NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

The NASA Science, Engineering, Mathematics and Aerospace Academy (SEMAA) is a national, innovative project designed to increase the participation and retention of historically underserved and underrepresented K-12 youth in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

SEMAA GOALS

• Inspire a more diverse student population to pursue careers in stem related fields.
• Engage students, parents and teachers by incorporating emerging technologies.
• Educate students by utilizing rigorous STEM curriculum enhancement activities that meet national math, science and technology standards, and encompass the research and technology of NASA’s four Mission Directorates.

SEMAA proactively addresses these goals by delivering three core components, a hands-on, minds-on STEM curriculum, a state-of-the-art Aerospace Education Laboratory (AEL) and an innovative Family Café.

SEMAA COMPONENTS

• Hands-on/Minds-on K-12 Curriculum Enhancement Activities (CEA)
• Aerospace Education Laboratory (AEL)
• Family Café

The K-12 Curriculum Enhancement Activities (CEA) are aligned to the National Math, Science and Technology Standards, encompasses the research and technology of each of NASA’s four Mission Directorates, and provides SEMAA participants with 21 contact hours in STEM activities/sessions. SEMAA can be implemented as an in-school, after-school or Saturday model.

The Aerospace Education Laboratory (AEL) is a state-of-the-art computer classroom places cutting edge technology at the fingertips of SEMAA middle and high school students; it engages students in real world challenges relative to both an aeronautics and space exploration. The AEL houses real aerospace hardware and software including an Advanced Flight Simulator (AFS), a laboratory-grade, research wind tunnel, and a working, short-wave radio receiver and hand-held GPS for aviation.

The Family Café promotes sustained family involvement by providing families/adult caregivers with relevant family and STEM education resources and information. Through SEMAA, families are put in touch with other STEM projects/programs available for their children in an effort to maximize student exposure, interest and success in STEM.

The SEMAA project harnesses the collective resources of NASA, institutions of higher education, science centers, museums, and primary and secondary schools to bridge the education gap for historically underserved and underrepresented K-12 youth in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). In just over thirteen years, the SEMAA project has emerged as a nationally renowned leader in the efforts to increase the participation of historically underserved K-12 youth in the areas of STEM. Established as a joint venture between NASA Glenn Research Center and Cuyahoga Community College, the program has grown from a single site to a national organization that is supported by Congress and dedicated to improving the academic success of children nationwide. Currently, the SEMAA project is located at Community Colleges, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU's), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HIS's), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), high schools, middle schools, elementary schools and science centers/museums in 17 urban and rural cities throughout the U.S. (see list of NASA SEMAA institutions and locations below). To accomplish this level of success, communities must come together to establish partnerships. The partnerships provide the support and skills to impact the underrepresented students in many positive ways thus ultimately contributing to the pool of talented scientists and researchers in STEM fields. The SEMAA activities are not intended to replace science and mathematics instruction in schools but to provide support to schools by offering science and mathematics enrichment programs to encourage student interest and success in science, mathematics, engineering and technology.

To date, the SEMAA project has over 200 partnerships with Community Colleges, HBCU's, HSI's, TCU's, high schools, middle schools, elementary schools, science centers/museums, local businesses, major corporations, and other educational and non-educational entities. Each SEMAA site is required to develop a Sustainability Plan to enhance local program operations, as well as to ensure project sustainability beyond NASA funding.

Current NASA SEMAA Sites
Institution - Location

Cuyahoga Community College - Cleveland, OH
Wayne State University - Detroit, MI
York College, CUNY - Jamaica, NY
Fernbank Science Center - Atlanta, GA
University of the District of Columbia - Washington, D.C.
Warren County High School - Warrenton, NC
Morgan State University - Baltimore, MD
New Mexico State University - Las Cruces, NM
Martinsville City Schools - Martinsville, VA
Miami-Dade County Public Schools - Miami, FL
Richland School District One - Columbia, SC
Livingston College - Salisbury, NC
Wiley College - Marshall, TX
Oglala Lakota College - Kyle, SD
SECME/Tennessee State University - Nashville, TN
Albany State University - Albany, GA
Wilberforce - Wilberforce, OH

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NASA Glenn Educational Programs Office SEMAA contact:
Dovie Lacy
Voice: (216) 433-5163
E-mail: Dovie.E.Lacy@nasa.gov
Visit the SEMAA website

or

Rick Gilmore
Voice: (216) 433-5493
E-mail: richard.gilmore@nasa.gov
Visit the SEMAA website

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