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2004 Explorer Institutes

07.13.05


Report Summary

NASA Explorer Institutes (NEI), a new national level program, is intended to provide, "...as only NASA can," engaging experiences, opportunities, materials, and information to members of the informal education community including, but not limited to, representatives of science centers, museums, planetariums, libraries, parks, aquaria, nature centers, botanical gardens, youth groups and community-based organizations.

In FY 04, 17 NEI pilot projects were funded. Over 270 individuals, representing more than 145 informal education organizations, participated in six pilot professional development workshops. These workshops were designed to support informal science educators in using the unique assets of NASA Field Centers. Over 300 experts from the informal education community, representing over 200 institutions, participated in eleven focus groups. These individuals represented a wide range of expertise and were asked to identify strategies and approaches that can be used to effectively implement the NEI goals and objectives.

This report contains summary information and conclusions from the pilot workshops, focus groups and the NEI Planning and Evaluation Conference which united representatives of the workshops, focus groups and NASA education. The culmination of these NEI pilot initiatives resulted in the identification of strategies that could be used to increase collaboration between NASA and the informal education community. Based on that information, the Informal Education Division plans to support projects in four categories in FY05.

The four categories of NEI projects that will be considered for funding in FY05 include Professional Development Workshop Opportunities, STEM Teaching Tools and Products, Infrastructure Development Projects and Partnerships for Sustainability. All NEI projects will be conducted by NASA Field Centers in partnership with members of the informal education community. NASA will continue to support the IEC through funding initiatives sponsored by the Informal Education Division and program support by informal education points of contact at the NASA Field Centers.

Final Report
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Editor: Dr. Shelley Canright
NASA Official: Dr. Bernice Alston
Last Updated: April 12, 2007