NASA’s Sample Return Robot Challenge Competition Registration NOW OPEN

Registration is now open for teams wishing to compete in the $1.495 million robotics competition known as the Sample Return Robot Challenge, sponsored by NASA and managed by Worcester Polytechnic Institute of Worcester, MA. Registration for the competition will close on January 7, 2014 with late registration available until March 15, 2014. The competition will be held June 11-13, 2014.

For information about the Sample Return Robot Challenge rules, requirements, and how to register, visit:
http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method=init&solId={A282D064-383A-8906-2956-A6D67CE2964D}&path=open

“The objective of the competition is to encourage innovations in automatic navigation and robotic manipulator technologies that NASA could incorporate into future missions,” said Michael Gazarik, NASA’s associate administrator for space technology in Washington. “Innovations stemming from this challenge may improve NASA’s capability to explore an asteroid or Mars, and advance robotic technology for use in industries and applications here on Earth.”

To win, a team must demonstrate a fully autonomous robot that can seek out samples and return them to a designated point within a set time period. Robots will be required to navigate over unknown terrain, around obstacles, and in varied lighting conditions without human control, or use of GPS, or other terrestrial navigation aids.

This is a Centennial Challenge in which NASA provides the prize purse for technological achievements. The challenge is extended to individuals, groups and companies. Unlike most contracts or grants, awards will be made only after solutions are demonstrated successfully. Since the program’s inception in 2005, NASA’s Centennial Challenges has awarded more than $6 million to 15 different competition-winning teams through 24 events. Competitors have included private companies, citizen inventors and academia working outside the traditional aerospace industry.

The Sample Return Robot Challenge is part of the Centennial Challenges Program within NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, which is innovating, developing, testing and flying hardware for use in NASA’s future missions. For more information about NASA’s investment in space technology, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/spacetech

ATTENTION EDUCATORS: SIGN UP TODAY for NASA DIGITAL WORKSHOPS!

Free Virtual Professional Development Workshop Series: NASA STEM Spanish Immersion. Participants who register and complete all four workshops are eligible to receive five workshop hours towards continuing education units.

NASA’s Digital Learning Network and the Aerospace Education Services Project are presenting a series of professional development workshops tailored to elementary Spanish immersion educators. These free workshops are designed to enhance curriculum activities with NASA-inspired lessons. These professional development workshops will provide hands-on, interactive and engaging activities in Spanish.

Sign up today to join the free four-day workshop series on July 15, July 17, July 23 and July 25, 2013. Each session is 75 minutes long.

For more information, visit https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GsOzqrJP0veopQRkZbb54jSDBbG02OZ6n9w6hKHumhE/pub.

Questions about this opportunity should be directed to Marilé Colon Robles at marile.colonrobles@nasa.gov.

NASA Astronaut, Stanley G. Love, Ph.D. to visit OSU June 5, 2013

NASA Astronaut, Stanley G. Love, Ph.D. is coming back to OSU!!

In his presentation, Near-Earth Asteroids: Threats and Opportunities, Dr. Love will discuss asteroids, how to protect the Earth from them, and how we might send people to explore them.

Join us:
June 5, 2013 4-5 pm
LaSells Stewart Center, Construction & Engineering Hall
Oregon State University, Corvallis OR

Free and open to the public!

Oregon NASA Space Grant 2013-14 Scholarship Call Now OPEN

The 2013-14 Oregon Space Grant Consortium Scholarship Program is now OPEN!
Application Deadline: May 17, 2013

The Oregon NASA Space Grant Consortium (OSGC) is pleased to provide students attending our member colleges and universities opportunities to apply for scholarship awards that support their academic goals and recognize their achievements. Scholarships are open to new and continuing students in the disciplines of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), and STEM education disciplines. The scholarship program supports the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) objectives of fostering and encouraging career goals in STEM and STEM education. Individuals from under-represented groups in the STEM fields are encouraged to apply.

Several unique scholarship opportunities exist catering to different degree programs, career goals, and institution types. Details regarding each of these opportunities are found in the Scholarship Guide, available for download on the OSGC website scholarship page. Please read the Scholarship Guide carefully for eligibility requirements, application instructions and links to the online application system.

Scholarships are awarded through a competitive process. Note: Students receiving awards in past competitions may apply and receive awards for subsequent competitions.

Awards for the 2013-14 Academic Year will be made in the following categories:

– OSGC Community College Scholarships
Online application: https://spacegrant.net/apps/?pk=ors2

– OSGC 4-Year Institution Scholarships
Online application: https://spacegrant.net/apps/?pk=ors1

– OSGC Undergraduate Research Scholarships
Online application: https://spacegrant.net/apps/?pk=ors3

For more information about the OSGC 2013-14 Scholarship Program, go to http://spacegrant.oregonstate.edu/scholarships.

