Courtesy NASA EXPRESS email list:

INSPIRE Counselors Needed

The Interdisciplinary National Science Project Incorporating Research and Education Experience, also known as INSPIRE, is seeking educators to supervise high school students during eight-week summer internships. Positions are available at several locations across the U.S. One counselor will be selected for each of the ten NASA Field Centers.

The position requires a professional educator to coordinate NASA INSPIRE activities within the NASA Center region. The INSPIRE Counselor will be the designated point of contact for INSPIRE participants at the assigned NASA Center. Training will be provided prior to the assignment.

The position requires a minimum of a four-year degree in science, mathematics and/or technology education, a valid teaching certificate, and a minimum of three years teaching experience in grades 6-12. A combination of teaching experience and NASA education experience is also acceptable. U.S. citizenship is required.

Counselors who are chosen will receive lodging and meals during the eight-week event, travel to and from the NASA field center, and a stipend of $5,800. Oklahoma State University graduate credit is also available to those who are interested.

Applications are due May 30, 2008.

To learn more about this opportunity and how to apply, visit opportunities.nasa.okstate.edu. If you have any questions about this opportunity, please e-mail them to Richard Adams at richard.adams@okstate.edu.

From the NASA EXPRESS email list:

Spring 2008 Cassini Scientist for a Day Contest

The Cassini Scientist for a Day contest challenges students to become NASA scientists studying Saturn. Participants are challenged to examine three target images taken by Cassini and choose the one that they think will yield the best scientific results. This choice must then be explained in a 500-word essay.

The contest is open to all students in the United States from grades 5-12, working alone or in groups of up to four students. The essays will be divided into three groups: grades 5-6, 7-8 and 9-12. All submissions must be students' original work. Each student can submit only one entry.

Deadline for Spring 2008 submissions is noon Pacific time (3 p.m. EDT) on May 8, 2008. For more information, visit http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/education/scientist/. If you have questions about this contest, please e-mail your inquiries to scientistforaday@jpl.nasa.gov.

Spring 2008 is the fifth edition of Cassini Scientist for a Day. See also the results of the fourth edition in fall 2008 at the JPL web site.

Nick Eftimiades of Federation of Galaxy Explorers (FOGE) is looking for instructors for the 2008 Galaxy Explorers Summer Camps...

Looking for four people to teach space related lessons and lead hands-on activity for the Galaxy Explorers Moon Base One summer camps. This program involves teaching to elementary and middle school children so science "expertise" is not required. However, an understanding and like of either space science, Earth science, and/or engineering is required. We provide training, curriculum, and presentation materials. Selected persons will work with local volunteer teachers and space industry professionals to administer and teach these summer camps in the Washington D.C. area. Flexibility in a fun but sometimes chaotic environment. Responsible!!! Organized. Camps are located in locations in Fairfax, VA, Washington D.C., and Capitol College, Laurel, MD. Check out our web site foge.org.

Salary $11 – $14 per hour depending on experience.

Please contact Nicholas Eftimiades:
neftimiades@foge.org
1 (877) 761-1266
Cell (301) 537-1040

PS: Cross-posted to the forums.

I saw this last evening on the SpaceRef RSS feed --  -- regarding a program called Teaching From Space:

TFS will focus its efforts to meet three objectives:

1. Develop and provide NASA-unique experiences, opportunities, content, and resources to educators and students to increase K-12 student interest in STEM disciplines.
2. Develop and facilitate a NEAT-like (Network of Educator Astronaut Teachers) group of highly motivated educators.
3. Build internal and external partnerships with formal and informal education communities to create unique learning opportunities and professional development experiences.

Full article: http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=27492 

Anyway, I've forwarded it onto the AAS Education Committee. I think it might be a good opportunity for us. Now that I'll be based in Houston -- starting next week -- perhaps it might be easier to link to Johnson Space Center Programs.

Also, I've got to check into things that the Lunar and Planetary Institute is doing. I hear about activities via their LPI_Library Twitter feed that also sound interesting.

But, first I've got to get to Houston. If you're interested, I'll post a few photos from the road from my personal blog, The Beauty of Lies.

The following information regarding internships for undergraduate students and fellowships for graduate students was recently posted to the NASA EXPRESS email list:

NASA Undergraduate Student Research Program Fall 2008 Internship Session

NASA's Undergraduate Student Research Program is currently accepting applications for 15-week fall 2008 internships. These internships offer students the opportunity to work alongside NASA scientists and engineers at NASA's centers, laboratories and test facilities.

Applicants must be U.S. college sophomores, juniors or seniors with majors or course work concentration in engineering, mathematics, computer science, or physical or life sciences. Applicants must be U.S. citizens.

The application deadline for the fall 2008 session is Feb. 29, 2008.

For more information, visit: http://education.nasa.gov/usrp

The previous deadline for the summer Graduate Student Researchers Project has been extended to 1 March 2008.

DEADLINE EXTENDED: Graduate Student Researchers Project

Applications are now being accepted for NASA's Graduate Student Researchers Project. Through GSRP, NASA awards fellowships for graduate study leading to research-based master's or doctoral degrees in science, mathematics and engineering fields related to NASA research and development.

GSRP supports approximately 300 graduate students annually. Applicants must be currently enrolled or accepted as full-time students at an accredited U.S. college or university. Applicants must also be U.S. citizens.

All application materials must be received no later than March 1, 2008. For more information, visit: GSRP Project Description [nasa.gov]

For discussion or questions about these programs, see the following thread on SEDS Forums: [link].