NASA Is With You When You Fly 2/18/16

Do you know that NASA is with you when you fly?  Join NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center Office of Education for an educator workshop on weather.  Learn about basic meteorological concepts designed to demonstrate understanding of the general characteristics of the atmosphere and how weather conditions and weather phenomena occur. There will be hands-on, standards-aligned mathematics, science and engineering activities about density, mass, fluid dynamics and weather that you can take back to your classroom.  Make real world connections with NASA and the airplanes that do weather research.  Hear from subject matter experts about cutting edge research that is happening right now through a partnership between NASA Armstrong and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) with the Sensing Hazards with Operational Unmanned Technology (SHOUT) mission.

Target Audience: K-12 Formal and Informal Educators

When: Thursday, February 18, 2016, 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm PT

 Location: NASA Armstrong Educator Resource Center at the AERO Institute, 38256 N. Sierra Hwy., Palmdale, CA 93550

Register Online: http://goo.gl/forms/tprszIeivN

 Questions? Call Sondra Geddes 661-276-2359 or email at sondra.l.geddes@nasa.gov

There is no charge for the workshop. Free NASA educational materials will be provided. Seats are limited, and will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. All participants must be 18 years old or older.

 

"Winging It" NASA Is With You When You Fly Workshop Set for 4/8/15

Did you know that NASA is with you when you fly? Join NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center Office of Education for an educator professional development workshop on Axes and Control Surfaces. Through hands-on experiments and physical demonstrations, educators will learn about motions and forces, transfer of energy, and the abilities of technological design. Engage in hands-on, standards aligned mathematics, science and engineering activities with the basic concepts of flight, including the three axes of flight and the control surfaces that guide the aircraft. Learn real world connections with NASA research and the airplanes that are flying today. Hear from a subject matter expert about cutting-edge research happening right now at NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center through the X-56A Multi-Utility Technology Testbed.

 

There is no charge for the workshop. Free NASA educational materials will be provided.  Seats are limited, and will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.

WHEN:  Wednesday, April 8, 2015, 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm PT
Target Audience: K-12 Formal and Informal Educators
Location: NASA Armstrong Educator Resource Center at the AERO Institute, 38256 Sierra Hwy., Palmdale, CA 93550
Register Online: aeroi.org/ercRegister/index.html
Questions? Call Sondra Geddes at 661-276-2359 or email at sondra.l.geddes@nasa.gov

 

 

NASA Principles of Flight Workshop for Teachers 1/21/15

Did you know that NASA is with you when you fly? Join NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center Office of Education for an educator workshop on the principles of flight. Come explore aeronautics, the parts of an airplane, and the four forces of flight that allow an aircraft to fly. There will be hands-on, standards-aligned mathematics, science and engineering activities and interactive multimedia that you can take back to your classroom. Make real world connections with NASA research and the airplanes that are flying today. Hear from a subject matter expert about cutting edge research happening right now at NASA Armstrong through the Unmanned Aircraft Systems in the National Airspace System, or UAS in the NAS, project. 

When: Wednesday, January 21, 2015, 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm PST

Target Audience: K-12 Formal and Informal Educators
Location: NASA Armstrong Educator Resource Center at the AERO Institute, 38256 Sierra Hwy., Palmdale, CA 93550

Register Online: http://aeroi.org/ercForm/index.html

Questions? Call Sondra Geddes at 661-276-2359 or email at sondra.l.geddes@nasa.gov

US Senate STEM Caucus Features Industry Input on Pipeline and Program Consolidation

The US Senate held a STEM Caucus meeting on 20 May, where numerous industry stakeholders, such as Susan Lavrakas, Director of Workforce for the Aerospace Industries Association, and Ed Swallow, VP from Northrop Grumman, testified on both the student pipeline into STEM careers, and  the proposed consolidation of STEM outreach programs under the FY2014 federal budget. 

Swallow noted that Northrop's research has determined that the 5th grade is a crucial turning point in aiming students toward STEM careers, in that decisions related to middle school math are often made - for better or worse - at that time, thus affecting the students' future interest and preparation; he stated that only 21% of 8th graders take algebra, which is necessary for them to complete a STEM degree program within four years after high school.  Lavrakas addressed more socio-economic factors, such as making parents aware of the importance of preparing students for STEM subjects and careers, toward providing mentors for the students, and informing teachers of the existence and importance of many STEM career options and preparation requirements.  She also opined that a variety of programs reach different students in different ways and times, therefore the elimination or consolidation of programs should be approached with great care.

The proposal has been made to have three main agencies lead the consolidated STEM outreach efforts:  the Department of Education for grades K-12; the National Science Foundation for undergraduate efforts; and the Smithsonian Institution for informal education.  James Brown, Director of the STEM Education Coalition, highlighted the need for flexibility of implementation in STEM education programs.  http://www.washingtonexec.com/2013/05/us-senate-holds-stem-caucus-on-fy14-budget-and-the-education-pipeline/

 

Thiel Fellowship Applications Due by 12/31/12

The Thiel Fellowship is once again offering a "no-strings attached" grant of $100,000 to young people to "skip college and focus on their work, their research, and their self-education."  They are mentored and work together with other like-minded teens to see how STEM can change the world.  The areas in which projects are sought include biotech, genomics and synthetic biology, robotics, information and communications technology, aerospace, artificial intelligence, neurotech, nanotech, and medical devices.  Applicants must have been born after 31 December 1992, and should be interested in projects that are 2 to 10 years ahead of where current technology is in place.  For more information on the application process and experience as a Thiel Fellow, visit http://www.thielfellowship.org/become-a-fellow/about-the-program/ .

Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award Nominations Due 1/14/13

NASA, along with the Astronauts Memorial Foundation and the Space Foundation, are accepting nominations of K-12 teachers and district-level personnel for the Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award.  "The Award recognizes outstanding contributions made by technology personnel or classroom teachers to technology education. The Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award rewards excellence in the development and delivery of technology programs. Programs which focus on aerospace and/or aeronautics will be given priority to other programs. Applicants must demonstrate how their programs ultimately benefit the students in a school or district."  The award, including a $1,000 grant, plaque, and travel to the conference, will be conferred at a ceremony in April 2013 in Colorado Springs, CO.  Nominations (by school principals or district leaders) for the award are due by no later than 14 January 2013.  For more information, please visit http://www.amfcse.org/alan_shepard_award/default.html .

Academy Aimed at Training Students to Fill Aerospace Manufacturing Positions

Hawthorne High School's Academy of Manufacturing and Engineering, located near Northrop Grumman, Boeing, and Raytheon, among others, in the LA South Bay, has received a $16,000 grant from the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) to obtain equipment to help train students in manufacturing and engineering skills needed by the employers and to begin an after-school program.  Students who are members of the academy, 85% of whom are considered at-risk, can work on a computerized machine in the metals shop and are enthusiastic about designing and creating new machines. 

Due to the greying work-force, there is concern that the next generation of skilled workers is not being prepared to enter these jobs.  South Bay manufacturer SpaceX currently has 200 open positions.  In addition to backing high-school programs, SME is funding a new reality show pilot called "Edge Factor."  http://www.scpr.org/programs/madeleine-brand/2012/02/16/22561/aerospace-manufacturing-jobs-are-here-skilled-work

Mission 2 Announced for Student Spaceflight Experiment Program to ISS

The National Center for Earth and Space Science Education has announced competition for Mission 2 to the International Space Station for the Student Spaceflight Experiment Program.  Designed to be a community-based process, SSEP allows students to participate in local competitions and then to submit their micro-gravity experiment proposals for consideration to fly aboard the International Space Station.  The Mission 2 competition will run from March to September 2012, with the winning experiments flying aboard Soyuz 32 to the ISS in September.  For more details, visit http://ssep.ncesse.org/2011/11/announcing-communities-participating-in-ssep-mission-1-to-iss-and-new-flight-opportunity-mission-2-to-iss/.  The twelve Mission 1 teams participating include San Marino and West Hills, California, with winners scheduled to fly on Soyuz 30 in early 2012.

Tehachapi Super Science Saturday Held 11/12/11

A science and engineering exposition was held on Saturday, 12 November 2011, at Tehachapi High School.  Features included a morning LEGO League tournament for high desert robotics teams, with the afternoon dedicated to speakers, activities, and demonstrations.  There were give-aways from local industry and goodie bags provided to younger students.  Sessions scheduled were on unmanned aerial vehicles by Tim Bourgeois and Daniel Loehrer, bird-like flight and interplanetary space travel by Albion Bowers of NASA, rockets and rocket planes by Geoff Licciardello and Jeremy Voigt of XCOR, and fun with chemistry, among others.  (Courtesy of Cecilia Cordova, NASA Dryden, and Danielle Evansic, THS)

SFTE Science and Technology Education Resource (STERO) Classroom Grant Applications Due by 9/30/11

The Antelope Valley chapter of the Society of Flight Test Engineers has announced the availability of $200 grants for classroom projects of AV K-8 educators.  Special consideration will be given to projects related to aviation or aerospace, although that is not a requirement.  Applications must be received by 30 September 2011, and selectees will be notified in late October.

For the STERO application and more information, please contact Carmen Prater at carmenpratersfte@gmail.com..

Real World Design Challenge Open for Registration

The annual Real World Design Challenge for high school students is now open for registration.  For more information about the challenge, visit http://www.realworlddesignchallenge.org/index.php.  Typically, the challenge is issued in October, with the deadline to register in November, followed by local and state competitions taking place before the national challenge is issued in February.

While California is not an official participant state, local teams may still take part.  The National Lieutenant Governor's Association issued a policy resolution in support of the initiative at its July 2011 meeting:  http://nlga.us/web-content/Conferences/2011%20AM%20Resolutions/NLGA%20Resolution%20on%20STEM%20-%20July%202011.pdf

Aero Club Scholarship Applications Due by 7/19/11

The Aero Club of Southern California is offering $2,500 scholarships to high school students who plan to pursue studies in aviation or aerospace, or $5,000 grants to students currently pursuing aviation or aerospace studies in college, univerity, or a nationally-accredited technical school.  Applications and supporting materials from qualified students are due by no later than 19 July 2011.  For qualifications and further information, visit http://www.aeroclubsocal.org/scaascholarships.html or e-mail questions to John Durant at jdurant9@msn.com .