NASA Announces Summer Learning Opportunities For U.S. Students

May 13, 2013

Ann Marie Trotta
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1601
ann.marie.trotta@nasa.gov


RELEASE: 13-138

NASA ANNOUNCES SUMMER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR U.S. STUDENTS

WASHINGTON -- NASA has unveiled plans for its 2013 Summer of
Innovation project, which challenges middle school students across
the United States to share in the excitement of scientific discovery
and space exploration through unique, NASA-related science,
technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) opportunities.

Summer of Innovation leverages the expertise and reach of NASA's 10
field centers, national academic and industry partners and smaller,
non-traditional collaborators to keep students engaged in STEM
activities during the summer school break.

NASA's facilities and partner organizations will host family activity
days, opportunities for students to talk with NASA experts, and
summer day camps. Students attending the day camps will design and
construct their own rockets, build water filtration systems, learn to
become as fit as an astronaut, and participate in NASA hands-on
activities.

Information about NASA opportunities during the 2013 Summer of
Innovation is available at:


http://www.nasa.gov/soi

The main focus will be on the Exploration Design Challenge, a NASA and
industry STEM initiative announced in March. Exploration Design
Challenge components will be woven into many Summer of Innovation
offerings. Interested students, parents and teachers also may
participate in the challenge without taking part in Summer of
Innovation.

"The Exploration Design Challenge is an amazing opportunity for
students in kindergarten through 12th grade and is a fun way to keep
a STEM focus this summer," said Leland Melvin, NASA's associate
administrator for education in Washington. "For the middle school
set, we have an opportunity for them to learn about space radiation
and how it can affect astronauts traveling to deep space. They then
will design and develop a radiation shield prototype to mitigate
these risks. After successfully completing these activities, the
students may submit their names to be flown to space aboard the Orion
spaceflight test next year."

National partners selected previously will continue STEM efforts begun
during Summer of Innovation sessions in 2011 and 2012, predominantly
through summer camps that use NASA-themed curricula and hands-on
activities that present academic challenges.
NASA also will engage and leverage the STEM expertise of other
national organizations, such as the Department of Education's 21st
Century Community Learning Centers, Boys and Girls Clubs of America,
YMCAs, 4-H chapters, science centers and museums.

The agency will offer Summer of Innovation mini-grant awards of as
much as $2,500 to allow smaller, non-traditional organizations to
spur STEM interest in their communities. The agency will begin
soliciting proposals in early June.

NASA piloted Summer of Innovation in 2010 in response to President
Obama's Educate to Innovate initiative. Studies have shown that
students who are engaged in STEM activities during their middle
school years are more likely to pursue the scientific and technical
career fields critical to maintaining U.S. competitiveness in the
future.

Entering its fourth year, Summer of Innovation has reached more than
128,000 students in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and
Puerto Rico. It has provided professional development opportunities
to more than 16,000 educators.

For more information about the Exploration Design Challenge, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/education/edc

For more information about NASA's broader education programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/education


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