Current Activities
Note:
If you are a U.S. citizen and a full-time undergraduate or graduate student at one of our member universities with a major or a minor in a space or science-related field, you may be eligible for a DCSGC Scholarship or Fellowship.Requirements, awards, and availability vary for each university.

Scholarship Opportunities

NASA Academy
NASA Goddard Student Internship Program
NASA Academic Year Paid Internship Program

Higher Education Activities

Computer Applications for Scientists Course at Gallaudete University
Student Travel Program at Howard University

Pre-College Activities

FIRST Robotics Competition
NASA College Freshmen Intern Program
Space Explorers
Botball

General Public Activities

Solar System Radio Explorer Kiosk
Website for Plasma Science and Technology
Venus Transit Family Night

NASA Academy [Top of Page]
Student support provided by the DCSGC. NASA Academy brings students from colleges and universities to NASA Marshall Space Flight Center to support ongoing research projects with some of Marshall's most innovative researchers. The opportunity to join a research team on the "cutting edge" of science, engineering and technology does not come often to most students (or scholars). This summer internship assignment is generally 10 weeks, but can vary depending on the need of the PI and student availability. For more information, please visit NASA Academy's website at: http://www.nasa-academy.nasa.gov/

NASA Goddard Student Intern Program [Top of Page]
Supported by the DCSGC, the NASA Goddard Intern Program (NSIP) is for students whose primary interest is space research. Exploration is the common thread throughout NASA, and research is the underlying foundation. This program brings students from colleges and universities to NASA Goddard SFC to support ongoing research projects with some of Goddard's most innovative researchers. Students also have the opportunity to meet with other student interns (Jamboree), participate in lectures, as well as field trips to other NASA Centers and local space industry sites. This summer internship assignment is generally 10 weeks.
For more information, please visit NSIP's website at: http://sip.gsfc.nasa.gov/

NASA Academic Year
Paid Internship Program [Top of Page]
Developed by the DCSGC to directly address workforce development - The NASA Academic Year Paid Internship Program matches DC University (undergraduate and graduate) students with NASA mentors at both NASA Headquarters, and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. The program has a large number of applicants from all DC Universities and is highly competitive. Students typically work 15-20 hours per week and are required to submit monthly evaluation forms, as are their mentors. The program begins approximately mid August and concludes in mid December. The program is now in its second year of operation and is going strong. This program is funded through NASA on a year to year basis, so announcements for the 2006 competition cannot be made until funding is available. If funding is available, the DCSGC will announce it on its home page in early spring 2006.
http://www.dcspacegrant.org

Computer Applications for Scientists
Course at Gallaudet University [Top of Page]
A new course was established to satisfy a science BS degree computing requirement that uses computer programming and (mostly) NASA data to train students in programming and data visualization. The course was proposed in Fall 2003 and was approved and given for the first time in Spring 2004.
http://depts.gallaudet.edu/chemistry/snyder.htm

Student Travel Program
at Howard University [Top of Page]
This program provides support for students to travel to conferences and meetings to present their research papers.
http://www.chem.howard.edu/~jhalpern/index.html

FIRST Robotics Competition [Top of Page]
The FIRST Robotics Competition is an exciting, multinational competition that teams mentors (engineers from NASA and DC Universities) and young people to solve an engineering design problem in an intense and competitive way. The program is a life-changing, career-molding experience for students. The District of Columbia Space Grant Consortium provided funding and support for three DC Public Schools that went on to the national competition. The competition shows students that the technological fields hold many opportunities and that the basic concepts of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) invention are exciting, rewarding, and interesting.
http://www.usfirst.org/robotics/index.html

NASA College Freshmen
Internship Program [Top of Page]
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center will be inviting 16 college freshmen to participate in the College Freshmen Intern Program (CFIP). CFIP is a 2-week pilot program designed to attract currently enrolled college freshmen with little or no NASA intern experience who demonstrate a strong interest and ability in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). They will be introduced to scientists, engineers, technologists, university faculty, and other college interns positioned to inspire them to consider careers in space science and engineering.

By promoting the program in local colleges and universities, we also hope to extend the pipeline to previously untapped underrepresented groups to enhance the diversity of our interns and our workforce. CFIP is intended to be a feeder program to other intern/co-op programs at NASA/Goddard.

