National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

NASA ADVISORY COUNCIL STEM ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE

MIKE KINCAID

Dec. 4, 2018 ASSOCIATE ADMINISTRATOR FOR STEM ENGAGEMENT

NASA’S OFFICE OF STEM ENGAGEMENT UPDATE

Aimee Kennedy, Chair
Aimee Kennedy 

Senior Vice President, Education STEM & Philanthropy

Battelle Memorial Institute 

Michael Lach

Director, STEM Policy & Strategic Initiatives

University of Chicago

Ray Mellado

Founder & Chairman

Great Minds in STEM

Carl Person

Undergraduate Research Preceptor

Fayetteville State University

Cristin Dorgelo

President & CEO

Association of Science-Technology Centers

Daniel Dumbacher

Executive Director

American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics

Norman Fortenberry

Executive Director

American Society for Engineering Education

Darryl Williams

Senior Vice President of Science and Education

The Franklin Institute

Current Team: New Members:

NASA ADVISORY COUNCIL

STEM ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE INAUGURAL MEETING
Committee meeting 12.4.18: visit from Administrator Bridenstine

NASA’S OFFICE OF STEM ENGAGEMENT
STEM ENGAGEMENT TRANSFORMATION

FY18 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Systemic Programmatic

Chartered and established STEM Engagement Council. 

(03/30/18) Convened inaugural session of the Council. 

(04/12/18)

Completed development of new STEM Engagement NASA 

Policy Directive. (02/21/18) Will undergo formal agency process. 

(Sep-Oct 2018) 

Established new Office of STEM Engagement. (effective 

08/29/18) 

Completed definition of new performance measurement and 

assessment approach. (07/15/18)

Conducted analysis of existing infrastructure, tools & systems. 

(03/15/18)

Developed NASA Strategy for STEM Engagement. (Council 

approval 08/22/18)

Streamlined and improved agency websites, platforms and 

social media tools. 

Developed and deployed a new NASA Internships and 

Fellowships website for students. 

Put in place an integrated program management approach for 

EPSCoR, MUREP and Space Grant, with corresponding staff 

changes. 

Overhauled SEAP, incorporating significant changes to approach 

for awards to informal education institutions (TEAM II) and 

innovative new mission-driven pilot initiatives.

Achieved improvements in interfaces and relationships with 

Space Grant Consortia and their key stakeholders. 

Streamlined MUREP with more focused, strategic award 

initiatives. 

Incorporated more rigorous, systematic program and fiscal 

management practices. 
Committee meeting 12.4.18

• Two Recommendations

• One Finding

• One Observation

NASA’S OFFICE OF STEM ENGAGEMENT
MISSION-DRIVEN STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT
NEW

ARCHITECTUREENABLINGSTUDENT

OPPORTUNITIES & CONTRIBUTIONS

NASA MISSION DIRECTORATE

DRIVERS & REQUIREMENTS

Evidence-

based 

strategies

Rigorous 

planning

Integrated 

operational 

model 

FOCUSAREAS

Create unique opportunities 

for students to contribute to 

NASA’s work.

Build a diverse future STEM 

workforce by engaging 

students in authentic learning 

experiences.

Strengthening public 

understanding by enabling 

powerful connections to 

NASA’s mission and work.

SCALABILITY TO MAGNIFY NASA’S REACH AND IMPACT

Strategic, 

balanced 

portfolio

NASA-unique 

learning 

experiences

Student 

contributions to 

NASA’s work in 

action

K-Elementary 

School Middle School High School Undergraduate Graduate

BENEFICIARIES OF NASA’S

STEM ENGAGEMENT PORTFOLIO
FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION 5-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN

Purpose: 

Coordinate federal STEM education strategy and 

investment, and serve as a ‘North Star’ to guide state 

and local STEM education initiatives

Opportunity for Agency Input:

• FC-STEM Agency Meetings: August, September and 

October

• Co-STEM Meeting: Thursday, November 15th

• FC-STEM Meeting: Friday, November 16th

• Agencies/OMB Review: November 2018

• Roll-out of Strategic Plan: December 4
Short Title of Recommendation: Federal STEM Plan

Recommendation: We recommend that NASA fully engage in its responsibilities outlined in the 

Federal STEM plan.

Major Reasons for the Recommendation: As a result of their work, NASA has a unique 

opportunity to inspire the country, and to broaden participation in the future STEM workforce. 

The agency has extensive involvement in leadership of the plan. Administrator Bridenstine cochairs CO-STEM, and Associate Administrator Kincaid co-chairs FC-STEM. As a federal 

agency, NASA is required to participate in the STEM plan, and NASA agreed to be a contributor 

for three of the nine objectives in the Plan.

