Iowa Space Grant Consortium

Announcements

NASA part of team committing to program that strengthens STEM

NASA and the National Science Foundation (NSF), in partnership with other federal agencies, have committed to a White House-led effort to strengthen education in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

“Charting a Course for Success: A Federal Strategy for STEM Education” lays out the federal government’s role in furthering STEM education by working with state and local stakeholders, the education community and American employers. Its goals include building a STEM-proficient citizenry, creating a STEM-ready workforce and removing barriers to STEM careers, especially for women and underrepresented groups.

Read the full news release and learn more about the effort, click here.

NASA Marshall Faculty Fellowship makes you a space researcher; applications now accepted

You can conduct research arm in arm with NASA scientists in the 2019 Marshall Faculty Fellowship program. Spend ten weeks in Huntsville, Alabama at the Marshall Space Flight Center in this special residential research experience for STEM faculty at U.S. colleges and universities.

The program will run from June 3-August 9, 2019. Stipends, a relocation allowance and travel supplements are included.

Applicants can choose from 75 areas of concentration in propulsion systems, space systems, space transportation and science.

Detailed information and an application form can be found here. Application deadline is February 8, 2019.

Newspaper story highlights ISGC-supported research

The Biogeochemical Evolution of the Atmosphere (BETA) research project at the University of Northern Iowa has been highlighted in a story published by the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier. The project studies the all-important relationship between oxygen and planet Earth and provides highly valuable opportunities for university undergraduates. It serves as a strong example of ISGC’s commitment to supporting and inspiring Iowa’s future in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education. Read the story here.

(Photo courtesy of University of Northern Iowa)

ISGC STEM scholarship student subject of UNI feature

Jaclyn Miller, who was awarded an Iowa Space Grant Consortium STEM Education Scholarship at the University of Northern Iowa, has been featured in the school’s STEM Stories on their STEM web site. She’s a junior majoring in mathematics education. Read about her love of math and about her UNI experience, aided by her ISGC scholarship, here.

To access that story and similar ones, see the STEM Beat page on the UNI web site here.

ISGC fellowship recipient spotlighted at UNI

Nicole Bishop, an undergraduate chemistry major at University of Northern Iowa who has had personal research supported by an Iowa Space Grant Consortium Research Fellowship, was recently featured in a news story on the UNI STEM web site. It details her research work with the NASA Cassini mission, which collected data about the chemical composition of the atmosphere of Titan, the largest moon of Saturn.

Read the full story here, or to access that story and similar ones, see the STEM Beat page on the UNI web site here.

New opportunities available to STEM educators in Space Grant Consortium program

SEEC Logo
STEM educators will now have the opportunity to attend NASA’s SEEC event with the ISGC Partner Schools Program.

Two new and impactful opportunities await Iowa K-12 educators in the 2019 Iowa Space Grant Consortium (ISGC) Partner Schools program. Applications for the program are now being accepted through 3 p.m. December 3, 2018.

The ISGC-sponsored Partner School Program supports Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) school partnerships to help schools connect to learning opportunities that advance the mission of NASA to increase awareness of STEM careers.

Student with flight simulation
A team of students takes its turn with the flight simulation portion of the Spaceflight Operations Workshop at Iowa State.

Beginning in 2019 ISGC partner school teachers (educator teams and STEM educators) will be able to take part in NASA’s Space Exploration Educator’s Conference (SEEC) at Space Center Houston and the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX; and the Spaceflight Operations Workshop with the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Iowa State

University in August, which is coordinated by distinguished faculty fellow and former NASA astronaut Clayton Anderson. The goal of participation in the programs is to allow educators to bring the experiences back to their classrooms to benefit their students as well as their colleagues. ISGC partners agree to conduct professional development (ISGC Academy) within their districts, regions, or at professional conferences to expand the ISGC investment and reach.

SEEC event
Attendance at NASA’s popular SEEC event is now available to partner school members through ISGC.

The SEEC will be held February 7-9, 2019. It invites participants to “experience three days of complete immersion into the out-of-this-world adventure of space exploration!” Sessions hosted by scientists, engineers, astronauts and other officials cover endeavors such as the International Space Station, exploration of Mars and more. ISGC will cover selected costs for participants in the SEEC.

The Spaceflight Operations Workshop, tentatively scheduled for August 2-12, 2019, engages educators and engineering students in a team environment to learn how to think and function like astronauts. It immerses participants in a series of experiences and classroom activities that represent a microcosm of NASA astronaut training to develop the skill of “thinking operationally.”

A detailed 2019 Partner Schools Application Packet, with more information about the two new opportunities and application forms, is available on the ISGC web site.

Student skydiver
A student skydiver and his coach prepare to land in the Spaceflight Operations Workshop.
Students scuba diving
Spaceflight Operations Workshop participants learn the ropes of scuba diving techniques.