NASA Looks for Education Partners
NASA is seeking collaborators to help with its education goals in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The space agency posted an announcement late last week calling for "unfunded collaborations with organizations to enhance its ability to achieve its strategic goals, outcomes and objectives as they relate to education."
Among the objectives of the collaborations are:
- Helping to improve STEM education through teacher professional development and the adoption of education technology in schools;
- Partnering with education organizations--schools, museums, and other providers of formal and informal education--to disseminate NASA materials to promote STEM;
- Helping to prepare, recruit, and retain students in higher education, both graduate and undergraduate, in STEM disciplines;
- Creating and providing STEM-focused educational resources;
- Contributing to STEM education policies and strategies;
- Expanding opportunities for participating in NASA programs; and
- Providing "clear, accurate, timely, and consistent information that is readily available and suitable for a diverse audience."
Eligibility for partnerships is open to all organizations in the United States, including governmental agencies. Evaluations of proposals will be based in part on how well the submitting organizations mesh with NASA's mission and vision; how well the proposals will help broaden NASA's reach and help it achieve its goals outlined in its 2011 strategic plan; and quality of the metrics for measuring the success of the proposals.
Responses can be submitted through the remainder of 2011.
Further details about the request for collaboration, including complete criteria for evaluating proposals, can be found here. NASA's broader education resource portal can be accessed here.