Consequences of No Action on the Recommendation:

Not only would NASA be out of compliance, but more importantly, the opportunity to inspire and 

catalyze the country around the exciting work of the Agency would be wasted. 

RECOMMENDATION #1
FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION 5-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN

NASA:

• Foster STEM Ecosystems that Unite 

Communities

• Increase Work-Based Learning and 

Training through Educator-Employer 

Partnerships 

• Encourage Transdisciplinary Learning 
FINDING #1

Finding:

The Office of STEM Engagement is taking steps to identify and amplify NASA’s unique achievements. 

Major Reasons for the Finding:

• SpaceSTEM forum

• Website redesign

• Aligning with and co-funding STEM activities with STMD

• Consolidation of program management of MUREP, EpsCor, and Space Grant for the express purpose of 

increasing knowledge sharing across the programs.

• Integration of STEM engagement activities across the three programs above—and NextGen STEM
https://spacestem.nasa.gov/

Space STEM Forum: 

NASA HQ – September 19, 2018

Theme: 

Small Steps to Giant Leaps, Looking Forward to the Future of Space Exploration 

Purpose: 

Identify opportunities to collaborate and leverage individual STEM engagement activities 

and efforts with industry and professional organizations commemorating Apollo’s 50th

Abstracts: 

Approximately 28 abstracts were selected, 17 involving national efforts and 11 involving 

resources and capabilities

Website: 

Collaborative work website and public website has been created to facilitate 

implementation of outcomes 
SPACE STEM FORUM
SPACE STEM FORUM-THEMATIC CONCEPT

Exciting events of July 16-24, 

1969 are viewed, re-enacted 

and celebrated 50 years later, 

including when man first 

stepped foot on the moon on 

July 20.

Exhibits and activities for 

students “looking forward” 

highlight plans allowing the 

return humans to the moon, 

establish a lunar gateway and 

have humans land on Mars 

for the first time.
SPACE STEM FORUM-PARTNERS AND WORK SCHEDULE

Organizations

ASTC

Arizona State University

Challenger Center

Children’s Museum of 

Indianapolis

Columbia Memorial Science 

Center

Conrad Foundation

Cosmosphere

Discovery Center, Bridgeport

Lunar and Planetary Institute

Museum of Flight, Seattle

Museum of Science, Boston

National Air and Space Museum

National Park Service

Orlando Science Center

Saint Louis Science Center

Space Foundation

U. S. Space and Rocket Center

ScienCenter

Schedule

Bi-weekly meetings through December

Monthly/as needed in New Year

Plan to roll out initiative in winter 2019
UPCOMING OSTEM WEBSITE UPDATES
Slider to highlight key events 

and/or activities. Can be self-

guided or auto-rotate.

Slider/scroll (arrows) to 

highlight major content 

areas/groupings. Will need 

to determine maximum 

number to show for each 

(4+) 

Provides users direct access to the 

search tool. The collection of 

educational resources will include 

opportunities (timely events). 

New keyword autocomplete 

functionality (suggested results).

Drop down menu introduces 

a broad range of topics or 

categories based on 

audience. 
18

Mission-Driven Programs Enabling STEM Engagement NASA’

S

THEMATIC

AREAS

K-Elementary School Middle School High School Undergraduate Graduate

STEM ENGAGEMENT

BENEFICIARIES

SPACE GRANT

• National network of 52 Consortia 

with 850 Affiliate members

• Stimulates cooperative programs 

among universities, industry, 

federal/state/local governments

• Encourages interdisciplinary 

education and research programs 

• Incorporates State priorities, 

needs, and goals

MUREP

• Limited to Minority-Serving 

Institutions

• Increases retention of underserved 

and underrepresented groups in 

STEM

• Enhances infrastructure at MSI 

institutions

• Portfolio with 7 funded elements

Next Gen STEM

• Informal education and K-12 STEM 

engagement initiatives aligned to 

mission priorities

• Richer, more comprehensive STEM 

engagement opportunities

• NASA’s museum alliance

EPSCoR

• 27 eligible jurisdictions (States and 

Territories)

