National Institute of Aerospace
STEM Initiatives
Harla Sherwood
July 2007
National Institute of Aerospace
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An Independent Non-profit Research and Graduate Education Institute formed in 2002
by a Consortium of Six Universities and the AIAA Foundation
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Conceived by NASA Langley Research Center and established to serve as LaRC’s
Collaborative Partner
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Conducts Collaborative Research in Engineering and Science relevant to Aerospace
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Offers Full- and Part-time Resident Graduate Education in Engineering and the
Sciences from Member Universities
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Leads and Participates in a wide range of Outreach Programs to enhance the nation’s
Science and Technology Workforce
Member Universities
Georgia Tech
Hampton University
North Carolina A&T State University
North Carolina State University
University of Maryland
University of Virginia
Virginia Tech
The College of William & Mary
Old Dominion University
Research Thrusts at NIA
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Experimental and
Computational Aerodynamics
Aviation Safety
Air Traffic Management
Small Aircraft Systems
Aircraft and Space Structures
Synthesis, Modeling and
Simulation of New Materials
Performance, Cost and Risk Analysis
Systems Design and Assessment Tools
Aircraft and Space Vehicle Flight
Controls
Planetary Science and Engineering
Earth Atmospheric Sciences
NIA Graduate Education Program
To provide a truly outstanding graduate education program in
engineering and the sciences based on an unprecedented
collaboration between six major research universities
• M.S. and Ph.D. offered from all six
founding universities
• Courses on-site at NIA; research in
LaRC laboratories
• Faculty advisors in residence or on
home campus; research mentors at
NASA
• Outstanding courses from member
universities; new courses in
emerging disciplines
• Up to 50% of coursework from other
member schools
• Full Assistantships for Exceptional
Students
NIA’s Primary Collaboration is with
NASA Langley Research Center
NIA
NASA LaRC
NIA’s 10 Member Institutions offer graduate and
continuing education in Hampton Roads
AIAA
Univ of Virginia
Virginia Tech
North Carolina A&T
Georgia Tech
Univ of Maryland
NIA, NASA LaRC
Hampton Univ,
Old Dominion Univ
William & Mary
North Carolina State
NIA Collaborates with Universities and Industrial
Partners Nationally …
Washington DC area
NASA HQ
NASA GSFC
DoD
Draper
DoE
Lab
NSF
Clarkson Univ
Univ of MD
Pratt & Whitney
Brown Univ
AIAA
ICF
Princeton,
GFDL
Wright State
GMU
BYU
UC Boulder Purdue
Univ
of
DE
SRI
RITA
MITRE
UCAR
UVa
UMES
GE Aircraft
CSC
Va Tech
Cessna
Hampton VA area
USC
Boeing
Phantomworks
RTI
LM Skunkworks
NCSU
NIA NASA LaRC
JPL
NC A&T
Vanderbilt
Hampton Univ
Santa Fe Inst
GA Tech
SAIC
Ole Miss
ODU CNU
LM Aeronautics
Gulf
Stream
Auburn
William & Mary
Texas A&M
Norfolk State U.
Cert Services, Inc
Boeing
Aerojet
FL Atlantic
… and Internationally
Europe
Imperial College
Univ. Manchester
Cardiff Univ.
Univ. Limerick
Von Karman Institute
Politecnico di Bari
Ecole Central De Lyon
Ecole Polytechnique
Univ. Paris Sud
Univ. Tubingen
Delft Univ
Univ of Porto
Hampton VA
CNRS
NIA
INRIA
NASA LaRC
Uppsala Univ
Univ of Bristol
Univ of Girona
Univ of Sevilla
Univ of Ulm
Asia
Technion
Tel-Aviv Univ
Weizmann Inst.
Kolon
Inha Univ
Hanyang Univ
Kyoto Univ.
Australia
University of Queensland
South America
Universidade de Brasilia
Africa
University of the Witwaterstrand
Outreach to the Region and the Nation:
NIA’s Continuum of Education
• Illustrates NIA's Holistic Approach to Addressing
Long-Term Workforce Development Needs
• Links K-12, Undergraduate, Graduate, Teacher
Professional Development, Faculty Development,
Workforce Training and Public Awareness
• Connects the Steps in the Pipeline for the
Aerospace Workforce
• Highlights Specific Needs at Each Step of the
Pipeline
– e.g., Grades 6-8: "Sustain and Grow Competency in
Mathematics"
• Focuses on the Goal of Improving the Quantity
and Quality of the Input to the Next Step in the
Continuum
• Identifies NIA and Partner Programs that Directly
Address the Need at Each Step
• Reinforces Value through Teaching, Parenting, and
Mentoring Feedback Loops
© 2006, National Institute of Aerospace
NIA’s Continuum of Education
•ATTRACT AND RETAIN STUDENTS IN STEM DISCIPLINES by
engaging students in STEM education programs to encourage their pursuit of
educational disciplines critical to the Nation’s future engineering, scientific and
technical missions; and by developing innovative approaches to enhance the
competence and confidence of K-12 teachers to master and teach STEM
material.
