Filed under: Blogroll, Cool Science, Higher Education, K-12, NASA, Science, Student Opportunities, Teacher Opportunities | Tags: STS-125, Twitter
Advance registration is required.
NASA will host a Tweetup with space shuttle Atlantis’ STS-125 crew July 21 at the agency’s headquarters building in Washington. The astronauts will discuss their recent servicing mission to NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope.
A Tweetup is an informal meeting of people who use the social messaging medium Twitter. This Tweetup is an opportunity to meet and speak with the STS-125 crew and the staff behind the tweets on @NASA. Plus, you’ll get to mingle with other space-exploration-minded Tweeps.
The event will include a one-hour “meet and greet” session, followed by a presentation and a question and answer period with the astronauts. Scott Altman commanded the STS-125 crew, which included Pilot Gregory C. Johnson and Mission Specialists Megan McArthur, John Grunsfeld, Mike Massimino, Andrew Feustel and Michael Good. Massimino is known as @Astro_Mike to more than 500,000 people who followed the mission on Twitter.
Space is limited and advance registration is mandatory. Submissions will be accepted on this Web page beginning at 10 a.m. EDT on July 1. The Tweetup can accommodate 190 people, and the spots will be allocated based on the order of registration. Once capacity for the event is reached, submissions no longer will be accepted. Those who successfully register will be notified by email prior to the event. Registrations are limited to two people per entry. If you can’t make this Tweetup, don’t despair; NASA is planning others in the near future at various agency locations.
NASA Headquarters is a secure federal facility. On the date of the Tweetup, participants must bring valid government-issued photo identification (driver’s license or passport). Those without proper identification cannot be admitted.
Have a question? Need more information? Help is available by sending an email to HQ-twitter@mail.nasa.gov.
Head to the following website on July 1 at 10amEST to register for this tweepup event! http://www.nasa.gov/collaborate/tweetup.html
Filed under: Cool Science, Higher Education, NASA, Science, Student Opportunities
As you may know, the NASA Student Ambassador Virtual Community (intern.NASA.gov) includes several social networks established for “NASA Interns.” The sites are currently under development. You can now use the chosen networking sites (documented below) to communicate with the NASA Higher Education Community, scientists, engineers, mentors, and fellow interns! Join the following communities to become part of the network!
Officially sanctioned NASA online networking websites:
http://www.facebook.com/people/Nasa-Interns/1325509785
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/nasa-interns/12/638/865
http://www.myspace.com/nasainterns
https://twitter.com/NASAInterns
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nasainterns/
http://www.youtube.com/NASAInterns
Filed under: Biology, Funding, Higher Education, Research, Science, Student Opportunities, fellowships
The National Space Biomedical Research Institute seeks solutions to health concerns facing astronauts on long missions. This research also benefits patients on Earth. The NSBRI is soliciting applications for its Postdoctoral Fellowship program.
The NSBRI’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program provides support for Postdoctoral Fellows in any U.S. laboratory carrying out space-related biomedical or biotechnological research. 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. Funding is for a two-year period with an option for a third year of support.
Interested applicants are asked to submit a Notice of Intent by July 7, 2009. (NOI is not required.) Applications are due Aug. 4, 2009.
For detailed information on the application process, visit http://www.nsbri.org/Announcements/rfa09-01.html
Filed under: Aeronautics, Astronomy, Conference, Environmental Science, NASA, Professional Development, Science
Join the Satellite Educators Association for an education conference being held Aug. 13-15, 2009, in Los Angeles, Calif. The annual conference is for educators interested in discovering ways to use satellites and related technologies in the classroom. Participants learn ways to help students appreciate and understand the complex interrelationships among science, technology, individuals, societies and the environment. Conference attendees also learn to develop and apply inquiry and technology skills to study authentic questions and problems.
The conference is sponsored by California State University Los Angeles, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NASA, Raytheon Santa Barbara Remote Sensing, Lockheed-Martin and Northrop Grumman.
For more information, visit http://www.sated.org/index.html
Filed under: Astronomy, Educational Materials, K-12, NASA, Professional Development, STEM, Science, Teacher Development, Teacher Opportunities, Workshop
Afterschool Universe is a hands-on astronomy program targeted at middle school out-of-school-time settings. It explores basic astronomy concepts through hands-on activities and focuses on a journey through the universe beyond the solar system.
A free, 2-day training workshop is being held on July 23-24, 2009 at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. This training will prepare participants to lead the program or train others to do so. All attendees who complete the training will receive a printed and bound copy of the program manual at the end of the workshop. Most of the materials to run the program are easily available at grocery stores and craft supplies stores. A free kit of a few materials that need to be ordered from specialized retailers is given to those who commit to run the program for the target audience (approximately a $50 value). Workshop attendees also receive access to a password-protected Web site that has additional resources to help with the implementation.
