Earth and Space Scientists

NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD) has an essential role in NASA's education mission "to inspire the next generation of explorers." SMD encourages researchers to participate in education and public outreach in a meaningful way. Here you will find information that will allow you to:


Become Part of SMD’s Education and Public Outreach Community
If you are an Earth or space science researcher who is doing - or interested in - education and public outreach, and would like to be part of SMD’s Education and Public Outreach Community, please contact the Science Education and Public Outreach Forum that most closely aligns with your content interest; contacts are listed in the “About” menu under “Questions / Contact.”


Be a Participant in an SMD Education and Public Outreach Opportunity
New opportunities, such as SMD E/PO grant writing workshops, requests for scientist involvement, or E/PO training for interested scientists, will be advertised through Community Announcements and in the Calendar. Please contact the correspondent listed.

Please also visit SMD’s Education and Public Outreach page for researchers (http://science.nasa.gov/researchers/education-public-outreach/) and their suggestions for how to participate (http://science.nasa.gov/researchers/education-public-outreach/how-to-par...).

If you are a space science researcher who is doing - or interested in - education and public outreach, please contact the Science Education and Public Outreach Forum that most closely aligns with your content interest (contacts are listed in the “About” menu under “Questions / Contact.”) to find out about opportunities for becoming involved with SMD’s Education and Public Outreach Community.


Propose an Education or Public Outreach Project to SMD
SMD encourages scientists investigating Earth and space science to propose education and outreach programs. If you have a great idea for an educational project, you might consider pursuing one of two types of grants offered by SMD:

  1. Proposals for Education and Public Outreach in Earth and Space Science (EPOESS) are requested annually, as part of NASA SMD’s Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Science (ROSES). These typically are in the range of $100,000 annually for one to three years.

Proposal Solicitation (Currently Closed)
2009 Selections
2008 Selections

  1. Proposals for supplemental education and public outreach grants to ongoing SMD-funded research projects are requested twice a year. These must be proposed by the scientist leading the research project in collaboration with an educator. The parent research project must have at least 12 months remaining at the time of proposal submission. Proposals can be submitted for one of two paths:
    • Education projects (up to $15,000 for each year remaining on the parent research project). For proposal guidelines, click here.
    • Outreach projects (up to $10,000 for each year remaining on the parent research project). For proposal guidelines, click here.

2009 Education Supplements

2009 Outreach Supplement Selections

2008 Education Supplement Selections

2008 Outreach Supplement Selections

For either of these opportunities proposers are encouraged to carefully read abstracts of previously selected proposals before they begin their own proposal. We also recommend that you carefully read the evaluation criteria by which proposals are reviewed. The most up-to-date versions can be found here.

You may also find solicitations for other types of education and outreach projects from other NASA divisions at NASA’s clearinghouse for proposal information (NSPIRES).

If you are interested in including students directly in your research efforts, there are several traditional pathways that NASA researchers can leverage. Such research experiences are highly valuable in helping students develop as young professionals. Undergraduate researchers can be supported through internships and as part of Research and Analysis grants. In addition, Student Collaborations, whether hands-on instrument programs or data analysis collaborations, can be important components of mission science efforts.

Internships
Research and Analysis Grants

2010
2009

Student Collaborations

You may also find solicitations for other types of education and outreach projects from other NASA divisions at NASA’s clearinghouse for proposal information (NSPIRES).


Partner with an SMD E/PO Community Member
New opportunities for partnership are advertised through Community Announcements. Please contact the correspondent listed. If you would like to find a partner, please contact the Science Education and Public Outreach Forum that most closely aligns with your content interest; contacts are listed in the “About” menu under “Questions / Contact.”


Find Resources
Over their five-year effort, the Forums will assist SMD in developing a “one-stop shop” to provide an intuitive and searchable database of SMD products and activities. Efforts are also underway within the Forums and the SMD E/PO community to identify and create resources for your use.

Learn about SMD’s Education Programs

SMD Earth Science Education Catalog – Learning Resources

SMD Space Science Education Resource Directory

You can search for education resources created by all areas of NASA


Other sites that may be of interest include NASA's education pages:
NASA’s Education Page

NASA’s Higher Education Page

List of NASA Higher Education Programs and Products

List of NASA Opportunities for Post-Secondary Students

Search NASA Teaching Materials

List of NASA K-12 programs and products