NASA Selects Innovative Museum Exhibits And Planetarium Shows

June 18, 2012

Ann Marie Trotta
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1600
ann.marie.trotta@nasa.gov


RELEASE: 12-205

NASA SELECTS INNOVATIVE MUSEUM EXHIBITS AND PLANETARIUM SHOWS

WASHINGTON -- Exhibits, planetarium shows, and community-based
programming are among 18 projects NASA has selected to receive agency
funding in 2012. The projects consist of 11 informal education
providers and seven NASA visitor centers that will share $10 million
in grants through NASA's Competitive Program for Science Museums and
Planetariums Plus Opportunities for NASA Visitor Centers and Other
Informal Education Institutions.

Project topics will feature NASA missions in engineering, astronomy,
human spaceflight, aeronautics, technology, and Earth science. The
selected projects will partner with NASA's Museum Alliance, a
nationwide network of informal education professionals at more than
500 museums, science centers, planetariums, NASA visitor centers,
Challenger centers, visitor centers at observatories and parks,
nature centers, aquariums and zoos.

"Informal education providers are an important part of NASA's
education family," said Leland Melvin, associate administrator for
NASA's Office of Education in Washington. "By using compelling NASA
content, they help us stimulate interest in science, technology,
engineer and mathematics, or STEM. Increasing STEM literacy in
students today is key to having the talent NASA will need to embark
on future missions of science and discovery."

Projects selected in this year's program will engage learners of all
ages, as well as educators who deliver formal or informal STEM
education. The projects will produce NASA-inspired educational
opportunities, including planetarium shows, exhibits, community-based
programming, and other hands-on activities.

In conjunction with NASA's Museum Alliance, the grants focus on
NASA-themed space exploration, aeronautics, space science, Earth
science, microgravity or a combination of themes. Some projects will
include partnerships with elementary and secondary schools, colleges
and universities, as well as with community-based organizations.

The museums, science-technology centers, and planetarium selected for
project funding are located in California, Georgia, Hawaii,
Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, and
Wisconsin. The eleven grants have a maximum five-year period of
performance, and range in value from approximately $370,000 to
$857,000.

The selected NASA visitor centers are located in Alabama, California,
Maryland, Mississippi, Ohio, Texas, and Virginia. The seven visitor
center projects have a maximum five-year period of performance and
range in value from approximately $200,000 to $900,000.
Proposals were selected through a merit-based, peer-reviewed process
from the 63 proposals received. Institutions from 30 states and the
District of Columbia competed. NASA's Office of Education, agency
mission directorates and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory collaborated
to solicit and review the grant applications. This integrated
approach distinguishes NASA's investment in education from other
federal grant makers. Before new grants or cooperative agreements are
issued, selected institutions must complete required business and
policy review by working with the NASA Shared Services Center in
Mississippi.

Congress established the inaugural Competitive Program for Science
Museums and Planetariums in 2008. NASA will open the fourth
competition for new proposals in Fiscal Year 2013.

For a list of selected organizations and projects descriptions, visit:


http://go.nasa.gov/NKC2V0

For information about NASA's education programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/education

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., leads the Museum
Alliance for NASA. For information about the Alliance, visit:


http://informal.jpl.nasa.gov/museum

For more information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov


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