More schools are implementing science, technology, engineering and mathematics courses so students can expand the horizon of career opportunities.
Recently, the NASA Office of Education at the Stennis Space Center announced that the facility will offer three winter and spring professional development workshops for educators, a NASA news release states. These workshops include NASA’s journey to Mars, the science of flight and natural disasters such as hurricanes.
From 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 26, the Journey to Mars hands-on workshop will guide up to 30 educators through the actual investigations of Mars while integrating NASA online resources and STEM classroom activities, the release states. The material will also outline the contributions made by African American women who served as “human computers.” NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said that the story of those women “changed the nation’s space program. They are one of the reasons why we are where so close to making this journey to Mars.”
Registration for the Journey to Mars workshop closes on Jan. 22. This workshop takes place at the INFINITY Science Center.
Educators can also sign up for the aeronautics workshop involving the science of flight from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 23. According to the release, NASA actively seeks hands-on engineering challenges to develop opportunities for creativity and mount experiences with real-life applications.
In this workshop, NASA will provide the background information about the science of flight to help educators inspire future scientists, engineers and mathematicians, states the release. Some of the activities in this workshop include constructing aircraft models and exploring the principles of flight. This workshop takes place at the INFINITY Science Center.
Registration for the Science of Flight workshop closes on Feb. 19 and is limited to 30 educators.
The third and final workshop—Weather and Hurricanes—begins on March 30 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi.
In this workshop, Keesler AFB Weather School, Hurricane Hunters and NASA Stennis Space Center are collaborating to help educators explore the Air Force and NASA’s role in forecasting and monitoring the effects of weather, climate and hurricanes, according to the release.
Educators will be guided through a “storm” of classroom activities that involve Air Force, NASA data and STEM curriculum resources.
Registration for the Weather and Hurricanes workshop closes on Feb. 19 and is also limited to 30 educators.
For more information, contact April McIntosh of NASA’s Office of Education at (228) 688-3338 or april.l.mcintosh@nasa.gov.