Questions regarding OSGC Scholarship opportunities, application procedures, or eligibility may be directed to OSGC staff by phone at 541.737.2414 or via email to spacegrant@oregonstate.edu.

NICE Teacher Professional Development Workshop Series

NASA Innovations in Climate Education (NICE) Teacher Professional Development Workshop Series is seeking teacher participants! Join NICE on April 9th, 11th, 16th, and 18th from 4:00 – 5:20 pm EST. One-way or two-way virtual participation options available.

From greenhouse effect to Earth’s rising temperatures and resulting impacts on plants, bugs and birds, increase your understanding of these timely topics and more at the NICE Teacher Professional Development Workshop. This workshop is a four-part series featuring climate literacy content and classroom resources from NASA and NICE Earth Systems Scientists. It is open to all Science, Technology, Engineering and Math K-12 teachers. The content will be geared toward the 5-9 grade band.

For more information visit the NICE website at: http://nice.larc.nasa.gov/node/129

REMINDER: NASA 2013 Summer Internship Applications Due March 15, 2013

The NASA One Stop Shopping Initiative (OSSI) provides students at higher education institutions access to a portfolio of internship, fellowship, and scholarship opportunities offered by NASA mission directorates and NASA centers.

Visit the OSSI LaunchPad to find information about internship, fellowship, and scholarship opportunities. The site features the OSSI: Student Online Application for Recruiting Interns, Fellows, and Scholars (SOLAR). This innovative system allows students to search and apply for all types of higher-education NASA internship, fellowship, and scholarship opportunities in ONE location. A single application places the student in the applicant pool for consideration by NASA mentors.

Applications for summer opportunities are due March 15, 2013.

Visit http://intern.nasa.gov/index.html to find available opportunities and fill out a SOLAR application.

Visit http://spacegrant.oregonstate.edu/internships for more information.

“Why it’s hard to get to Mars” presented by Astronaut Stan Love

What challenges does NASA face on their quest to send humans to Mars?

NASA Astronaut Stanley Love is visiting Oregon State University on Monday, March 4, 2013 to answer that very question in his entertaining presentation, “Why Mars is Hard”! The presentation will start at 6 p.m. PDT in the Milam Auditorium (026) in Milam Hall at the corner of SW 26th Street and SW Campus Way on the OSU Campus.

The presentation is free of charge and open to the public. Media are invited to attend. During his talk, Dr. Love will give a fun rocket science lesson to help the audience understand why going to Mars is difficult and to hopefully inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers to pursue these challenges. A brief question-and-answer session will follow.

Dr. Love considers Eugene, Oregon to be his hometown. He was selected by NASA to be an astronaut in 1998. In 2008, Dr. Love completed his first spaceflight on the crew of STS-122, logging more than 306 hours in space. This included more than 15 hours in two spacewalks, where he helped prepare the European Space Agency’s Columbus Laboratory module for installation.

The event is hosted by the OSU AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics) Student Branch and sponsored by the OSU School of MIME (Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering). For more information about this appearance, contact Victor Dang
at dangvi@onid.orst.edu.

2013 Oregon NASA Space Grant Student Symposium

The Oregon NASA Space Grant Consortium presents the
2013 Student Symposium,
Friday February 8, 2013. The Symposium will be held from 9:00am – 8:00pm at the Oregon State University Memorial Union Journey Room, Corvallis, Oregon. Oregon NASA Space Grant students who were awarded fellowships, internships, undergraduate research scholarships, and team research awards in 2012 will present their research projects and share their experiences at the OSGC Student Symposium. Oregon NASA Space Grant is committed to providing quality educational and research opportunities to students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines including STEM education. You are invited to attend the 2013 Student Symposium to see firsthand the opportunities our students have experienced.

This is a great way for students who are interested in participating in a NASA student program to learn more about opportunities that are available for summer 2013.
You can be the face of NASA in Oregon!

Friday, February 8, 2013
9-11am – Poster Session, Meet and Greet
11am-12:30pm – Lunch
12:30-5:00pm – Oral Presentation Session with Q & A
5-6pm – Reception
6-8pm – Oral Presentation Session with Q & A

FREE and OPEN TO ALL
Call 541-737-2414 or go to spacegrant.oregonstate.edu/student-symposium for more information. Accommodations for disabilities may be made by calling 541-737-2414.