National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

nasa strategy

STEM ENG

for

Science, Technology, Engineering and Math

AGEMENT

2020-2023

Approved by the NASA STEM Engagement Council

April 29, 2020
2

The NASA Strategy for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Engagement 

serves as a roadmap to frame and guide the Agency’s work to benefit students over the next three 

years. The scope of STEM engagement encompasses all endeavors Agency-wide to attract, engage 

and educate students and to support educators, educational institutions, and professional and 

student organizations. STEM engagement is comprised of a broad and diverse set of programs, 

projects, activities and products developed and implemented by Headquarters functional offices, 

Mission Directorates and Centers. 

This strategy builds on the direction and solid foundation defined and executed via the NASA 

Strategy for STEM Engagement (2018-2020), and aligns with the Federal Strategy for STEM 

Education and Engagement (2018-2023), Charting a Course for Success: America’s Strategy for 

STEM Education.

The NASA Strategy for STEM Engagement provides the context for STEM engagement within the 

NASA strategic plan, and describes the cross-cutting design principles foundational to this work. It 

serves as the framework for the Agency to provide immediate benefits to students, educators, and 

educational institutions, and to help build the next generation of explorers with the technical skills 

needed to continue pursuing NASA’s mission.

NASA’s STEM Engagement community works in close collaboration with NASA’s STEM workforce 

to provide exceptional experiences for students, and with NASA’s public engagement workforce 

to leverage opportunities for reaching students. NASA is committed to finding innovative ways to 

deliver content and engage students in STEM learning.

The NASA Strategy for STEM Engagement 2020-2023 serves as the roadmap for the Agency’s work 

devoted to STEM engagement, with defined objectives and strategies to drive requirements and 

alignment of all STEM engagement efforts, including programs, projects, activities and products.

PURPOSE AND SCOPE
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NASA VISION AND MISSION FOR STEM ENGAGEMENT

The vision, mission and strategic goals for STEM Engagement drive a 

systematic approach to move students across a spectrum of learning 

to inspire, engage, educate and eventually employ. 

VISION

We immerse students in NASA’s work, enhance STEM 

literacy and inspir

MISSION

e the next generation to explore.

We engage students in NASA’s mission.

STRATEGIC GOALS

STRATEGIC GOAL 1.0: 

Create unique opportunities

for a diverse set of students 

to contribute to NASA’s work 

in exploration and discovery.

STRATEGIC GOAL 2.0: 

Build a diverse future STEM 

workforce by engaging 

students in authentic learning 

experiences with NASA’s 

people, content and facilities.

STRATEGIC GOAL 3.0: 

Attract diverse groups of 

students to STEM through 

learning opportunities that 

spark interest and provide 

connections to NASA’s 

mission and work.

NASA’s unique contributions are vital to attracting the next generation of STEM 

professionals who will continue the nation’s legacy of exploration and discovery.
STEM ENGAGEMENT BENEFICIARIES

NASA’s work in STEM Engagement is focused 

on ultimately serving students. It is recognized 

that providing support and resources to 

educators and educational institutions is vital 

to effectively engage students. 

Ultimately, the beneficiaries of NASA’s 

investments and work in STEM Engagement 

are students in grades K-12, undergraduate 

and graduate levels.

K-12

UNDERGRADUATE

GRADUATE

STEM ENGAGEMENT ARCHITECTURE

Central to this strategy, our architecture is designed to enable relevant student contributions to 

NASA’s mission and work, which relies on mission drivers and requirements from NASA’s Mission 

Directorates. This will facilitate alignment of the appropriated STEM Engagement program, as well 

as existing and emerging relevant projects, activities and products across the Agency, resulting in a 

framework and strategy with more effective and coherent approaches and outcomes.

