Final Selections for Kids in Micro-g!
> View PDF, 55 Kb, UPDATED Monday, May 10, 2010, 10:10 A.M. CDT
About the Challenge
"Kids in Micro-
g" is a student experiment design challenge geared toward grades 5-8. Its purpose is to give students a hands-on opportunity to design an experiment or simple demonstration that could be performed both in the classroom and aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
The winning experiments will have observably different results when the experiments are performed in the "1-gravity" or "1-
g" environment of the classroom, compared to when the experiments are performed by Astronauts in the "Micro-
g" environment (one-millionth of 1-
g) environment of the ISS. The apparatus for the demonstration must be constructed using materials from a materials tool kit provided to the astronauts on board the ISS. The tool kit consists of materials commonly found in the classroom and used for science demonstrations.
The experiment demonstration must take no more than 30 minutes to set up, run and take down. Experiment challenge winners and runners-up will be selected regionally and nationally by the Education Offices of the ten NASA centers. The ten regional winners, one national winner and one national runner up winner will have their experiments conducted by the Astronauts on board the ISS in the April-May 2010 timeframe. The experiments will be recorded onboard in HD video and the winners supplied with copies of their video before the end of their school year.
How to Enter
Experiment proposals may be submitted by adult teachers or educators on the behalf of their student groups. Proposals may be submitted via email or postal mail during the period from January 4, 2010 through February 19, 2010.
Please note that the submission window closed on February 19; proposals are no longer being accepted.
Proposal Submission Requirements
The requirements for experiment proposal format, content and length are provided in the following document. Unfortunately video podcast submissions will not be possible for this year's contest.
> Submission Requirements (PDF, 232 KB) -- UPDATED Tuesday, January 26, 2010, 4:30 P.M. CST
Selection Criteria and Awards
Experiment proposals will be judged and scored by NASA using the provided rubric. An independent safety review of the candidate winning experiments will be conducted by NASA prior to the final selection and announcement of the regional and national winners. The purpose of this review will be to ensure the Astronaut safety when the experiments are conducted on the ISS.
> Kids In Micro-g! Proposal Evaluation Rubric (PDF, 10 KB)
The winning experiment proposals will be announced on Friday April 2, 2010. The winning regional and national experiment teams will be presented with DVDs of their experiment being performed onboard ISS along with official NASA certificates to commemorate their accomplishment.
Educational Resources, References and Links
What is ISS?
> http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html
Go to the "Interactive Space Station Reference Guide" under "Interactive Features" on the right-hand side of the page.
Downloadable Videos:
Watch discussions with International Space Station (ISS) Astronauts about the Kids In Micro-g! student experiment design challenge, life aboard the ISS, example onboard microgravity demonstrations and the use of the scientific method in designing a Kids In Micro-
g! experiment. Follow the links below for discussions with and examples from NASA Astronauts on designing your experiment:
Module 1
> ISS and Microgravity (Windows, streaming)
> NASA Astronauts Mike Fincke and Greg Chamitoff and a special guest conduct a microgravity show-and-tell (Windows, streaming)
Module 2
> Designing a Microgravity Experiment (Windows, streaming)
> What's the Difference? With NASA Astronaut Nicole Stott (Windows, streaming)
Module 3
> The Scientific Method (Windows, streaming)
Module 4
> Recap of the Kids In Micro-g Challenge (Windows, streaming)
NASA Educational Products for Microgravity:
> Microgravity: A Teacher's Guide (PDF, 6.1 MB)
> Measurement, Ratios, and Graphing: Who Added the “Micro” to Gravity? (PDF, 528 KB)
Additional Educational Information on Microgravity:
> http://microgravity.grc.nasa.gov/education.php
Video Clips of Educational Demonstrations Previously Conducted On-orbit:
> http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/nasaeclips/index.html
Additional Questions?
Please review our Q&A matrix of Frequently Asked Questions. Your query may have already been submitted from a fellow student experimenter or educator, and answered by NASA.
> Read FAQ, LAST UPDATED: Tuesday, February 16, 2010, 3:09 P.M. CST
Please contact the ISS Payloads Office at
jsc-iss-payloads-helpline@mail.nasa.gov or call 281-244-6187. All inquires will be answered as soon as possible, generally within three business days.
If you would like to receive email notifications regarding updates to the Kids In Micro-g! webpage, as well as information on other educational activities at NASA, you may subscribe to the NASA EXPRESS email distribution at:
> http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/Express_Landing.html
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