NASA Education “Science WOW!” Message — Sept. 27, 2017

**NEW** Earth Science Week 2017 Contests
Audience: All Educators and Students
Entry Deadline: Oct. 13, 2017

The American Geosciences Institute is sponsoring a series of contests to celebrate Earth Science Week 2017. This year’s celebration takes place Oct. 8-14, 2017.

Earth Science Week 2017 Photography Contest — Open to All Ages
http://www.earthsciweek.org/contests/photography/index.html
Humans interact with the planet’s natural systems in many ways. With a camera, capture evidence of some ways people affect, or are affected by, Earth systems around your home, neighborhood, school, workplace, or local public spaces. In a photo, show human interaction with natural systems where you are.

Earth Science Week 2017 Visual Arts Contest — Open to K-5 Students
http://www.earthsciweek.org/contests/visualarts/index.html
The natural world is part of many things that people do. Think of where our food, clothes and homes come from. Think of the forces that shape our weather, our travels, our habits and all the things we can (and cannot) do. Create a picture that shows how human activities shape, and are shaped by, Earth systems.

Earth Science Week 2017 Essay Contest — Open to Students in Grades 6-9
http://www.earthsciweek.org/contests/essay/index.html
Earth science expands our understanding of human interaction with the planet’s natural systems and processes. Geoscientists explore the relationship between human activity and Earth’s systems. The impact of their research can be seen in areas such as energy, technology, climate change, the environment, natural disasters, industry, agriculture and tourism. Focusing on one topic, explain how geoscience helps us make the most of opportunities and manage challenges.

Earth Science Week 2017 Video Contest — Open to All Ages
http://www.earthsciweek.org/earth-connections
Explore the relationship between human activity and Earth systems, including the geosphere (earth), hydrosphere (water), atmosphere (air) and biosphere (life). Submit a brief, 30-90 second original video that tells viewers about how people have an impact on Earth systems, or how Earth systems have an impact on people, in your part of the world.

The entry deadline for all four contests is Oct. 13, 2017. Visit the contest websites for full details.

If you have any questions about these contests, please email the Earth Science Week staff at info@earthsciweek.org.

Be a Mosquito Habitat Mapper With ‘GLOBE Observer’ App
Audience: All Educators and Students
Project Dates: Now Through Nov. 10, 2017

Mosquitos are more than just a summertime nuisance — they spread diseases. Now citizen scientists can use the “GLOBE Observer” app, available for Apple and Android phones, to help those who are working to understand and reduce mosquito-borne diseases. The Mosquito Habitat Mapper helps users identify and eliminate mosquito breeding sites. This local, ground-based information will help NASA by supporting satellite-based research of environmental conditions that indicate possible outbreaks of mosquitoes.

To learn more, visit https://www.globe.gov/news-events/globe-news/newsdetail/globe/nasa-citizen-science-app-tackles-mosquito-borne-disease.

Please direct questions about this opportunity to Holli Riebeek at Holli.riebeek@nasa.gov.

Science Opportunities for Educators of Grades K-12

NASA Mars Science: MAVEN Outreach Webinar — Deep Dips: Designing a Mission Orbiter
Audience: K-12 and Informal Educators
Event Date: Sept. 27, 2017, 7 p.m. EDT

Join the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution, or MAVEN, mission team for a professional development webinar for formal and informal educators, troop leaders, museum docents, and others interested in MAVEN and Mars science.

The MAVEN spacecraft has been orbiting Mars since 2014, making periodic “deep dips” to sample Mars’ upper atmosphere. Guy Beutelschies from Lockheed Martin will discuss the challenges engineers face in designing missions like MAVEN for success.

For more information, visit http://lasp.colorado.edu/home/maven/education-outreach/maven-outreach-webinars/.

Please direct questions about this opportunity to epomail@lasp.colorado.edu.

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.

**NEW** There’s Space in Your Classroom for Cross-Curricular: The Math of Climate Science
Audience: 5-12, Informal and Pre-service Educators
Event Date: Sept. 28, 2017, at 6 p.m. EDT
Explore several activities on how climate change can be measured using simple math. NASA makes climate data available to students, meaning your classroom can download and manipulate real data to construct arguments about our global impact. Register online to participate. https://www.eiseverywhere.com/279384

**NEW** Testing Terror — Technology for Exploration: BEST GPIM
Audience: K-12, Informal and Pre-service Educators
Event Date: Oct. 3, 2017, at 6:30 p.m. EDT
Join the NASA STEM Educator Professional Development Collaborative at Texas State University for a free 60-minute webinar to learn about how technology drives exploration. Using the NASA Beginning Engineering Science and Technology (BEST) curriculum, participants will learn how to use the engineering design process to build a satellite and test green propellant. Participants also will learn about current research at NASA, specifically the Green Propellant Infusion Mission. Register online to participate. https://www.eiseverywhere.com/281494

