NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

RELEASE : 04-402 NASA Selects Proposals to Engage And Educate the Public NASA's Office of Education selected 11 proposals to assist the agency in developing innovative ways to engage and educate the public and inspire the next generation of explorers through the Vision for Space Exploration.

The proposals span the breadth of educational opportunities. Selected proposals use science, technology, engineering and mathematics resources to develop engaging experiences, materials and information. Science centers, museums, planetariums, youth groups and other informal education organizations will use these products.

Each of the selected proposals will host NASA Explorer Institute Focus Groups, comprised of experts from the informal education community, to identify strategies and approaches that will help NASA respond to community needs.

"These focus groups will truly help us understand the needs of the informal education community. The knowledge we gain will allow us to foster new learning environments that spark the interest and imagination of people from all segments of society," said NASA's Chief Education Officer, Dr. Adena Loston.

The groups will convene in January and February 2005. The results of their meetings will be used to develop the next phase of the NASA Explorer Institutes Program. It is anticipated another solicitation for NASA Explorer Institutes will be released in the spring.

NASA received 54 proposals in response to a cooperative agreement notice for the informal education community. Through the solicitation, the selected proposals will receive funding of up to $50,000 per project. NASA Explorer Institutes is a new national program to encourage and support projects that will improve the public's understanding and appreciation of science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines.

The program will enhance scientific and technological literacy, mathematical competence, problem-solving skills and the desire to learn.

For a listing of selected proposals and titles, visit:

http://education.nasa.gov/divisions/informal/overview/nei_focus_groups_1204.html

For information about NASA education programs on the Internet, visit:

http://education.nasa.gov

For information about NASA and agency programs on the Internet, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

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