National Aeronautics and 

SpaceAdministration

NAC STEM 

Engagement 

Meeting

SEPTEMBER 30, 2022

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NAC STEM ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING

Monday , August 1, 2 pm to 5 pm Eastern

Open to the Public

Kristin De Vivo

Executive Director

Lucas Education Research

Jamarius Reid, Student Representative

President, Student Government Association

Embry-Riddle Worldwide

Agenda:

• Opening Remarks by Chair

• OSTEM Recent Events

• Revisit NAC Topics of 

Interest

• STEM Engagement 2022 

Priorities: Partnerships

• Formulation of New Findings 

and Recommendations

• Other Related Topics
Opening Remarks by Chair

Office of STEM Engagement: Recent Events

NAC Topics of Interest

Partnerships

Discussion

AGENDA
Opening Remarks by Chair

Office of STEM Engagement: Recent Events

NAC Topics of Interest

Partnerships

Discussion

AGENDA
Opening Remarks by Chair

Office of STEM Engagement: Recent Events

NAC Topics of Interest

Partnerships

Discussion

AGENDA
loo

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OSTEM is making substantive 

contributions to the National Space 

Council (NSpC) priority for STEM 

Education efforts: 

• Co-chair and membership on new 

Interagency Space STEM Task Force

• Active participation in drafting the Space 

STEM Roadmap

NASA will be a key contributor in execution 

of actions outlined in the roadmap

NATIONAL SPACE COUNCIL (NSPC)

Remarks during recent NSpC: 

Deputy OMB Director, Nani Coloretti stated“...the budget request 

seeks to broaden and diversify student participation in STEM to inspire 

and develop the next generation of scientists, engineers, and 

explorers...these investments are critical for delivering on the 

administration’s priorities.” Vice President Harris responded by saying 

“as we often say, the budget should reflect our priorities.” 
NASA STEM Engagement 

Back-to-School Campaign 2022

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Katherine Brown

Public Affairs Officer, NASA's Office of STEM Engagement
BACK TO SCHOOL

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Campaign Overview

Highlights

Week 1

Downlink Promo

211,000 Impressions

2,000 Engagements

41,000 Views

Week 2

Victor Glover BTS Message

230,000 Impressions

3,500 Engagements

47,000 Views

Week 3

ASC Twitch

81,000 Impressions

2,300 Engagements 28 39,500 Views (on Twitch) agency accounts participated 

in the campaign.

Week 1

9 Posts

448,000 Impressions

7,000 Engagements

57,000 Views

Week 2

7 Posts

889,000 Impressions

10,000 Engagements

71,000 Views

Week 3

7 Posts

392,000 Impressions

6,000 Engagements

52,000 Views

Totals

23 Posts

1,730,000 Impressions

23,000 Engagements

180,000 Views
BACK TO SCHOOL

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Back to School 2021 Back To School 2022

14 NASA Accounts Participated

125 posts from NASA STEM

Across Facebook & Twitter for the 3-Week Period:

39 Million Reach

2,000 Follower Gain

28 NASA Accounts Participated

45 posts from NASA STEM

Across Facebook & Twitter for the 3-Week Period:

76.8 Million Reach

2,256 Follower Gain

Side-By-Side
BACK TO SCHOOL

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NASA Experts Answer "When 

Will I Ever Use This?"

Surprisingly STEM: Marine 

Biologists @ NASA Kennedy

Department of Education Collaboration

Shared on nasa.gov homepage and 

social media

YouTube Views: 19,700

Currently #5 most viewed on our page

Earned 203 subscribers

Premiere of Surprisingly STEM 

series

YouTube Views: 8,700

Other STEM Social Views: 13,500

Earned 93 subscribers

Surprisingly STEM: Soft 

Robotics @ NASA Langley

Second episode of Surprisingly 

STEM

YouTube Views: 22,000

Earned 396 subscribers
Opening Remarks by Chair

Office of STEM Engagement: Recent Events

NAC Topics of Interest

Partnerships

Discussion

AGENDA
• The Council recommends continued emphasis on the NASA STEM Strategic Plan 

(NASA Strategy for STEM Engagement, 2020 – 2023), especially integration and use 

across the NASA Mission Directorates.

• The Council recommends that the NASA Administrator and NASA Mission 

Directorates, along with the NASA Office of Procurement, should ensure that 

NASA assists building research capabilities and infrastructure at Minority 

Serving Institutions (MSIs).

