OSGC Educational Resources Blog

From March 2007 to March 2008, the scientific community will be recognizing the International Polar Year. Scientists from around the world will examine the Arctic and Antarctic regions of Earth. NASA’s Exploring Space Challenges invites K-12 teachers to design a challenge in conjunction with this event. Judges will select the best Challenges in grade-level categories K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12. One overall winning Challenge will be used by NASA ESC for the next school year. Registration is open until Dec. 30, 2007.

For more information, visit: http://esc.nasa.gov/html_files/TeacherChallenge.html

NASA’s DEVELOP Summer 2008 Internship Program for undergraduate and graduate students with an interest in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) or Remote Sensing is seeking applicants. This is a paid 10-week internship program located at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California that begins June 9, 2008 (for semester system) or June 16 (for quarter system).

DEVELOP is a NASA Science Mission Directorate Applied Sciences Program that fosters human capital development to extend science research to local communities. Student teams research NASA science capabilities relevant to community concerns, create and complete projects using remote sensing and GIS techniques, and create advanced computer generated visualizations demonstrating research results. The activities are student-led, with mentors from NASA and partner organizations.

A stipend will be provided for selected students. Housing for students coming from outside the area will be provided and is located near the DEVELOP facilities, with accessible public transportation. The Program also covers per diem and other travel costs for fieldwork conducted during the Program.

Applications must be postmarked by February 4, 2008. Telephone interviews will be conducted shortly after applications are received. Students selected for a summer 2007 DEVELOP internship will be notified by March 15, 2007.

For further information on the DEVELOP Internship Program at NASA Ames Research Center, please access the National Program website at:   http://develop.larc.nasa.gov

The European Space Agency’s SUCCESS student contest is for European university students from all disciplines, up to the level of master’s degree candidates or the equivalent. Students are invited to propose an experiment that could fly on board the International Space Station. The goal of the competition is to make today’s students the space station users of tomorrow. Students studying fields ranging from life sciences to technology to Earth observation are encouraged to apply.

To participate, students must describe their experiment idea in an essay of no more than 800 words. Essays must be written in English and submitted electronically. Participating students also have to be a national of one of the ESA member states: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

The winner of the SUCCESS student contest will receive a one-year paid internship at ESA’s space research and technology center in the Netherlands. During this internship, the winner can work with ESA specialists on their experiment to prepare it for flight to the space station. Essays are due Feb. 1, 2008.

For more information, visit: http://www.esa.int/success

What do you think is NASA’s greatest exploration achievement in the past 50 years, and why? That is the question NASA is asking students for the Second Annual 21st Century Explorer Podcast Competition. Students will create an audio recording or video — running one minute or less — with their answer to the question.

The contest is open to U.S. citizens, ages 11 to 18. Entries will be judged on content, creativity, execution, clarity and overall impression. The 15 finalists in each format (audio and video) and each age category (ages 11-14 and ages 15-1 will be displayed on the contest Web site, where the public will vote for and select a “People’s Choice” winner. Prizes will also be awarded for first, second and third place. Winners will be announced on the Web site Feb. 28, 2008.

Entries are being accepted now through Jan. 4, 2008, or when the first 1,000 entries in each category are received.

For more information, including tips for creating audio and video podcasts, visit: http://www.explorationpodcast.com/

The Fundamental Aeronautics Program of the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters announces a new aeronautics competition for high school and college students for the 2007-2008 academic year.

High school students are challenged to write a research paper to explain ideas for a future aircraft that could become the “DC-3″ for cargo and passengers in the year 2058. Descriptions should be well-informed and include sections on fuel, environmental effects, noise levels, runway length and condition, operating costs, passenger and cargo loads, and service operations. Notice of intent for high school entries is due on Dec. 15, 2007.

College students are invited to design the next generation, 21st-century, “DC-3″-type aircraft. Some of the design considerations include reduced environmental impact, reduced noise, daily operations on short runways, cost analysis for production and operation, passenger and cargo limits, structure and materials, and engines. Students should also briefly describe three valid scenarios for potential use of this vehicle in the year 2058. Notice of intent for college entries is due on Jan. 19, 2008.

Any U.S. student enrolled in an accredited high school, secondary school, or home school in the United States or its territories is eligible to enter the competition for cash prizes. Non-U.S. citizens and students in international locations can enter as well, but they are not eligible for cash prizes. Trophies and certificates will be awarded to each winner, regardless of citizenship.