The program dates are June 6 - June 17. Students must provide their own housing and transportation to and from NASA/Goddard.
http://space.gsfc.nasa.gov/cfip/

Space Explorers [Top of Page]
Ten classrooms in eight DC public schools participated in earth and space science activities sponsored by Space Explorers, Inc. via the internet. Space Explorers, Inc. provided customer service and training for the teachers. Students were able to perform the same experiments that astronauts on the International Space Station and elsewhere at NASA were performing. This year the students grew soybean and wheat plants, and tested a NASA-developed "space soil." They then went online and did comparative data research with NASA and students from around the world who were doing the same experiment. The eight DC public schools that participated this year were Orr Elementary School, Dunbar High School, Burroughs Elementary School, Seaton Elementary School, Key Elementary School, Powell Elementary School, Bancroft Elementary School, and Hardy Middle School. Powell Elementary School and Seaton Elementary School each had multiple classrooms participate. By implementing these internet-based science programs, the DCSGC helps integrate technology in the classroom.
http://www.space-explorers.com

Botball [Top of Page]
The Botball Robotics Program provides hands-on learning in science, technology, engineering, and math for high school students and their teachers. Students design, build, and program their own mobile robots. These robots have no remote control. The KISS Institute provides a teacher tutorial, tech support, and all the necessary materials for students and their teachers to learn the basics of robotics. The best part is, schools keep the equipment for use in the classroom after the tournament is complete. Botball teaches computer programming in the C language, one of the most popular computer languages used in science and business. C programmers are in high demand and these skills help make students highly employable once they hit “the real world.” Botball teaches science, technology, engineering, math, computer programming, internet research, website design, creative problem solving, and team work – all the while, students are having fun! The curriculum addresses the National Science Education Standards for Science and Technology and Science as Inquiry for secondary level students. Botball kicks off with a three day teacher tutorial where educators learn the basics of robotics. Taught by a robotics/computer science professional, the teachers receive detailed documentation on computer programming and robot building. They also participate in a discussion on integrating robotics into current curriculum.
Students then have about six weeks to create a team and create their robots. Most teams are comprised of 5-10 members. Teachers and mentors provide guidance and support while students do all construction and programming. The project culminates in a fast paced tournament where robots face off in regional competitions. Botball is played on a 4' x 8' game board where robots score points by placing black or white Ping Pong balls into a scoring position. The game board changes each year as does the scoring procedure. The robot must turn itself on and off, perform its programmed task, and utilize no assistance from humans or a remote control. An important component of the Botball program is the website research and design competition. Students are presented with a unique problem dealing with space travel and robotics. They utilize the Internet, their creativity, and website design to develop their own solution to the problem.
http://www.botball.org

Solar System Radio Explorer Kiosk [Top of Page]
Scientists from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center are developing an exhibit to teach museum visitors about radio emissions from the Sun and the planet Jupiter. The exhibit will be in the form of a kiosk about the size and shape of a video arcade game. Our intention, as far as we are able, is to make this exhibit accessible to a broad range of museum visitors. We have as our partners the Maryland Science Center, the site of the first kiosk, and the National Federation of the Blind, who will assist us to ensure that the kiosk is engaging to the visitor with visual impairments. The kiosk will be designed to be wheelchair and deaf accessible. This General Public activity is sponsored in part by the DCSGC.
http://radiojove.gsfc.nasa.gov/ssrek/

Website for Plasma Science and Technology [Top of Page]
The Website for all areas of plasma science and technology resides at the URL www.plasmas.org and receives more than 250,000 hits per month. This site was
created by Dr. Timothy Eastman of Plasmas International and, at NASA Goddard, with QSS Group, Inc. The site began in 1994 and has been steadily maintained and upgraded
since that time, most recently under support from an NSF grant. Topics covered include all aspects of plasma science and applications: space plasmas, fusion, technology.
Substantial material is provided that is appropriate for the general audience, middle-school, high school, college, graduate school, and researchers.
During the past year, this website was thoroughly checked for link integrity and up-to-date content along with addition of a local search engine.
Web pages include, among others, basics, technology, space, fusion, resources, references,topics, exhibition, high-energy density physics, astrophysics, alternate fusion concepts, sites worldwide, what are plasmas?, outreach and education, powers of 10, and photo gallery. Conference listings, announcements, and other timely materials are not included except through links.
http://www.plasmas.org

Venus Transit Family Night [Top of Page]
Presentations were made by S.M.A.R.T. and other DCSGC affiliates from the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, for parents, students, and interested general public, on space science and technology topics related to the transit of Venus. The Howard B. Owens Science Center provided their planetarium and simulated mission control center usage, as well as viewing of space science and technology-related exhibits.
http://muspin.gsfc.nasa.gov/archives/announce/2004-june/000026.html

Site last updated: November 12, 2007

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