NASA Selects Innovative Museum Exhibits And Planetarium Shows

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June 18, 2012

Ann Marie Trotta 
Headquarters, Washington      
202-358-1600 
ann.marie.trotta@xxxxxxxx 


RELEASE: 12-205

NASA SELECTS INNOVATIVE MUSEUM EXHIBITS AND PLANETARIUM SHOWS

WASHINGTON -- Exhibits, planetarium shows, and community-based 
programming are among 18 projects NASA has selected to receive agency 
funding in 2012. The projects consist of 11 informal education 
providers and seven NASA visitor centers that will share $10 million 
in grants through NASA's Competitive Program for Science Museums and 
Planetariums Plus Opportunities for NASA Visitor Centers and Other 
Informal Education Institutions. 

Project topics will feature NASA missions in engineering, astronomy, 
human spaceflight, aeronautics, technology, and Earth science. The 
selected projects will partner with NASA's Museum Alliance, a 
nationwide network of informal education professionals at more than 
500 museums, science centers, planetariums, NASA visitor centers, 
Challenger centers, visitor centers at observatories and parks, 
nature centers, aquariums and zoos. 

"Informal education providers are an important part of NASA's 
education family," said Leland Melvin, associate administrator for 
NASA's Office of Education in Washington. "By using compelling NASA 
content, they help us stimulate interest in science, technology, 
engineer and mathematics, or STEM. Increasing STEM literacy in 
students today is key to having the talent NASA will need to embark 
on future missions of science and discovery." 

Projects selected in this year's program will engage learners of all 
ages, as well as educators who deliver formal or informal STEM 
education. The projects will produce NASA-inspired educational 
opportunities, including planetarium shows, exhibits, community-based 
programming, and other hands-on activities. 

In conjunction with NASA's Museum Alliance, the grants focus on 
NASA-themed space exploration, aeronautics, space science, Earth 
science, microgravity or a combination of themes. Some projects will 
include partnerships with elementary and secondary schools, colleges 
and universities, as well as with community-based organizations. 

The museums, science-technology centers, and planetarium selected for 
project funding are located in California, Georgia, Hawaii, 
Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, and 
Wisconsin. The eleven grants have a maximum five-year period of 
performance, and range in value from approximately $370,000 to 
$857,000. 

The selected NASA visitor centers are located in Alabama, California, 
Maryland, Mississippi, Ohio, Texas, and Virginia. The seven visitor 
center projects have a maximum five-year period of performance and 
range in value from approximately $200,000 to $900,000. 
Proposals were selected through a merit-based, peer-reviewed process 
from the 63 proposals received. Institutions from 30 states and the 
District of Columbia competed. NASA's Office of Education, agency 
mission directorates and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory collaborated 
to solicit and review the grant applications. This integrated 
approach distinguishes NASA's investment in education from other 
federal grant makers. Before new grants or cooperative agreements are 
issued, selected institutions must complete required business and 
policy review by working with the NASA Shared Services Center in 
Mississippi. 

Congress established the inaugural Competitive Program for Science 
Museums and Planetariums in 2008. NASA will open the fourth 
competition for new proposals in Fiscal Year 2013. 

For a list of selected organizations and projects descriptions, visit: 


http://go.nasa.gov/NKC2V0 

For information about NASA's education programs, visit: 

http://www.nasa.gov/education 

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., leads the Museum 
Alliance for NASA. For information about the Alliance, visit: 


http://informal.jpl.nasa.gov/museum 

For more information about NASA and agency programs, visit: 

http://www.nasa.gov 

	
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