Science Activation

What is SMD’s Science Activation program? NASA Science has a new team to help learners of all ages “do” science!  For the next five years, a cooperative network of twenty-seven competitively-selected teams from across the Nation will connect NASA science experts, real content, and experiences with community leaders to do science in ways that activate minds and promote deeper understanding of our world and beyond. The map and list of selectees is shown below.

Map of the United States with pins representing locations of new activation teams.
SMD Science Activation Selections/Extensions Leading to Negotiations for Awards by the End of Calendar Year 2020

Selected for Negotiations Leading to New Awards:

NASA’s Neurodiversity Network (N3): Creating Inclusive Informal Learning Opportunities Across the Spectrum:  Lynn Cominsky, Sonoma State University

NASA SMD Community of Practice for Education (SCoPE): Meenakshi (Mini) Wadhwa, Arizona State University

The NASA Community College Network: Simon Steel, SETI Institute

Cosmic Storytelling with NASA Data: Tools for Exploring Data Science:  Alyssa Goodman, President and Fellows of Harvard College

The Eclipse Soundscapes (Citizen Science Project): Henry Winter, ARISA Lab L.L.C.

SciAct STEM Ecosystems to Broaden Participation in Authentic STEM Learning: Connecting Subject Matter Experts, Communities, and Learners of All Ages (“SciAct STEM Ecosystems”): Rae Ostman, Arizona State University

STEM Pathways for Native Americans: Bridging Native Knowledge of Earth and Sky with Traditional STEM Programming through the "Native Earth | Native Sky" Program: Kathryn Gardner-Vandy, Oklahoma State University

Student Airborne Science Activation for MSI (SASA):  Charles Gatebe, Universities Space Research Association

Planetary Resources and Content Heroes (ReaCH):  Andy Shaner, Universities Space Research Association

Selected for Negotiations Leading to Extensions to Existing Agreements

OpenSpace:  An Engine for Dynamic Visualization of Earth and Space Science for Informal Education and Beyond:  Rosamond Kinzler, American Museum of Natural History

Real World, Real Science: Using NASA Data to Explore Weather and Climate:  Leigh Peake, Gulf of Maine Research Institute

Smoky Mountains STEM Collaborative: Bridging the Gaps in the K-12 to Post-Secondary Education Pathway:  Matt Cass, Southwestern Community College

Navigating the Path of Totality:  Robert Semper, Exploratorium

PLANETS (Planetary Learning that Advances the Nexus of Engineering, Technology, and Science):  Joelle Clark, Northern Arizona University

Impacts and Feedbacks of a Warming Arctic: Engaging Learners in STEM using NASA and GLOBE Assets:  Elena Sparrow, University of Alaska, Fairbanks

Mission Earth: Fusing GLOBE with NASA Assets to Build Systemic Innovation in STEM Education:  Kevin Czajkowski, University of Toledo

AEROKATS and ROVER Education Network (AREN): Andy Henry, Wayne County Intermediate School District

NASA SMD Exploration Connection:  Ariel Anbar, Arizona State University

NASA Earth Science Education Collaborative: Theresa Schwerin, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies

NASA eClips 4D Multi-Dimensional Strategies to Promote Understanding of NASA Science: Design, Develop, Disseminate and Discover:  Shelley Spears, National Institute of Aerospace Associates

NASA's Universe of Learning: An Integrated Astrophysics STEM Learning and Literacy Program:  Denise Smith, Space Telescope Science Institute

NASA Space Science Education Consortium: Through the Eyes of NASA to the Hearts and Minds of the Nation:  C. Alex Young, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

NASA@ My Library: A National Earth and Space Science Initiative that Connects NASA, Public Libraries and their Communities:  Paul Dusenbery, Space Science Institute

NASA Space and Earth Informal Science Education Network (SEISE-Net):  Paul Martin, Arizona State University

STEM Enhancement in Earth Science:  Margaret Baguio, University of Texas, Austin

Northwest Earth and Space Sciences Pipeline (NESSP):  Robert Winglee, University of Washington, Seattle

Airborne Astronomy Ambassadors (AAA):  Dana Backman, SETI Institute

Learn more: NASA Selects Awardees to Support Science Learning