'NASA Launchpad' TV Episode Captures Emmy Award

A NASA video program aimed at helping high school students learn more about science, technology, engineering and mathematics(STEM) has won an Emmy, one of the best-known awards in regional television.

"NASA Launchpad" took home an Emmy award in the Informational/Instructional category for its episode, "Bernoulli's Principle," at the 52nd Capital Regional Emmy Awards held in Washington, June 5. "The Emmy judges have singled out one of NASA's many educational video programs again this year," said Roger Hathaway, the head of the Education Team at NASA's Langley Research Center that oversees the NASA eClips project, which includes "NASA Launchpad." "We try to excite students not only about the work we do at NASA, but also about science, technology, engineering and math."

"NASA Launchpad" is targeted at high school students and features five to seven minute programs that apply STEM topics learned in the classroom, to real world challenges. The segments are produced by Scott Bednar and Tom Shortridge of the National Institute of Aerospace (NIA). Teacher guides that are aligned to national standards accompany the online educational program.

"NASA Launchpad is making a positive impact in high school classrooms across the nation," said Bob Lindberg, NIA president and executive director. "We are grateful to NASA for their financial support of NIA's multimedia educational programming."

Another NASA TV program, "NASA 360," a 2009 Emmy recipient was nominated in the Magazine category for an episode featuring Olympic swimmer Katie Hoff, and nominated in the Informational/Instructional category for episode, "Volcanoes, Making Oxygen From Lunar Soil." NASA 360 also is developed and produced by NIA in collaboration with the Langley Research Center.

"NASA 360" and "NASA Launchpad" can be seen on NASA TV and on the Internet.

The Emmys were awarded by the National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, which includes 29 media outlets in Washington D.C., Virginia and Maryland.

FMI: www.nasa.gov/education/nasaeclips