• Contributes to development of 

research infrastructure and 

capabilities

• Fosters partnerships between 

NASA research entities, industry, 

and academic institutions 

• Incorporates state priorities, needs, 

and goals

Aligned program management
NEXTGEN STEM CHANGES INITIATED IN FY2018

 Revamped approach for Informal Solicitation

 Focus on two Agency themes

 Required involvement of affiliate networks of partners to expand reach 

 Initiated proof-of-concept pilot activities

 Focus on two themes above plus an additional Agency theme

 Aligned to evidence-based education strategies

 Work assigned based on Center skills and capabilities

 Sunsetting SEAP activities no longer in alignment with new approach to 

STEM Engagement

 Insuring systematic process to capture performance, key 

accomplishments, and findings

THEMES

• Small Steps to Giant Leaps: 

Looking to the Future of NASA 

Aeronautics Innovation 

• Moon to Mars: Human 

Exploration Beyond Low Earth 

Orbit

• Development of Commercial 

Crew Program Capabilities
Sustained 

STEM 

Engagement 

Experiences

•Citizen Science 

Challenge

Supporting 

STEM 

Engagement 

Activities

•Student Activities

•Virtual Connections

•Student Digital 

Badges

Professional 

Development 

Modules

•F2F EPD

•SME SATERN 

Course

•EPDC Webinars

•Digital Badging

Digital Media 

Development

•Social Media Posts

•Educational Videos

Culminating 

Events

•Galveston, TX 

“Booming”

•Citizen Science 

Showcase

Small Steps to 

Giant Leaps:

A focus on the Future of NASA 

Aeronautics Innovation

Quiet Supersonic Flight– X-59 

QueSST

Lead Center: Armstrong 

Teaming Centers: Glenn, Langley 

NEXTGEN STEM PILOT ACTIVITY 1
NEXTGEN STEM PILOT ACTIVITY 2 

Sustained 

STEM 

Engagement 

Experiences

•Engineering Design 

Challenges

•Coding Opportunity 

Supporting 

STEM 

Engagement 

Activities

•New and refreshed 

STEM content for K12

•Incorporates reading 

and writing

•Student Digital 

Badges

Professional 

Development 

Modules

•Teachers guides

•Virtual and 

experiential 

opportunities

•EPDC Webinars

•Digital Badging

Digital Media 

Development

•CCP App

•New VR content

•Virtual field trips with 

access to NASA and 

partner facilities

Culminating 

Events •2019 Crew Launches

Developing 

Commercial Crew 

Program Capabilities

A Focus on Human Spaceflight to 

Space Station with our Commercial 

Partners

Lead Center: Kennedy 

Teaming Centers: Johnson, Langley
NEXTGEN STEM PILOT ACTIVITY 3 

Sustained 

STEM 

Engagement 

Experiences

•Mobile App 

Visualization 

Challenge

•Student Launch

Supporting 

STEM 

Engagement 

Activities

•Student Activities

•Student Digital 

Badges

Professional 

Development 

Modules

•EPDC Webinars

•Digital Badging

Digital Media 

Development

•Social Media

•Educational Videos

Culminating 

Events

•SLS-4 & AA2 Tests

•Student Challenge 

Showcases

Moon to Mars:

A Focus on Transportation 

Systems for Moon to Mars 

Missions

Lead Center: Johnson 

Teaming Centers: Marshall, Stennis, Langley
RECOMMENDATION #2

Short Title of Recommendation: Spark that leads to Engagement 

Recommendation: The Office of STEM Engagement should create a deep and comprehensive document that 

describes what we know about spark, STEM engagement, and motivation, and use it to create the foundational 

evidence for the Office.

Major Reasons for the Recommendation: NASA is uniquely positioned to inspire and motivate the country 

with their work. As good stewards of a limited budget, NASA strives to maximize its investments. If NASA could 

better understand spark, STEM engagement, and motivation, it could be more effective—basing investment 

decisions on evidence of what works. The Committee feels there is sufficient ambiguity in the field about spark, 

STEM engagement, and motivation that the Agency should invest in a deeper review of the evidence-based 

strategies and practices that promote spark, STEM engagement, and motivation.

Consequences of No Action on the Recommendation: Lack of action on this recommendation relegates NASA 

to using secondary indicators of effectiveness, and could lead to less effective investment decisions. NASA will 

have limited impact, will be at risk of duplication of ineffective activities. 
National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

NASA ADVISORY COUNCIL STEM ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE
OBSERVATION

Observation: The budget and statute that governs the Office of STEM Engagement appears to limit their ability to 

nationally scale their programs and outreach. The majority of the budget allocated to the Office of STEM 

Engagement is partitioned to specific categories of institutions and programs. The committee plans to learn more 

about the current efforts of Office to achieve national scale, and recognizes that understanding evidence-based 

practices for sparking STEM engagement and motivation is a critical first step in the discussion around scale. 
Questions, Feedback and Input

from Council Members
National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

THANK YOU!