information, contact Scott Anderson at scott.c.anderson@nasa.gov.

From the DLN at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center: NASA STARS en Español With Alex Bengoa From NASA’s Ground Systems Development and Operations Program
Nov. 10, 2016, at Noon EST
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nasa-dlinfo
NASA STARS en Español promotes awareness of NASA’s diverse career opportunities for minority populations and highlights Hispanic professionals as role models in STEM careers. This monthly webcast is live-streamed in Spanish. DLN invites you to participate with your STEM classes, Spanish classes, Spanish clubs, etc. Bring your classroom into the conversation because Students Talking About Real STEM are the STARS of tomorrow. Learn about November’s guest speaker at https://www.txstate-epdc.net/epdc-post/alex-j-bengoa/. Questions can be submitted during the event via Twitter using #NASASTARS or by email to astrosdenasa@gmail.com. For more information about the program, visit https://www.txstate-epdc.net/nasa-stars/.

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.

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

Making Waves With NASA: Optics Resources
Audience: Pre-service, In-service, Home School and Informal Educators of Grades 4-12
Event Date: Nov. 9, 2016, at 6:30 p.m. EST
This webinar gives an overview of NASA resources for teaching about waves, lenses and mirrors. The resources covered in the webinar address the Next Generation Science Standard PS4. Register online to participate. https://www.etouches.com/199138

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.

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.

**NEW** What’s New at NASA’s Space Place Website?
Audience: K-6 Educators

Space Place is a NASA website for elementary students, their teachers and their parents. Check it out at www.spaceplace.nasa.gov.

Don’t forget to subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter, the NASA Space Place Gazette! http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/subscribe

New Resources

Planet Masks — Our solar system has eight unique and special planets. This fun, simple activity for kids allows them to explore and learn about what makes each planet different!
http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/planet-masks

How Much Water Is on Earth? — Earth has a lot of water. But exactly how much? Check out our new educational video and poster for kids.
http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/water

What Is La Niña? — This is a weather pattern that begins in the Pacific Ocean. Learn all about La Niña and how it differs from El Niño in our new article for kids.
http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/la-nina

Earth’s Atmosphere — Earth has a wonderful atmosphere. It keeps us warm and gives us oxygen to breathe. But did you know that our atmosphere has six layers? Each one is unique. Teach kids about Earth’s different atmospheric layers in this series of articles.
http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/atmosphere

Make Pumpkin Stencils — Celebrate the fall season by making space pumpkins! This activity is simple, fun and educational. Your kids will love it!
http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/pumpkins

Special Days to Celebrate
Find out about noteworthy days in NASA and space history that you can observe in your classroom.

Nov. 8 — X-rays were discovered on this day in 1895.
Explore X-rays with our Cosmic Colors viewer.
http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/cosmic-colors

Nov. 17 — Leonid meteor shower at maximum
Learn about meteor showers and find tips on how to get the best view.
http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/meteor-shower

Nov. 20 — Happy birthday to astronomer Edwin Hubble (1889)!
The Hubble Space Telescope was named after him. Learn all about the amazing telescope!
http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/hubble-wfpc

Dec. 3 — Pioneer 10 flew past Jupiter on this day in 1973.
Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system. It has big storms like the Great Red Spot, which has been going on for hundreds of years.
http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/all-about-jupiter

Dec. 11 — The first aurora borealis sighting was recorded on this day in 1719.
Make a pastel aurora to learn more about these beautiful light displays.
http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/pastel-aurora

Dec. 21 — Today is the first day of winter!
Why do we have seasons here on Earth?
http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/seasons

Share
Do you want some help spreading the word about NASA’s Space Place? We have a page with ready-to-use website descriptions, logos and links to all our social media. Check out http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/share.

Subscribe to Our Monthly E-newsletter!
Interested in keeping up with the latest and greatest news from NASA Space Place? Subscribe to the NASA Space Place Gazette. The NASA Space Place Gazette is for educators, parents and space enthusiasts of all ages. It includes special bulletins for noteworthy days and NASA events, such as a lunar eclipse, planet flyby or rover landing. It’s easy to subscribe — just click here.
http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/subscribe

Send Feedback
Please let us know your ideas about ways to use The Space Place in your teaching. Send them to info@spaceplace.nasa.gov.

Science Opportunities for Higher Education and Informal Institutions

DEADLINE EXTENDED: 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: Nov. 7, 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 Nov. 7, 2016.

For more information, visit http://go.nasa.gov/2eup7bg.

Please direct questions about this opportunity to Dr. David Tomko at dtomko@nasa.gov.