What is informal science education?
Informal science education supports people of all ages and walks of life in exploring science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Representatives of three U.S. federal agencies that support informal science education will address the ISE Summit on Friday, March 5, in Washington, D.C.. Joyce Leavitt Winterton, Ph.D., associate administrator for education at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), directs the development and implementation of NASA’s education programs, which strengthen student involvement and public awareness of its scientific goals and missions.
The NASA Informal Education Opportunities (NIEO) project is a new support mechanism in Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 for the nation’s diverse informal education communities seeking to partner with NASA Education. NIEO has significant investments in two on-line projects serving all 50 states:
- the NASA Museum Alliance, a free-of-charge service to science centers, museums and planetariums led by Jet Propulsion Laboratory; and
- EarthKam (Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle School Students) led by Sally Ride Science.
Additionally, in FY 2010 Congress has provided funding that NASA did not request to continue the following initiatives begun in FY 2008: 1) educational activities at NASA Field Centers and Visitor Centers and 2) a competitive grant program limited to science museums and planetariums.