•STRENGTHEN THE NATION’S FUTURE WORKFORCE by
contributing to the development of the Nation’s aerospace workforce of the
future through a portfolio of educational initiatives that target America’s college
students and existing workforce, including those in traditionally underserved
and under-represented communities; and through faculty development
programs that provide relevant real-world experiences
•ENGAGE AMERICANS through hands-on, interactive, educational
materials. NIA and its partners will engage students, educators, families and
the general public to increase America’s science and technology literacy.
Educator Professional Development:
In-Service Teachers Program
• Partnership: NIA, NASA Education, NIA Universities and Space Grants (NC, VA, MD and
GA)
• Funding: NIA for stipends and travel for 32 teachers
• Objective: Provide motivational and content material based on NASA technologies for
use by middle and high school math and science teachers
– Teacher’s spend one week at NASA being exposed to NASA technologies and educational
resources
– Second week spent making local connections to university faculty and resources and space
grant activities
– Materials tied to national and state standards
– 2007 program to involve VA, NC, MD and GA teachers
– 5th annual workshop July 8-20, 2007 with 32 middle and high school teachers
– Workshop to focus on NASA enhancement materials in STEM content with integrating
technology component (Nortel MCS)
– Related activities include 1) Center for the Advancement of STEM Education; Durham County
Public Schools, Virginia Math/Science Partnership
Educator Professional Development:
NASA/NIA Pre-Service Teachers Program
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NIA managing program for NASA since June ‘05. Subcontract to UMd-ES
Objective: Improve pre-service teacher preparation at minority serving institutions
through an annual national conference and summer institute
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Supports elementary and middle-school pre-service teachers from underserved populations;
Reaches pre-teachers in 35 states
Provides opportunities for pre-service teachers to develop confidence and skills to effectively
teach mathematics and science using technology
Supports increase in underserved students entering the field of education
NASA enhancement materials in math and science with integrating technology component
(MCS) provided by Nortel
National conference held Feb 15-17, 2007; 450 participants from over 55 institutions
representing 32 states and 94 congressional districts
Institute to be held July 15-27; 25 participants at NASA Langley Research Center
Institute to be held August 12-17; 25 participants at NASA Ames Research Center
Career Experiences: LARSS
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Langley Aerospace Research Summer Scholars
10 week summer intern program at LaRC for rising juniors, seniors and grad students;
bridge program for 1st, 2nd year students from SHARP (high-school program)
AE, ME, MSE, CS, Atm Sci, Astro, Phys, Chem and support disciplines (business)
100-150 students per year; stipends $4500-5000
Program funded through NIA CA, effective June 1, 2006
Career Experiences: LFFP
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Langley Faculty Fellowship Program
10 week summer program at LaRC for faculty members
Similar to ASEE program for DOD and DOE
Program funded through NIA T/O since June 2006
NIA to exploit synergy with other NIA activities, such as NIA summer visitor program to
revitalize and enhance program to make it attractive to research faculty at top-tier
universities for ‘07 program
Educators-in-Residence Program
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3 teachers at NIA ‘07-’08
Media Communications: Discovery Now
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Discovery Now Radio show (90 second interstitials) launched on 1/22/07
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Broadcast on WHRV/WHRO (Hampton Roads) during “All Things Considered” (5:32pm)
PBS distribution and marketing in collaboration with WHRO and the Public Radio Exchange
(discoverynow.us)
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240 shows to be aired annually (120 shows completed)
Information sources: AIAA, NASA, FAA, NAIC, Department of Defense, US Air Force, NIA and its
member universities
Commercial and satellite distribution in collaboration with DTC (audionewsfeed.com)
Stations representing EVERY state in the nation have requested information and/or downloaded
programs
Marketing blitz to be implemented summer 2007
Discussions underway with NASA regarding use of DN programs to support NASA’s 50th
Anniversary and 50th Anniversary of the Space Age, 50th Anniversary of the FAA
Media Communications: NASA 360
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30-minute pilot program developed for television broadcast program focusing on the Vision
for Space Exploration and funded by LaRC Office of Public Affairs
Target audience 18-34, both male and female
Format is transferable to VHS, DVD, Internet (web streaming and downloads), Audio
(podcasting), downlinking via satellite (TV station use), and printing (printed materials).
