NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland is bringing hands-on, experiment-based learning to its sixth annual National Lab Day on Friday, May 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Media interested in covering the event should contact Jeannette Owens no later than 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 17, to be cleared through security. For inquiries or to request high-resolution images, send an email to jeannette.p.owens@nasa.gov or call 216-433-2990.
During National Lab Day, over 200 sixth- through eighth- grade students will break into groups to tackle a design challenge using straws to build a long, strong structural truss. The groups will also tour Glenn’s laboratories and participate in career exploration stations for hands-on learning activities in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
“NASA Glenn is seeking to inspire Northeast Ohio’s next generation of scientists and engineers,” said Rob LaSalvia, chief of the Office of Education at Glenn. “We are pleased to work with local schools to introduce students to jobs in STEM.”
Welcoming remarks and presentations begin at 10 a.m., and activities start at 10:45 a.m. Eight group half-hour tours take place at 11 and 11:40 a.m. and 1 and 1:40 p.m.
Students will tour the 10- by 10-Foot Abe Silverstein Supersonic Wind Tunnel, designed to test supersonic propulsion components from inlets and nozzles to full-scale jet and rocket engines, and the Electric Propulsion Laboratory, where small engines are tested. They’ll explore locomotion on planets in the Simulated Lunar Operations (SLOPE) Laboratory and see demonstrations of augmented and virtual reality for space and aeronautics applications in the Graphics and Visualization Laboratory. Finally, they’ll visit the aircraft hangar, where Glenn’s flight research aircraft are housed and the Altitude Combustion Stand where rocket engines are tested.
Schools participating in National Lab Day are: Birchwood School of Hawken; Citizens Leadership Academy, a Breakthrough School; and E Prep & Village Prep Woodland Hills, a Breakthrough School, all in Cleveland, Ohio; Warrensville Heights Middle School, Warrensville Heights, Ohio; Kent State University’s Rural Scholars Program, Kent, Ohio; and Chase STEM Academy, Toledo, Ohio.
For other education programs at NASA Glenn Research Center, visit:
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Jeannette Owens
NASA Glenn Research Center
216-433-2990
jeannette.p.owens@nasa.gov