**NEW** Testing Terror — Technology for Exploration: Microgravity
Audience: 6-12, Informal and Pre-service Educators
Event Date: Oct. 5, 2017, at 6 p.m. EDT
Join the NASA STEM Educator Professional Development Collaborative at Texas State University for a free 60-minute webinar. Microgravity is the condition in which people or objects appear to be weightless. Explore how microgravity is created and used for learning in space and how it also can be created and used for learning here on Earth, even in your classroom. Register online to participate. https://www.eiseverywhere.com/270982

For a full schedule of upcoming NASA Educator Professional Development webinars, visit http://www.txstate-epdc.net/events/.

Questions about this series of webinars should be directed to Steve Culivan at stephen.p.culivan@nasa.gov.

Become a Member of the Infiniscope Education Advisory Board
Audience: Formal and Informal Educators of Grades 5-12
Application Deadline: Sept. 29, 2017

The Arizona State University Infiniscope Project (under cooperative agreement with NASA’s Science Mission Directorate) aims to recruit individuals with enthusiasm and ambition for a renewable, one-year term from 2017-2018 on its advisory board. Board members will review Infiniscope-developed educational products and receive a stipend, training, collaborative space, and recognition on the Infiniscope website. Board members also will have opportunities to earn badges and attend group meet-ups at national conventions.

For more information, visit https://infiniscope.org/announcements/educator-advisory-board-application/.

Please direct questions about this opportunity to Jessica Swann at jlswann@asu.edu.

Solar System Ambassadors Program Accepting Applications
Audience: All Educators
Application Period: Sept. 1-30, 2017

The Solar System Ambassadors Program, a nationwide network of space enthusiast volunteers, is seeking highly motivated individuals to represent NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory as volunteer Solar System Ambassadors to the public. Enthusiasts nationwide are eligible — and those in Arkansas, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, Wyoming, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories are especially encouraged to apply.

Applications will be accepted Sept. 1-30, 2017. For more information, visit https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/ssa/home.cfm.

Please direct questions about this opportunity to ambassad@jpl.nasa.gov.

Opportunities for Higher Education and Informal Institutions

NASA Internships, Fellowships, and Scholarships Virtual Career Summit
Audience: Higher Education Educators and Students
Event Date: Sept. 27, 2017, 1-2:30 p.m. EDT

Join the NASA Internships, Fellowships, and Scholarships recruiting team for this event showcasing the NIFS programs as well as highlighting the different types of available opportunities. Participants will learn about NASA opportunities, eligibility requirements and tips for the application process. Previous and current interns will share their experiences. The session will allow students to ask questions and have them answered live by NASA professionals.

For more information and to register to attend, visit http://bit.ly/2x9oZJp.

Please direct questions about this opportunity to https://intern.nasa.gov/oic/.

2018 BIG Idea Challenge
Audience: Higher Education Students and Faculty
Notice of Intent Deadline: Oct. 1, 2017
Entry Deadline: Nov. 30, 2017

NASA’s 2018 Breakthrough, Innovative and Game-changing (BIG) Idea Challenge is an engineering design contest open to full-time undergraduate and graduate students. This competition seeks innovations in the design, installation and sustainable operation of a large solar power system on Mars. Top teams present their concepts via a design review at either NASA’s Langley Research Center in Virginia or NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Ohio. The winning team will receive NASA internship offers.

A notice of intent is requested by Oct. 1, 2017. Entries are due Nov. 30, 2017.

For more information, visit http://BigIdea.nianet.org.

Please direct questions about this opportunity to BigIdea@nianet.org.

NASA Accepting Applications for NASA Spring Internships
Audience: High School, Undergraduate and Graduate Students
Application Deadline: Oct. 17, 2017

Now is your chance to apply for exciting hands-on spring internship opportunities available at all NASA centers. High school, undergraduate and graduate students are needed to help NASA scientists and engineers with ongoing scientific and engineering research, technology development and spaceflight operations activities. Internship opportunities also exist in nontechnical areas such as communications, budget, procurement, education and human resources. NASA internships are stipend-paid and offer students mentor-directed, degree-related, NASA-relevant tasks. If you think you have what it takes to be a NASA intern, please visit https://intern.nasa.gov today to apply or to learn more about the numerous opportunities available.

The deadline for spring applications is Oct. 17, 2017!

Please submit inquiries about the NASA Internships, Fellowships, and Scholarships One Stop Shopping Initiative, or NIFS OSSI, via https://intern.nasa.gov/oic/.