• The Council recommends that the NASA, other Federal STEM agencies, and other 

partners (current and potential) should collaborate to support the STEM education 

community in addressing the disruption of schools and other identified challenges 

resulting from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. NASA alone cannot solve this.

NAC STEM ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS – FEB 2022
NASA’S COMMITMENT TO DEIA

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“NASA is fully committed to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, 

and Accessibility (DEIA) for our entire workforce and all 

our workplaces. This means our Agency will continually 

prioritize the following: reinforcing a culture in which our 

employees feel they can be authentic, welcomed, 

respected, included, and engaged; maintaining an 

environment where our employees consistently and 

systematically receive fair, just, and impartial treatment; 

and ensuring our employees can fully and 

independently access facilities, information and 

communication technology, programs, and services.”

September 29, 2021

Sen. Bill Nelson

NASA Administrator
NASA STEM ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY AND DIRECTION

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NASA Strategic Objective 4.3

Build the next generation of explorers.

Engage students to build a diverse future 

STEM workforce.

NASA STEM Engagement Goals:

1. Create unique opportunities for a diverse 

set of students to contribute to NASA’s 

work in exploration and discovery.

2. Build a diverse future STEM workforce 

by engaging students in authentic 

learning experiences with NASA’s 

people, content, and facilities.

3. Attract diverse groups of students to 

STEM through learning opportunities that 

spark interest and provide connections to 

NASA’s mission and work.

Focus Areas:

• Broaden student 

participation to 

increase diversity, 

equity, and inclusion 

in STEM through 

NASA opportunities 

and activities.

• Build strategic 

partnerships and 

networks, expanding 

NASA’s STEM 

ecosystem to magnify 

reach and impact.

• Expand NASA 

contributions in 

engaging K-12 

studentsin 

STEM pathways.
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FOCUS AREA: BROADENING STUDENT PARTICIPATION

Overarching Goals:

1. Enhance communications and stakeholder engagement and 

build networks and relationships.

2. Strengthen practices and systems.

3. Focus on metrics and evaluation to effectively measure 

progress.

4. Drive a collective focus across NASA’s STEM Engagement 

community.

Purpose: Provides an integrated set of efforts for broadening student participation to increase 

diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM through NASA opportunities and activities.
EFFORTS TO BROADEN STUDENT PARTICIPATION

• Reexamining existing efforts

• Reevaluating target goals and developing a formalized 

feedback process

• Integrating DEIA requirements language in solicitations 

and contract awards

• FY 22 performance assessment and evaluation studies

• Expanding partnerships with other federal agencies

(NSF, DoD, ED, NOAA)

• Strategically leveraging partners, networks and 

influencers to expand reach to underrepresented/ 

underserved students

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Where Are We Headed?
Agency Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and 

Accessibility (DEIA) Initiative

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Diane DeTroye

Manager, Portfolio Integration, NASA's Office of STEM Engagement
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Agency-wide DEIA Initiative

* Administration Executive Orders *

External Internal

Green = Plan has been developed or is in work

Yellow = OSTEM will be a part of the plan

Gray = EO does not involve OSTEM

EO13985

Advancing Racial Equity 

and Support for 

Underserved Communities

• Equity Action Plan

EO14041

Advancing Educational 

Equity, Excellence, and 

Economic Opportunity 

Through Historically Black 

Colleges and Universities

OMB Memo 22-03

Advancing Equity in 

Federal Procurement

EO14049

Advancing Educational 

Equity, Excellence, and 

Economic Opportunity For 

Native Americans 

and Strengthening Tribal 

Colleges and Universities

EO14020

Gender Policy Council

• Gender Equity Plan

EO14031

Advancing Equity, Justice, 

and Opportunity for Asian 

Americans, Native 

Hawaiians, and Pacific 

Islanders

EO14050

Advancing Educational 

Equity, Excellence, and 

Economic Opportunity for 

Black Americans

EO14045

Advancing Educational 

Equity, Excellence, and 

Economic Opportunity for 

Hispanics

EO14069

Advancing Economy, 

Efficiency, and 

Effectiveness in Federal 

Contracting by Promoting 

Pay Equity and 

Transparency

EO13175

Consultation and 

Coordination With Indian 

Tribal Governments 

Presidential Memorandum

Tribal Consultation Plan

EO14035

DEIA in the Federal 

Workforce

• DEIA Strategic Plan

EO13988

Preventing and 

Combating Discrimination 

on the Basis of Gender 

Identity or Sexual 

Orientation

Internal &

External
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OSTEM and Agency-wide DEIA Initiatives 

