NASA Kicks Off Student Summer Of Innovation Program June 10

WASHINGTON -- NASA officially kicks off its Summer of Innovation
initiative at the agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena,
Calif., on Thursday, June 10. Through the program, NASA will engage
thousands of middle school students and teachers in stimulating math
and science-based education programs. NASA's goal is to increase the
number of future scientists, mathematicians, and engineers, with an
emphasis on broadening participation of low-income and minority
students.

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, JPL Director Charles Elachi and
astronaut Leland Melvin will share their personal space exploration
experiences with middle school students during a live NASA Television
program starting at 1 p.m. EDT.

News media interested in attending this event or scheduling an
interview with NASA officials should contact Veronica McGregor by 3
p.m. Wednesday, June 9 at 818-354-9452 or email
veronica.c.mcgregor@nasa.gov.

The Summer of Innovation program uses the excitement of NASA missions
to keep students interested in science and math during the "summer
slide," a measurable loss of learning skills that occurs during the
school break.

Approximately 250 middle school students and teachers have been
invited to the June 10th event at JPL. They will have the opportunity
to speak directly with NASA astronauts, engineers and scientists and
will participate in eight interactive and educational activities,
such as launching paper rockets and building comets from Styrofoam
and ribbon. They also will see NASA robotics in action and meet the
next Mars rover, Curiosity. The rover is being assembled at JPL and
is scheduled to launch in 2011.

The students invited to JPL are from these schools:
Better Educated Students for Tomorrow After School Enrichment Program,
Los Angeles
Micro-Enterprise Charter Academy, Long Beach, Calif.
Washington Middle School, Pasadena, Calif.
Foshay Learning Center, Los Angeles

To view the event and for NASA TV downlink, schedule and streaming
video information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

Live video streaming of the Summer of Innovation kickoff also will be
available on the Web between 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. EDT at:

http://www.ustream.tv/nasajpl

For information about NASA education programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/education

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

Source: NASA