Iowa Space Grant Consortium

Education and Outreach

 

The ISGC’s Education and Outreach (E&O) program combines our previous informal education and precollege programs into one. E&O serves the informal and formal education affiliates and their audiences. Awards for STEM informal education projects from outreach affiliates that advance the NASA Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate (HEO) (https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/heo/index.html) and ISGC missions are included in E&O.  Funded proposals are for development of projects that are aligned with the NASA/ISGC mission and programs, have the potential to become self-sustaining, and demonstrate linkages to the ISGC Strategic Plan.

ISGC Strategic Plan, Education and Outreach Objectives

  • To support precollege educators through professional development, pre-service and in-service training to improve education in Iowa that will encourage and inspire students to enter and remain in STEM disciplines; to enhance public awareness, scientific literacy, understanding of reasons for exploration, daily benefits to humanity, and appreciation for sciences and technology based on NASA’s on-going strategic plan objectives.
  • Conduct and support precollege professional development activities for STEM educators in hands-on curriculum which will help inspire, educate, and employ the next generation of explorers; to promote a strong STEM educational base in Iowa and make curricular connections with NASA educational materials, opportunities, and expertise; by increasing public awareness of tangible daily benefits to humanity from NASA advancements.
  • Conduct and support various engaging and educational activities to promote students’ learning in STEM related areas.
  • Build strategic partnerships and linkages between STEM formal and informal education providers and, through hands-on, interactive educational and inspirational activities, engage students, educators, families, the general public an all agency stakeholders to increase Americans’ science and technology literacy, reasons for exploration, and engagement in aeronautics, space, and science.

Funding Opportunities

Informal Education and Outreach (formerly Informal Education):
– 2021-2022 Request for Proposals – click here for RFP including appendices
– Release date: May 28, 2021
– Deadline: June 28, 2021 – Opportunity is now closed.

Formal Education and Outreach (formerly Precollege):
– 2021-22 Partner Schools Program (PD) – Virtual option being explored
– NASA Center travel not an option at this time, due to COVID-19 closures
– Please check back for details for in-state 2022 workshop development

2021

Supported STEM Programming
Sustaining Active Program