For complete details, visit: http://aero.larc.nasa.gov/competitions.htm

IPY/NSTA Web Seminars — The Role of Polar Regions in Earth’s Changing Climate System

Join NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation and the National Science Teachers Association for two free Web seminars on the topic of the International Polar Year. The seminars are designed for educators of grades 5-8. The sessions will focus on the interaction of polar regions with Earth’s climate system, atmospheric gas changes over Earth’s history, what ice cores tell about past climate, and the implications of climate change in the polar regions. The presenters will share their expertise, answer questions from the participants and provide information regarding Web sites that students can use in the classroom.

The Web seminars are 90-minute, live professional development sessions that use online learning technologies to allow participants to interact with nationally acclaimed experts, scientists, engineers and education specialists from NASA, NOAA, and NSF. Each Web seminar is a unique, stand-alone program. Archives of the Web seminars and the presenters’ presentations will be available online.

The Web seminars in this series are scheduled for Nov. 27 and Dec. 13, 2007. Each seminar will begin at 6:30 p.m. EDT.

Online registration for each is now open.
http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/fall07/IPY_Denver/webseminar.aspx

NASA/NSTA Web Seminars — Inquiry in Science and Mathematics Education: Parents as Partners

Join NASA and NSTA for two, free Web seminars featuring scientists and education specialists from NASA. Designed for educators of grades K-6, the seminars will focus on how educators can better engage parents and enlist their support for inquiry-based science and mathematics education. The presenters will share their expertise, answer questions from the participants and provide information regarding Web sites that students can use in the classroom.

The Web seminars are 90-minute, live professional development sessions that use online learning technologies to allow participants to interact with nationally acclaimed experts, scientists, engineers and education specialists from NASA. Each Web seminar is a unique, stand-alone program. Archives of the Web seminars and the presenters’ PowerPoint presentations will be available online.

The Web seminars in this series are scheduled for Nov. 20 and Dec. 12, 2007. Each seminar will begin at 6:30 p.m. EDT.

Online registration for each is now open.
http://learningcenter.nsta.org/products/symposia_seminars/fall07/NASA_Denver/webseminar.aspx

ISS EarthKAM Image Competition Entries Due Nov. 28, 2007

Educators and their students are invited to participate in the International Space Station Earth Klimate Analysis Mission Image Competition. Participating classes will create a collaborative investigation about climate change using EarthKAM images.

Each classroom should focus their investigation on a specific topic. The investigation should include background research and supporting images. Schools are encouraged to select a topic that is relevant to their local community.

The entire project must be submitted electronically, no later than Nov. 28, 2007. The EarthKAM team will evaluate the submitted investigations based on content, creativity and overall presentation. Prizes will be awarded for the best projects, and the winning projects will be posted on the EarthKAM Web site.

To learn more, visit: http://www.earthkam.ucsd.edu/public/about/missions/index.shtml

The “Basics of Space Flight” Educator Conference will take place Dec. 1-2, 2007, at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. The conference will provide participants with a better understanding of the richness and complexity of robotic flight projects. The conference approach will be mostly non-technical, although some basic physics will be discussed. Attendees will also gain a better perspective of how science goals are defined and how data return is prioritized.

Space is limited, and pre-registration is required. It will not be possible to register at the door. The conference will run 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and 8:00 a.m. to noon on Sunday. High school and college students are welcome to attend and must register. Attendees under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult during the conference.

The registration deadline is Nov. 26, 2007. For more information, visit:
http://education.jpl.nasa.gov/events/explore20071009.html

The National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI)-sponsored Ph.D. Training Program in Space Life Sciences at Texas A&M University (TAMU) is currently accepting applications for Fall 2008. Students participating in this program work toward a Ph.D. in Nutrition, Kinesiology or Nuclear Engineering (Health Physics), and focus their research on space environment-induced bone loss, muscle wasting and/or cosmic radiation damage. The Space Life Sciences graduate program at TAMU is designed with immersive components including: fundamental courses in space life sciences, individual research and an experiential component with work at Johnson Space Center, Brookhaven National Laboratory and/or University of Texas Medical Branch. All trainees participate in outreach by teaching elements of space life sciences in a K-12 setting. The deadline for submitting an application package is April 15, 2008.

To learn more about the program, please visit www.nsbri.org/GraduateEd
or contact Lindsey Briggs, Program Coordinator, at lrbriggs@tamu.edu