Understand 

the 

requirements 

and scope of 

the Executive 

Orders

Work 

collaboratively 

with Agency 

Lead offices and 

other Agency 

organizations in 

the 

development of 

plans

Leverage 

existing work 

and activities 

where possible

• Support the 

establishment of 

new plans, 

activities, 

measures, 

metrics

Ensure our 

efforts are 

accurately 

reflected
Minority University Research and Education Project

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Torry A. Johnson

Manager, Minority University Research and Education Project,

NASA's Office of STEM Engagement
MUREP VISION

To enhance the 

research, academic

and technological 

capabilities at MSIs by 

providing authentic 

student learning 

experiences related to 

NASA missions that 

contribute to a

diverse future STEM 

Workforce.

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FY 22 MUREP ENGAGEMENT UPDATE – WHAT'S NEW?

MSI Entry Point Activities –

Planning Grants, Prizes, Challenges

❖ MSI Space Accelerator / SMD 

Challenge

❖ MUREP Small Business Technology 

Transfer Research (MSTTR) / STMD 

Planning Grant

❖ HEOMD / ARMD Planning Grant 

Dedicated Solicitations for HBCU, 

PBI & Tribal / Indigenous Institutions

❖ MUREP Precollege Summer Institute 

(PSI)

❖ Data Science Equity Access Priority 

(DEAP) / SMD

❖ MUREP for American Indian and 

Alaska Native STEM Engagement 

(MAIANSE) Connect

Broadening Participation

❖ Graduate Degrees for Minorities in 

Engineering and Science (GEM) 

Fellowships

❖ Women’s College / University effort

Pending Partnerships

❖ Advancing Minorities Interest in 

Engineering (AMIE)

❖ United Negro College Fund 

(UNCF)

❖ Thurgood Marshall College 

Fund (TMCF)
FY22 NEW MUREP AWARDS

MUREP PSI 

in Partnership with 

Department of Education

$640k / 10 Awards

Designed to strengthen support for 

students in pre-college 

summer programs 

MAIANSE CONNECT 

– Indigenous 

Institutions

Aimed at fostering connections 

between Indigenous culture 

and NASA.

$1.3M / 4 Awards

MSI Space Accelerator 

Challenge 

in Partnership with SMD

NASA’s first MSI Space Accelerator

designed to advance agency goals to 

improve future science missions.

$150k / 3 Faculty

- Access to incubators and venture 

capital mentoring

- 10 weeks to commercialize Idea

MUREP High Volume in 

Partnership with ARMD

Seeks to support the development of 

a broader technical aerospace highvolume manufacturing workforce 

while increasing interest in related 

entrepreneurship opportunities. 

$3M / 4 Awards
NASA MSI Exchange: 

Leveraging Technology to Drive Participation

SERVICES

▪ Bi-Weekly Newsletter

▪ MSI Training & Development

▪ Data Collection & Reporting 

KEY FEATURES & BENEFITS

▪ Official NASA MSI Listing 

▪ MSI Capability Statements

▪ MSI Awareness & Connectivity

▪ Powers Your Search for Diverse Academic Collaborators!
MUREP AWARD OBLIGATIONS BY MSI TYPE

(Grants & Cooperative Agreements)

FY21

AANAPISI

2%

ANNH

1%

HBCU

32%

HSI

33%

PBI

5%

TCU

6%

Multiple

Categories

21%

FY22

AANAPISI

4%

Multiple 

Categories

20%

HBCU

23%

HSI

47%

NASNTI

0.5%

PBI

0.5%

TCU

5%
FY2021 Map of MUREP MSI Engagement 

MSI Exchange 

Internship Placement

Active Awardees 
NASA/MSI TECHNOLOGY INFUSION ROAD TOUR

Road Tour Stats – FY21/FY22

❖ 3 Events 

❖ 131 MSIs Represented

❖ 267 Faculty & Staff Participants

❖ 106 Business Partners Engaged

Designed to address NASA’s one percent (1%) 

federal contracting goal with HBCU/MSI 

partners.