Registration for this training session is due July 17, 2009. Register by visiting http://universe.nasa.gov/au/register.html
For more information about the program, visit http://universe.nasa.gov/afterschool/
Filed under: Astronomy, Funding, Higher Education, K-12, Research, STEM, Science
Simple Efective Education and Dissemination (SEED) Grants for astronomy researchers avaialbe for 2009 form the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Thanks to the support of the Planck and Herschel Missions, the Astronomical Society of the Pacific is offering SEED Grants for 2009 to active researchers in astronomy, astrophysics, or space science to engage in public outreach, K-14 formal education, or informal education programs or activities.
Maximum grants are $2,500; funds may be used to purchase equipment related to the proposed EPO activity, or to defray expenses associated with carrying out the activity. Given the nature of the Planck and Herschel Missions, SEED Grant proposals involving cosmology, galaxy studies, solar system investigations, and space science will be given special consideration.
Proposal submission deadline is July 31, 2009, with announcement of awards by September 15, 2009.
To learn more and to review the simple guidelines for proposals, go to:
http://www.astrosociety.org/education/grants/grants.html
The Educational Materials section of NASA’s Web site offers classroom activities, educator guides, posters and other types of resources that are available for use in the classroom. Materials are listed by type, grade level and subject. The following items are now available for downloading.
Moon Munchies Educator Guide — Grades K-4
Plant growth will be an important part of space exploration in the future as NASA plans for long-duration missions to the moon. NASA scientists anticipate that astronauts may be able to grow plants on the moon, and the plants could be used to supplement meals.
In anticipation of the need for research into lunar plant growth, NASA and the International Technology Education Association, or ITEA, present the NASA Engineering Design Challenge. Students design, build and evaluate lunar plant growth chambers — while engaging in research- and standards-based learning experiences. The lesson plans in this guide encourage students to participate in the engineering design process and learn how to conduct a scientific experiment.
The Moon Munchies Educator Guide is available as a complete guide or can be downloaded in easy-to-use individual lesson plans.
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Moon_Munchies.html
Ares: Launch and Propulsion Educators Guide – Grades 5-12
The fifteen lesson plans in this guide help students learn about the science of rockets, principles of rocketry and the laws of motion. Student texts are included so that students may read about variables, forces and motion, and NASA’s history and future. Students learn which variables affect the performance of a rocket. In the assessment, students engage in a competition wherein they apply what they have learned about rockets to build a launch vehicle that flies as high as possible.
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Ares_Educator_Guide.html
Top Stars Bookmark – All Grades
This downloadable bookmark includes dates for educators to submit their best examples of how to use the Hubble Space Telescope to teach science, mathematics, engineering or technology. Participants selected as Top Stars will receive national recognition and awards.
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Top_Stars_Bookmark.html
The Courage to Soar Higher Educator Guide — Grades 4-6
This integrated unit allows students to launch pop rockets; create a pop-up book about the solar system; build Mars colonies; and learn about the history of NASA and space exploration. Some activities include vocabulary lists and reading selections. Each of the 20 lessons in this guide support national mathematics, science, technology, geography and language arts standards.
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Courage_to_Soar_Higher.html
Watch the LCROSS lunar swingby video stream live beginning at 5:20 a.m. PDT on Tuesday, June 23, 2009! The broadcast is planned to be approximately one hour long. The first half hour will show live footage of the lunar surface. during the second half hour, the video stream will be sporadic as the spaceship calibrates sensors.
Learn more about the LCROSS mission and watch the live video of the moon at
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LCROSS/lunarswingby/
A new NASA online feature describes some of the biggest impacts NASA has had on the aerospace industry. This interactive website allows you to choose research highlights for commercial aviation, helicopters, and military applications.
To learn more, visit the NASA Aeronautics Research Onboard website at http://www.aeronautics.nasa.gov/nasa_contributions/flash_index.html
Filed under: Astronomy, K-12, NASA, Professional Development, STEM, Science, Teacher Development, Teacher Opportunities, Workshop
Hands-on Astronomy and Earth-science Education Workshops for Grade 4-12 Teachers on Sept. 12-13, 2009
A weekend of hands-on workshops and informative science talks will be offered as part of the 120th anniversary meeting of the nonprofit Astronomical Society of the Pacific. These workshops will take place Sept. 12-13, 2009, at the Westin Hotel near the San Francisco Airport in Millbrae, Calif.
The program will include space science and earth science workshops for educators of grades 4 through 12, as well as sessions for educators who work in informal settings (such as museums, nature centers, amateur astronomy clubs, and community organizations.)
No background in astronomy will be assumed or required. Experienced educators from the Society’s staff, from NASA and NSF-sponsored projects, and from educational institutions around the country will be presenting. Only a limited number of spaces will be available, and, thanks to conference supporters, registration for each day of the workshop will be only $39.
Sunday afternoon will feature a special nontechnical lecture series about the search for life among the stars, with some of the leading scientists from the SETI Institute describing the scientific experiments now under way to identify life beyond Earth.
Thanks to the support of the Spitzer Space Telescope Science Center, a limited number of travel-support scholarships (of up to $300 per person) will be made available for educators.
For more information, visit http://www.astrosociety.org/events/2009mtg/workshops.html
