NASA hosts its 2021 STEM-a-Thon this week, a series of activities and engagements aimed at sparking interest in careers and broadening student participation in science, technology, engineering, and math.
The event highlights paths to careers at NASA and encourages students to pursue their interests in STEM. It offers live presentations, interactive Q&A sessions, and more, headlined by an informal chat with NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy and astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli.
The agencys week of STEM engagements aligns with American Education Week, proclaimed by President Joe Biden to be celebrated Sunday, Nov. 14 through Saturday, Nov. 20.
Its critically important that we reach tomorrow's explorers where they are today in classrooms," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson "NASA needs a vast talent pool in order to accomplish its missions, including returning humans to the Moon. We're grateful to everyone in education who work tirelessly to keep kids inspired and help them to see their own potential, and we're excited to offer these events and activities during American Education Week."
Live activities will round out the week, including a chat session between NASA astronauts currently in orbit aboard the International Space Station and Dallas-area students. NASA will also host a virtual road tour to share strategies and opportunities with historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and minority-serving institutions (MSIs), and a STEM Stars en Espaol web chat exploring propulsion for missions to the Moon.
NASAs STEM-a-Thon guide is listed below, and its NASA STEM Twitter and Facebook will provide updates throughout the week.
All times are provided in Eastern.
Tuesday, Nov. 16
Noon to 5 p.m. NASA hosts its HBCU/MSI Technology Infusion Road Tour.
NASAs Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) in collaboration with its Office of Procurement and Office of Small Business Programs, designed this virtual, two-day event is designed to help HBCU and MSI administrators and faculty make the most of opportunities to build research capacity at their institutions. The event will highlight research opportunities, grants, fellowships, contracts within each of NASAs mission directorates, and more. Attendees can register for the event online.
Wednesday, Nov. 17
10 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. NASA hosts its 2021 BIG Idea Challenge Forum.
Seven university teams selected as finalists for the 2021 BIG Idea Challenge will present their original solutions to a pesky problem: lunar dust. Lunar dusts highly abrasive particles pose dangers to astronaut health and can damage spacesuits, spacecraft, and habitats.
2 to 3:30 p.m. Students can register