NASA STRATEGY FOR STEM ENGAGEMENT 4

NASA STEM ENgAgEMENT ArchiTEcTurE

ENAbliNg STudENT OppOrTuNiTiES & cONTribuTiONS

Strategic 

balanced 

portfolio

NASA-unique 

learning 

experiences

Student 

contributions to 

NASA’s work in 

action

STRATEGIC GOAL 1.0:

Create unique opportunities for a 

diverse set of students to contribute 

to NASA’s work in exploration and 

discovery

STRATEGIC GOAL 2.0:

Build a diverse future STEM 

workforce by engaging students in 

authentic learning experiences

STRATEGIC GOAL 3.0:

Attract diverse groups of students to 

STEM through learning opportunities 

that spark interest and provide 

connections to NASA’s 

mission and work

Evidence-based

strategies

Rigorous 

planning

Integrated 

operational 

model

Scalability to magnify naSa’S reach and impact

K-Elementary

School Middle School High School Undergraduate Graduate

NASA MiSSiON dirEcTOrATE

drivErS & rEquirEMENTS

bENEficiAriES Of NASA’

S

STEM ENgAgEMENT pOrTfOliO
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STRATEGIC GOALS, OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES

STRATEGIC GOAL 1.0: Create unique opportunities for a diverse set of 

students to contribute to NASA’s work in exploration and discovery.

OBJECTIVES:

1.1 Provide student work experiences that enable students to contribute to 

NASA’s missions and programs, embedded with NASA’s STEM practitioners. 

1.2 Create structured and widely-accessible, experiential learning 

opportunities for students to engage with NASA’s experts and help solve 

problems that are critical to NASA’s mission.

STRATEGIC GOAL 2.0: Build a diverse future STEM workforce by engaging 

students in authentic learning experiences with NASA’s people, content 

and facilities.

OBJECTIVES:

2.1 Develop and deploy a continuum of STEM experiences through authentic 

learning and research opportunities with NASA’s people and work to cultivate 

student interest, including students from underrepresented and underserved 

communities, in pursuing STEM careers and foster interest in aerospace 

fields. 

2.2 Design the portfolio of NASA STEM engagement opportunities to 

contribute toward meeting Agency workforce requirements and serving the 

nation’s aerospace and relevant STEM needs.

STRATEGIC GOAL 3.0: Attract diverse groups of students to STEM through 

learning opportunities that spark interest and provide connections to NASA’s 

mission and work.

OBJECTIVES:

3.1 Develop and deploy targeted opportunities and readily available NASA 

STEM engagement resources and content, to attract students to STEM.

3.2 Foster student exposure to STEM careers through direct and virtual 

experiences with NASA’s people and work.
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Strategies We Will Employ Toward Achieving Our Strategic Goals

Higher 

Education

1. Provide internships, fellowships, and other experiences for students 

to conduct scientific and technical research and perform design and 

development activities to fulfill NASA needs and priorities. 

2. Create challenges, competitions and other transdisciplinary 

experiential learning opportunities to enhance STEM student studies. 

K-12

1. Develop and deploy evidence-based opportunities to engage students 

in NASA-unique learning experiences beyond the classroom.

2. Enhance student STEM experiences in schools and other educational 

venues, using evidence-based strategies, NASA STEM practitioners, 

learning opportunities, content and resources.

3. Create and deploy authentic learning experiences and research 

opportunities for students to bolster their STEM studies and stimulate 

further interest and achievement. 

Institutional 

and Educator 

Support

1. Create mission-driven opportunities and collaborative initiatives 

that enable institutions to conduct innovative research, design and 

technology development to address discrete NASA needs.

2. Provide direct support to colleges and universities to strengthen 

research and development capacity and capabilities that stimulate 

contributions critical to NASA’s mission. 

3. Provide competitive opportunities for informal educational institutions 

and networks to reach and engage students.

Cross-Cutting

1. Build and sustain a network of strategic partnerships with industry, 

educational institutions and informal education organizations to 

enhance the impact of NASA’s investments and drive delivery of NASA 

STEM engagement services and products.

2. Increase visibility of and accessibility to NASA’s portfolio of STEM 

engagement opportunities and activities to broaden participation 

through the use of innovative media tools and platforms.

3. Cultivate and develop opportunities to leverage NASA’s STEM 

workforce, to actively participate in the Agency’s STEM engagement 

activities, and serve as mentors and role models.

4. Engage NASA human capital and aerospace industry leaders to 

identify workforce trends and mission priorities to influence the 

direction of current and future programming.
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STEM ENGAGEMENT DESIGN PRINCIPLES

At the core of NASA’s efforts in STEM 

Engagement are the following cross-cutting 

design principles. These principles guide 

the STEM engagement community in the 

planning and execution of work in direct 

support of achieving the objectives.

