NASA And NSTA Send Teachers Flying For Science In Microgravity

HOUSTON -- NASA and the National Science Teachers Association, or
NSTA, have selected high school teachers from Alabama, Delaware,
Georgia, Missouri, New York, North Carolina and Washington to fly an
experiment in microgravity.

This flight opportunity will allow high school teachers and students
to propose, design, fabricate, and evaluate an experiment the
teachers will fly in a reduced gravity environment. The overall
experience will include scientific research, hands-on design and test
operations aboard a modified Boeing 727 jetliner. Zero-Gravity Corp.
of Las Vegas will conduct the flights the week of July 29 to Aug. 7
in cooperation with the Reduced Gravity Office at NASA's Johnson
Space Center in Houston.

"This is another innovative NASA project for students and educators to
work on actual flight projects that use the unique environment of
space while applying their academic knowledge in science, technology,
engineering and mathematics," said Joyce Winterton, associate
administrator for Education at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

The teams selected to participate in the program are: Delaware
Agriscience Teachers, Middletown High School, Middletown, Del.
--Dover High School/Capital School District in Dover, Del.
--A team of Einstein Fellows, who are teachers spending a year in
Washington at a congressional office or a federal agency
--Fairport High School/Fairport Central School District in Fairport,
N.Y.
--Fulton High School in Fulton, Mo.
--Greensboro Day School in Greensboro, N.C.
--Jackson High School in Jackson, Mo.
--Jefferson County Public Schools and Trussville City Schools/Hewitt
Trussville High School in Homewood, Ala., and the University of
Alabama, Birmingham
--Muscogee County School District in Columbus, Ga.
--New Deal High School/New Deal Independent School District in New
Deal, Texas
--Northbrook High School/Spring Branch Independent School District in
Houston
--Van Alstyne High School/Van Alstyne Independent School District in
Van Alstyne, Texas

"For years NSTA and NASA have enjoyed a strong partnership that has
benefited thousands of classroom science teachers," NSTA Executive
Director Francis Eberle said. "We are excited we can bring the
experience of 'weightless science' to scores of teachers and students
nationwide with this program."

Teachers and students will share their experiences and research in a
series of interactive Web seminars after the flight week. The
seminars are held by NSTA and NASA's Teaching From Space office and
Reduced Gravity Flight Opportunities Program. Teaching From Space
manages NASA's Education Flight Projects, a national program for
educators and students in kindergarten through 12th grade that
facilitates and promotes learning opportunities using unique NASA
content, facilities and flight platforms.

"This is a unique way to engage students and teachers in hands-on
science, as well as give them a ride of a lifetime," said Susan
White, director of Education at Johnson Space Center. "Our goal is
for that excitement to be carried into the classroom."
The opportunity is one of NASA's many educational outreach programs to
improve teaching and learning in science, technology, engineering and
math disciplines critical to future space exploration missions.

For more information about the Reduced Gravity Education Flight Week
Program, visit:

http://microgravityuniversity.jsc.nasa.gov

For more information about Teaching From Space, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/education/tfs

For more information about the National Science Teachers Association,
visit:

http://www.nsta.org

Source: NASA