NASA Announces Space Station Science Challenge Winners

Jan. 18, 2013

Joshua Buck
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
jbuck@nasa.gov

Jenny Knotts
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-792-7671
norma.j.knotts@nasa.gov

RELEASE: 13-028

NASA ANNOUNCES SPACE STATION SCIENCE CHALLENGE WINNERS

HOUSTON -- Students from two schools, one in Iowa and the other in New
York, are the winners of the International Space Station (ISS)
Science Challenge, NASA announced Friday.

Challenge winners from North Tama Elementary in Traer, Iowa, and
Madison Elementary in Massena, N.Y., are being inspired to learn more
about the space station's cutting-edge research by designing programs
to teach others about specific experiments and what scientists are
hoping to learn. This pilot program was created by Darcie Fregoe and
Lisa Chizek, contributing teachers with NASA's Endeavour Science
Teaching Certificate Project. The program is part of the
Interdisciplinary National Science Project Incorporating Research and
Education Experience (INSPIRE).

"I believe it is my responsibility as a middle school Earth science
and astronomy teacher to educate students about the very valuable
contributions ISS science has made in their lives," Fregoe said. "I
want them to get excited about NASA and the International Space
Station, and I want them to start thinking about possible futures
working for NASA."

The participants were students in grades 5 through 12. Their mission
was to review science investigations performed on the space station
and choose one on which to focus. Once they completed their research,
students developed and submitted a project to teach others about the
investigation. Projects included the development and creation of a
Web page, a slide presentation, an audio or video podcast or a
written report.

The winners chose investigations to highlight in the areas of Earth
and space science, biology and biotechnology, human research,
physical science and technology. Investigations included cell
culturing, diagnostic ultrasound, robotics, treadmill kinematics,
soldering in microgravity, Earth observations, combustion and
possible exercise countermeasures for bone and muscle loss.

"The ISS Science Challenge gives students the opportunity to learn
about the research happening on the ISS in depth," said Dynae
Fullwood, Teaching From Space education specialist at NASA's Johnson
Space Center in Houston. "It develops the creative, cognitive and
presentation skills of students while producing useful material for
their peers and the public to understand the work of ISS research."

The program is a collaboration between Teaching From Space, the
International Space Station National Laboratory, the International
Space Station Program Science Office and INSPIRE.

For more information on student programs, visit the NASA Science for
Researchers Student Programs website.

http://go.nasa.gov/riwMzC

For list of winners, visit:

http://go.nasa.gov/SeBtWb

For more information about the ISS Science Challenge, visit:

http://go.nasa.gov/13MilTb

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov


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