New NASA Program Supports Community Space and STEM Projects

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 12/15/21

Billionaires with rocket ships aren't the only ones with dreams of bringing space travel to the masses. NASA itself has designated 21 different organizations as anchor resources for space education in their communities. Universities, science centers, libraries, museums and other formal and informal education organizations across the country, designated as "NASA Informal Education Community Anchors," will develop projects to expand opportunities for STEM education.

NASA's goal with the program is to bring space exploration to more students in all kinds of neighborhoods. The designation includes funding to support local STEM impact.

The agency is awarding total of about $520,000 for one- to two-year projects that will serve:

• Diverse populations, including students from groups traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields;
• Urban and rural areas with low economic opportunity;
• Tribal communities; and
• New Americans and refugees.

Leaders of the projects will form the inaugural group of a NASA Informal Education Learning Cohort, organized by the NASA Museum & Informal Education Alliance. Through their participation, these individuals will have opportunities to develop their skills in engaging the community, facilitating teamwork and implementing NASA-themed activities.

Among the selected institutions are:

• Alaska Challenger Center for Space Science Technology in Kenai, AK, which has proposed a community food security and sustainability program, themed, "Food Security and Sustainability at Home and In Space: It's More Similar Than You Might Think";
• Mystic Seaport Museum in Connecticut will deliver STEM programming to middle school students in underserved communities;
• West Kentucky Community and Technical College in Kentucky is planning a "Challenger STEM Squad";
• The Challenger Learning Center in Bangor, ME is developing "From Maine to Mars: A Virtual Trip to Space";
• Minnesota State University Moorhead will bring NASA's ViewSpace to the community;
• The University of Montana, Missoula will create NASA remote sensing experiences among the state's rural and tribal communities;
• Fayetteville State University in North Carolina is launching "Rockets and Robots";
• Rowan University in New Jersey is creating an astronomy outreach program for girls;
• Girl Scouts of North East Ohio is developing the program, "Roaming the Red Planet," to connect their members to NASA;
• Saint Francis University in Pennsylvania will build a mobile interactive exhibit, "Earth to Moon," which it will share in rural areas; and
• Alamo Community College District in Texas will create "La Fiesta del Sol."

"NASA has bold, long-term goals, so it's critically important that we reach students where they are, and create opportunities for them to experience those feelings of discovery and confidence that STEM engagement is really all about," said Mike Kincaid, NASA's associate administrator for STEM engagement, in a statement. "The Community Anchor Awards will help us reach a diverse audience while sharing and supporting NASA's missions and future plans."