Partnerships Mean A Sustained Involvement In NASA Programs For Students, Families, Schools

Students in a special NASA program will share their research findings at a NASA Explorer Schools symposium Wednesday to Friday this week at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Future leaders in science, technology, education and math, or STEM, will present their work to fellow students, educators, NASA scientists and engineers.

The competitively-selected group of 70 students will represent 35 NASA Explorer Schools. The project is designed to improve teaching and bolster interest in STEM disciplines in the fourth through ninth grades, especially in traditionally underserved rural or urban parts of the country. The three-year partnerships bring educators, students and families into sustained involvement with NASA's research, discoveries and missions. "NASA's mission of research and discovery is a powerful context for learning," said Rob LaSalvia, NASA Explorer School Project manager. "Each year students amaze us with presentations that mirror the work of our scientists and engineers."

The students were required to complete an original investigation focused on existing NASA missions or research interests. Participants presented their work to experts at virtual regional symposia held January through March at NASA centers using the agency's Digital Learning Network. In addition to presenting their work at the national symposium, participants also will learn more about NASA's research and exploration activities. Students will tour a variety of operational facilities at Kennedy, including the complex where space shuttles are launched. Hands-on activities will be tied to on-going and future NASA missions.

Since the inception of the Explorer Schools project in 2003, NASA has established partnerships with 200 school teams from diverse communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

FMI: http://explorerschools.nasa.gov/