Design Principle Definition

Mission-driven 

authentic STEM 

experiences

Design experiential opportunities, design and development 

activities, research experiences, and/or products to enable 

students to contribute to NASA’s endeavors in exploration and 

discovery, and help solve problems and address needs and 

priorities that are critical to NASA’s mission.

Evidence-based 

practices

Use guidelines, strategies, frameworks, and proven practices 

informed by research, literature reviews, and/or evaluation to 

build the available body of facts (evidence) confirming program 

effectiveness and impact.

Diversity and 

inclusion

Infuse objectives and target strategies, where practicable, to 

attract and sustain diversity in student participation, and to 

incorporate approaches to foster and promote inclusion.

Scalability through 

partnerships and 

networks

Incorporate in the design of an activity or product, where 

appropriate, attributes and characteristics that provide 

opportunities to leverage partnerships and networks in order 

to magnify reach and impact.

Outcome-driven Establish outcomes and define corresponding metrics and 

measures to demonstrate success. 
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STEM ENGAGEMENT IN THE CONTEXT OF NASA’S MISSION

Given the state of the nation’s STEM workforce and projected demands in order to meet future 

needs, NASA clearly has a vested interest in helping to prepare and attract its future STEM 

professionals. Recent national and international tests show that in the last decade, U.S. students 

have demonstrated little or no growth in mathematics and remain ranked in the middle of advanced 

economies on international science and mathematics assessments1

. The number of women and 

underrepresented minorities earning STEM degrees has grown in broad science and engineering 

occupations over the last decade, however significant underrepresentation remains in areas critical 

to NASA like engineering and computer and mathematical sciences2

. Building upon strategies 

and design principles identified in the STEM Engagement Strategy, NASA is positioned within the 

nation’s STEM ecosystem to collaborate with other federal agencies, state and local government, 

industry, institutions and the non-profit sector to contribute to a shared goal of a globally competitive 

workforce. 

NASA’s unique contributions are vital to attracting and building a vibrant and diverse next generation 

STEM workforce that will continue the nation’s legacy of exploration and discovery. To execute its 

STEM engagement efforts, NASA will leverage its community of talented and dedicated education 

professionals, and its technical workforce, who together can inspire and engage youth and students 

in STEM.

NASA’s Contributions to the STEM Ecosystem

NSF Science and Engineering Indicators 2020

U.S. STEM Challenges NASA & Aerospace

Workforce Needs

Students & Educational

Institutions

NASA Mission Needs

• U.S. PISA (2018) scores 25th internationally

• Projected STEM R&D job growth 8.9% (2024)

• Women in S&E occupations <29%

• Underrepresented minorities in S&E <13% 

below their share of college educated workforce (17%)

• Authentic STEM learning experiences

• Research opportunities

• NASA workforce average age: 48.9

• Diverse pipeline

• Research

• Technology development

• Operations

1 Science Board, National Science Foundation. 2020. Science and Engineering Indicators 2020: The State of U.S Science and Engineering. 

NSB-2020-1. Alexandria, VA. Available at https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsb20201/.

2 National Science Foundation, National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics. 2019. Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering: 

2019. Special Report NSF 19-304. Alexandria, VA. Available at https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/wmpd.
SUMMARY

Over the next three years, NASA is committed to defining and implementing a portfolio of 

STEM Engagement programs, projects, activities and products directed toward achieving the 

objectives and strategies above, driving a coherent and coordinated set of activities across the 

Agency. Ultimately, the work dedicated to this strategy will contribute to achieving NASA’s STEM 

Engagement vision to immerse students in NASA’s work, attract students to STEM, and inspire the 

next generation to explore.

NASA’s bold mission and the nature of its innovative and pathfinding endeavors have the potential 

to inspire and engage youth and students to dream and pursue amazing goals. NASA is making 

valuable contributions to the federal sector’s goals for STEM education by providing mission-driven 

opportunities that will attract students to STEM and help build a vibrant and diverse next generation 

STEM workforce. 

Imagine America’s young people not only excited about their space program and more 

knowledgeable of our nation’s work in air and space, but as a result of NASA’s STEM Engagement 

efforts, mobilized to pursue STEM careers and actively engaged in working toward being scientists, 

engineers, explorers and astronauts.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NASA Headquarters

300 E Street SW

Washington, DC 20546

www.nasa.gov/centers/hq

www.nasa.gov

NP-2020-05-2856-HQ