Application deadline: June 30, 2010. Level and Eligibility: U.S. High school students, grades 9-12.

High school students throughout the United States are invited to participate in NASA’s Interdisciplinary National Science Program Incorporating Research Experience, or INSPIRE, through the program’s Online Learning Community.

Applications are being accepted through June 30, 2010. NASA will make selections for the program in September.

Those selected will participate in an online learning community in which students and parents have the opportunity to interact with their peers and NASA engineers and scientists. The online community also provides appropriate grade-level educational activities, discussion boards and chat rooms. Participants and their families also gain exposure to the many careers and opportunities at NASA.

Students selected for the program will have the option to compete for unique grade-appropriate experiences during the summer of 2011 at NASA facilities and participating universities throughout the nation. INSPIRE is designed to encourage students grades 9 through 12 to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math. The summer experience provides students a hands-on opportunity to investigate education and careers in those disciplines.

INSPIRE is part of NASA’s education strategy to attract and retain students in the science, technology, engineering and math disciplines critical to NASA’s missions.

For more information about this opportunity, please visit the Website.

Description:

The Interdisciplinary National Science Project Incorporating Research and Education Experience, or INSPIRE, is a multitier year-round program designed for students in ninth to 12th grades who are interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and careers.

The centerpiece of INSPIRE is the Online Learning Community, or OLC. The OLC provides a place for INSPIRE students to interact with their peers, NASA experts and education specialists. Through grade-level-appropriate educational activities, chats and discussion boards, students and their families are exposed to the many careers and opportunities NASA has to offer. In addition, the OLC provides the parents/guardians of participating students with resources designed to help them champion their child’s education and career goals.

To ensure all students have an opportunity to participate in the OLC, those who qualify for the National School Lunch Program are eligible to receive a free laptop.

To be considered for the INSPIRE Online Learning Community, applicants must:

• Be entering the ninth through 12th grade when the school year begins.
• Be at least 13 years of age or older at the time of application.
• Be a U.S. citizen.
• Have a minimum of a 2.5 academic grade point average on an unweighted 4.0 scale.
• Demonstrate the desire and the academic preparation to pursue a STEM-related field of study beyond high school.
• Complete the online application process with all required documentation.

Members in good standing with the INSPIRE OLC have the opportunity to compete for grade-appropriate summer STEM experiences. The summer STEM experience is designed to provide hands-on opportunities to investigate education and careers in STEM at a NASA facility or a Space Grant Institution/University. Each summer experience, except the Collegiate Experience, will take place at the NASA facility within the student’s service area. To locate the NASA facility in your service area, please see the “NASA Facilities and Service Area” section below.

Explorer Experience: INSPIRE OLC participants in the ninth grade may compete for The Explorer Summer Experience. Selected applicants and their parents/guardians receive a trip to the NASA facility within their service areas, where they will participate in a VIP tour and workshop. The visit occurs the summer between the students’ ninth- and 10th-grade school year.

Collegiate Experience: INSPIRE OLC participants in the 10th grade may compete for The Collegiate Summer Experience. Students selected participate in a two-week on-campus experience at a Space Grant Institution/University. Students are chaperoned by the host institution where their exposure to college life is designed to improve study skills and encourage the pursuit of higher education and careers in STEM areas. NASA INSPIRE will pay round-trip travel expenses for those students who live more than 100 miles from the college or university providing this experience. In addition, the college or university provides lodging, meals, supervision and educational activities. The Collegiate Experience occurs the summer between the students’ 10th- and 11th-grade school year.

Residential Internship: INSPIRE OLC participants in the 11th grade may compete for the Residential Internship Summer Experience. Selected students participate in a paid, eight-week internship under a NASA mentor at the NASA facility within the students’ service areas. During the internship, students are provided:

• A stipend based on minimum wage for the state in which the NASA facility is located and a lunch allowance.
• Meals and housing at a location within commuting distance from the NASA facility, typically a nearby college dormitory.
• Daily transportation to and from work and required project activities.
• Have a minimum of a 3.0 academic grade point average on an unweighted 4.0 scale.
• Supervision and mentoring by scientists and engineers at the NASA center during working hours.
• Interaction with qualified, experienced and highly motivated professional educators who provide supervision and implement the enrichment activities and cultural activities during non work hours.

Pre-College Internship: INSPIRE OLC participants in the 12th grade who have been accepted to attend a college or university to pursue a STEM degree may compete for the Pre-College Internship Summer Experience. Selected applicants participate in a paid, eight-week internship with a NASA mentor at the NASA facility within their service areas. During this internship, the student receives a stipend and is then responsible for making all lodging, meals and transportation arrangements.

To be considered for a summer STEM experience, INSPIRE Online Learning Community participants must at a minimum:

• Be an active participant in the INSPIRE Online Learning Community.
• Have a 3.0 academic grade point average on an unweighted 4.0 scale.
• Submit updated transcripts, recommendations and parental consent forms, and other documentation as instructed.

Note: Depending on funding availability, not all summer experiences may be offered every year.

The open application period for NASA’s INSPIRE 2010 – 2011 OLC is from May 3 to June 30, 2010. Students may apply online.

Filed under: Grades 9-12, K-12 Outreach Programs

Tags: Aeorospace, programs for students, Space