High School Teachers From Around The Country To Experiment In
Microgravity
NASA and the National Science Teachers Association, or NSTA,
have selected high school teachers from Alabama, Delaware, Georgia,
Missouri, New York, North Carolina and Washington to fly an
experiment in microgravity.
This flight opportunity will allow high school teachers and
students to propose, design, fabricate, and evaluate an experiment
the teachers will fly in a reduced gravity environment. The overall
experience will include scientific research, hands-on design and
test operations aboard a modified Boeing 727 jetliner. Zero-Gravity
Corp. of Las Vegas will conduct the flights the week of July 29 to
Aug. 7 in cooperation with the Reduced Gravity Office at NASA's
Johnson Space Center in Houston.
"This is another innovative NASA project for students and
educators to work on actual flight projects that use the unique
environment of space while applying their academic knowledge in
science, technology, engineering and mathematics," said Joyce
Winterton, associate administrator for Education at NASA
Headquarters in Washington.
The teams selected to participate in the program are:
- Delaware Agriscience Teachers, Middletown High School,
Middletown, DE.
- Dover High School/Capital School District in Dover, DE.
- A team of Einstein Fellows, who are teachers spending a year in
Washington at a congressional office or a federal agency
- Fairport High School/Fairport Central School District in
Fairport, NY.
- Fulton High School in Fulton, MO.
- Greensboro Day School in Greensboro, NC.
- Jackson High School in Jackson, MO.
- Jefferson County Public Schools and Trussville City
Schools/Hewitt Trussville High School in Homewood, AL, and the
University of Alabama, Birmingham
- Muscogee County School District in Columbus, GA.
- New Deal High School/New Deal Independent School District in
New Deal, TX
- Northbrook High School/Spring Branch Independent School
District in Houston
- Van Alstyne High School/Van Alstyne Independent School District
in Van Alstyne, TX
"For years NSTA and NASA have enjoyed a strong partnership that
has benefited thousands of classroom science teachers," NSTA
Executive Director Francis Eberle said. "We are excited we can
bring the experience of 'weightless science' to scores of teachers
and students nationwide with this program."
Teachers and students will share their experiences and research
in a series of interactive Web seminars after the flight week. The
seminars are held by NSTA and NASA's Teaching From Space office and
Reduced Gravity Flight Opportunities Program. Teaching From Space
manages NASA's Education Flight Projects, a national program for
educators and students in kindergarten through 12th grade that
facilitates and promotes learning opportunities using unique NASA
content, facilities and flight platforms.
"This is a unique way to engage students and teachers in
hands-on science, as well as give them a ride of a lifetime," said
Susan White, director of Education at Johnson Space Center. "Our
goal is for that excitement to be carried into the classroom."
The opportunity is one of NASA's many educational outreach
programs to improve teaching and learning in science, technology,
engineering and math disciplines critical to future space
exploration missions.