Station commitments as natural follow-on to NASA’s Destination Tomorrow to include Voice
of America which broadcasts over 6 satellites to 1200 stations with a potential viewing
audience of 93 million
NASA’s Destination Tomorrow is currently being broadcast in re-run format. Contract runs
out September 2007, which creates a sense of urgency to produce new programming to
maintain existing station base and time slots. Existing station base includes 852 US
stations and 10 International stations.
Seeking funding from government and others to
produce an annual series of five shows
Informal Education Initiatives
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STS 118 http://www.nianet.org/events/STS-117
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Partners: NIA, NASA, Nortel and ACTUA
Engaging 200,000+ students during the summer of 2007 to promote awareness of STS 118 and
the education activities developed to support the mission
Canada-wide workshops to include Johnson Space Flight Center/ESMD 21st Century Explorer
materials (with ACTUA)
Informal Education Initiatives
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Greenland Space Science Symposium
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NIA providing the education and outreach component for the Greenland Space Science
Symposium (www.gsss-2007.org). Including:
 taping and broadcasting opening sessions of the conference;
 working with students and teachers to interview participating scientists and researchers
 developing web casts and synchronous training opportunities in collaboration with NASA
Langley Research Center, Goddard Space Flight Center, Sun Earth Connection, and the
Denmark National Space Center
Resources available through an open source platform being developed in collaboration with Nortel
LearniT.
http://www.nortellearnit.org/Greenland_Symposium
Informal Education Initiatives (continued)
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National Competition Promoting STEM Literacy
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Sponsor: Dictionary.com, Partners: NIA and Nortel
International Word-of-the-Day Competition
supports teachers and parents, and enhances K-16 STEM learning using 21st century classroom
technologies
Students, working in teams with a teacher or mentor will choose a STEM word and associate it with
how it will impact the future related to earth science, space science, aerospace, space exploration,
or information technology
Students will research their STEM word and write a script for a 60-second word-of-the day video.
Videos will be reviewed by our team of experts with winners selected and prizes awarded for each
level of competition: elementary school (grades 3-5), middle school, high school, and
undergraduate.
Videos/words will be tied to STEM careers (workforce pipeline – NASA and others) for use by
educators.
Video Word of the Day
Informal Education Initiatives (continued)
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Exploration Systems Mission Directorate activities
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geospatial technology/ geocaching educational outreach campaign
interactive 3-dimensional website promoting NASA spin off tech
NASA 101 print version w/ interactive web site featuring 3-D animations
Americas Competitiveness Forum
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U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez to host inaugural Americas Competitiveness Forum
on June 11–12, 2007 in Atlanta
NIA and partner Nortel LearniT to provide education and outreach support
ACF will provide a venue for government ministers from the Western Hemisphere to come together
with leaders from the private sector, academia, and non-governmental organizations, to explore
cutting edge ideas and best practices in several key areas of competitiveness. The ACF’s main
tracks are:
 sparking and sustaining innovation
 creating solutions in education and workforce development
 designing successful global supply chain strategies
 fostering small business development and growth
Informal Education Initiatives (continued)
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Pokémon Diamond and Pearl: Back-To-School Outreach
– Master The Science…Master The Game!
– In support of continued Pokémon Diamond and Pearl branding, this back-to-school effort will
launch in September 2007 and promote to students, educators and parents the science and fun
featured in the game and how it enhances student learning.
– Focusing on science topics found in the Pokémon Diamond and Pearl game, NIA will develop an
online education resource which will be featured on the Nintendo website with hosting by NIA and
its supporting web partners
– NIA’s educators will select areas of content and develop education activities aligned to national
science and technology standards keyed to Pokémon Diamond and Pearl
– Back-To-School education activities will include:
 Educator resource guides and teaching units
 Best practices for educators on how to use activities in the classroom setting
 Student activities
 Links to related NASA content and other activities for enhanced use
 Competition for students to ask intriguing questions and pose some of these questions to
subject matter experts: Students suggest questions regarding space and time travel. Experts
including astronauts, educators, astronomers, doctors, engineers, scientists, etc. are
contacted to answer the questions. The answers are videotaped and posted and one student
wins a grand prize.