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
- Be a Participant in an SMD Education and Public Outreach Opportunity
- Propose an Education or Public Outreach Project to SMD
- Partner with an SMD E/PO Community Member
- Find Resources
- Scientists in Education and Public Outreach
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.”
Opportunities to get involved with education and public outreach can be found in the Scientist E/PO brochure.
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/).
If you are a space science researcher who is interested in education and public outreach but don’t know where to start, 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 learn about ways to get involved with SMD’s Education and Public Outreach Community.
Opportunities to get involved with education and public outreach can also be found in the Scientist E/PO brochure.
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 a grant offered by SMD.
Proposals for Education and Public Outreach in Earth and Space Science (EPOESS) are requested every two out of three years, 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.
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.
Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) – 2013
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
The Forums have assisted SMD in developing NASA Wavelength, a “one-stop shop” to provide an online catalog of SMD products and activities, including those developed for higher education. Efforts are also underway within the Forums and the SMD E/PO community to identify and create resources for your use.
Opportunities to get involved with education and public outreach can be found in the Scientist E/PO brochure.
NASA Wavelength is an intuitive and searchable database of SMD products and activities.
EarthSpace is a searchable database of undergraduate classroom materials for faculty teaching Earth and space sciences at both the introductory and upper division levels. Additionally, EarthSpace provides news and information about educational research and best practices, funding opportunities, and ongoing efforts and collaborations for undergraduate education.
Created in response to requests for “quick references to E/PO resources” from scientists, the Astrophysics E/PO Resource Sampler and Planetary Science E/PO Resource Sampler are quick-start guides and “samplers” of the variety of Astrophysics and Planetary Science education and public outreach (E/PO) resources created by E/PO teams funded by the NASA Science Mission Directorate. The Samplers provide examples of NASA Astrophysics and Planetary E/PO resources, as well as ways that the resources can be used.
Learn about SMD’s Education Programs
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 PageList of NASA Higher Education Programs and Products
List of NASA Opportunities for Post-Secondary Students
Scientists in Education and Public Outreach
View interviews from scientist working with education and public outreach here.