Interdisciplinary National Science Project Incorporating Research and Education Experience
[Students Grades 9-12 and Higher Education]
[Available: Nationally]
NASA is pleased to announce applications to the INSPIRE Online Learning Community, or OLC, are being accepted from Aug. 27, 2009 to midnight Sept. 10, 2009 Central time.
For additional information on the application procedure and requirements click here: > https://inspire.okstate.edu→
The Interdisciplinary National Science Project Incorporating Research and Education Experience is a multi-tiered year-round program designed for students in ninth- to 12th -grade who are interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, or STEM, education and careers.
The Online Learning Community is INSPIRE's centerpiece providing a place for INSPIRE students to interact with their peers, NASA experts and education specialists. Through grade-level-appropriate educational activities, chats and the discussion board, students and their families will be exposed to the many careers and opportunities at NASA. The OLC also provides parents resources designed to help them champion their student's education and career goals. To ensure all students have an opportunity to participate in the OLC, those who qualify for the National School Lunch Program are eligible to receive a free laptop. Once accepted into the OLC, students and their parents remain participants of the community through the students' freshmen year of college as long as they stay active participants.
Members of the INSPIRE OLC have the opportunity to compete for a grade-appropriate summer STEM experiences that will be available in 2010. The summer STEM experience is designed to provide hands-on experiences to investigate education and careers in STEM at a NASA facility or university. All summer experiences, except the collegiate experience, will take place at the NASA facility within the student's service area. To locate the NASA facility corresponding to your service area please see the "NASA Facilities and Service Area" section.
Explorer Experience: INSPIRE OLC participants in the ninth-grade can compete for this summer experience. Students selected will receive an expense paid trip for them and an accompanying parent or legal guardian to the NASA facility within their service area for a VIP tour and workshop. The visit occurs the summer between the students' ninth and 10th-grade.
Collegiate Experience: INSPIRE OLC participants in the 10th-grade can compete for this summer experience. Students selected will participate in a two-week on-campus collegiate experience at a university and are chaperoned by the host institution. This exposure to college life is designed to improve study skills and encourage the pursuit of higher education and careers in STEM areas. NASA will pay round trip travel expenses for those students who live more than 100 miles from the college or university providing this experience. The college or university provides lodging, meals, supervision and educational activities. The collegiate experience occurs the summer between the students' 10th and 11th-grade.
Residential Internship: INSPIRE OLC participants in the 11th-grade can compete for this summer experience. Students awarded will participate in a paid eight-week apprentice experience with a NASA mentor at the NASA facility within the students' service area. During the internship, students are provided:
-- A stipend based on minimum wage for the state in which the NASA facility is located and a lunch allowance
-- Meals and housing at a location within commuting distance from the NASA facility, typically a nearby college dormitory
-- Daily transportation to and from work and required project activities
-- During working hours, students are supervised and mentored by scientists and engineers at the NASA center. During non-work hours students interact with qualified, experienced and highly motivated professional educators. These educators provide supervision and implement the enrichment activities and cultural activities during after-work hours.
Collegiate Internship: INSPIRE OLC participants in the 12th-grade who have been accepted to attend a college or university to pursue a STEM degree can compete for this summer experience. Students awarded will participate in a paid eight-week intern experience with a NASA mentor at the NASA facility within their service area. In this internship, the student receives a stipend and he/she is responsible for making all lodging, meals, and transportation arrangements.
Eligibility Requirements:
To be considered for the INSPIRE Online Learning Community, applicants must:
-- Be entering the ninth- through 12th-grade in high school starting the fall
-- Be at least 13 years of age or older at the time of application.
-- Be a U.S. citizen
-- Have a minimum of a 2.5 academic grade point average on an unweighted 4.0 scale
-- Demonstrate the desire and the academic preparation to pursue a STEM-related field of study beyond high school
-- Complete the online application process with all required documentation
To be considered for a summer STEM experience, INSPIRE Online Learning Community participants must at a minimum:
-- Be an active participant in the INSPIRE Online Learning Community
-- Have a 3.0 academic grade point average on an unweighted 4.0 scale
-- Submit updated transcripts, recommendations and parental consent forms, and other documentation as instructed
Note: Depending on funding availability, not all summer experiences may be offered every year.
For a list of Frequently Asked Questions, go to
INSPIRE Frequently Asked Questions.
To apply to the Online Learning Community, click here.
> Apply →
NASA FACILITIES AND SERVICE AREA:
NASA Facility: Ames Research Center
Location: Moffett Field, California
Area of Service: Alaska, Northern California (southernmost counties of Inyo, Kings, Monterey, Tulare), Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming
NASA Facility: Dryden Research Center
Location: Edwards AFB, California
Area of Service: Arizona, Southern California (northernmost counties of Kern, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo)
NASA Facility: Glenn Research Center
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Area of Service: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin
NASA Facility: Goddard Space Flight Center
Location: Greenbelt, Maryland
Area of Service: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont
NASA Facility: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Location: Pasadena, California
Area of Service: TBD
NASA Facility: Johnson Space Center
Location: Houston, Texas
Area of Service: Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas
NASA Facility: Kennedy Space Center
Location: Merritt Island, Florida
Area of Service: Florida, Georgia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands
NASA Facility: Langley Research Center
Location: Hampton, Virginia
Area of Service: Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia
NASA Facility: Marshall Space Flight Center
Location: Huntsville, Alabama
Area of Service: Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Tennessee, Louisiana
NASA Facility: Stennis Space Center
Location: near Biloxi, Mississippi
Area of Service: Mississippi, Louisiana
INSPIRE Brochure
> View brochure
Who to Contact at NASA
Steve Chance
INSPIRE Project Manager
Mail Code: XA-D/John F. Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899
E-mail:
Steven.H.Chance@nasa.gov
Additional Contact Information
> View Pre-college contact information