Objectives

❖ Showcase HBCU / MSI Research Capabilities

❖ Matchmaking w/Govt Agencies, SBIR/STTR, 

Small Business & Prime Contractors

❖ Relationship Building to Enhance Partnerships 

& Maximize Opportunities for Success!

Key Agency Partners

Internal:

External:
MUREP Upcoming Events

NASA Partnering with White House Initiative to Advance HBCUs and Scholars! 

HBCU WEEK ENGAGEMENT:

Mini NASA MITTIC Student Pitch 

Competition 

▪ Student Poster Session

▪ Showcase Spinoff Technology 

Concepts

▪ ”Space Tank” Panel and Judges

▪ Winner Cash Prize & NASA 

Immersion Experience

NASA Exhibits 

▪ MSI & Student Opportunities

NASA Sessions 

▪ HBCU Agency Collaboration

▪ Federal Contracting Career 

Recruitment
Opening Remarks by Chair

Office of STEM Engagement: Recent Events

NAC Topics of Interest

Partnerships

Discussion

AGENDA
NASA STEM Engagement Partnerships 

Overview

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Rob LaSalvia

Partnership Manager, NASA's Office of STEM Engagement
AGENDA

1. Connection to Agency Portfolio

2. STEM Engagement Partnership Strategy

– Goals and Priorities

– Coordination and Process

– Selection Criteria

3. Summary of Engagement

4. Mission Collaboration: Artemis Engagement

5. Trends and Recommendations for Improvement
CONNECTION TO THE AGENCY PORTFOLIO

NASA Support Structures (STEM Engagement)

Grants and Cooperative 

Agreements

• NASA Defines 

Requirements and 

Provides financial 

support

• Space Grant

• EPSCOR

• MUREP

• TEAMS II

Networks and Alliances

• NASA led support 

structure to 

share mission 

content and direct 

services to 

institutions or 

educators.

• Museum and 

Informal 

Education 

Alliance

• Astro-camp

Partnerships

• NASA and External 

organizations 

collaborate on mutually 

beneficial goals.

• Level of effort is 

substantial enough that 

a formal agreement is 

generally necessary.

• No NASA funding is 

provided.
STEM ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY (2020-PRESENT)

INPUTS

NASA:

• NASA mission data and imagery

• Subject matter expertise (technical, NASA 

missions/programs)

• Subject matter expertise (NASA STEM 

education and related disciplines)

• Role models and real-life examples of STEM

Partners:

• Subject matter expertise (target audience)

• Subject matter expertise (product/activity 

development)

• Audiences and networks: students and 

educators

OUTPUTS

• National campaigns (social media, 

platforms, traditional media)

• Products showcasing STEM careers 

and role models

• Products and activities designed to 

educate and engage students

• Products and activities designed to 

support educators in STEM topics

• Student challenges, competitions, 

citizen science or research 

opportunities

• Evaluation reports, best practices, 

lessons learned, publications

OUTCOMES

• Engage students across the United 

States in opportunities connected 

to NASA missions, themes or 

programs

• Bolster external efforts that 

contribute to federal STEM goals.

• Broaden participation of students 

from groups traditionally 

underrepresented in STEM careers
ENTERPRISE-WIDE PARTNERSHIP COORDINATION

Guiding Documents:

• Agency Partnership Handbook (Update in Progress)

• STEM Engagement Partnerships Practical Guide (2021)

• STEM Engagement Partnership Best Practices (2021)

• Open Partnership Call (Annual Updates)

• STEM Engagement Partnership Rubric (2021)

Statement of 

Interest Received

Score Against 

Rubric

Initial 

Recommendation 

Shared with 

OSTEM Leadership

Discuss in SE 

Working Group

PAM Routing 

Process (included 

impact offices)

Guiding Documents:

• Agency Partnership Handbook (Update in Progress)

• STEM Engagement Partnerships Practical Guide (2021)

• STEM Engagement Partnership Best Practices (2021)

• Open Partnership Call (Annual Updates)

• STEM Engagement Partnership Rubric (2021)

New Partnership Review Process (STEM Engagement)
PARTNERSHIP SELECTION CRITERIA

Office of STEM Engagement releases on 

open call for partnerships. This 

document is updated annually based 

upon feedback from the SEC and OGC.

• Goals

• Priorities

• Supports Available

• Selection Process and Criteria

• Format for Statement of Interest 

Submission

• Timeline

• Shell Agreement https://www.nasa.gov/stem/partnerships/index.html

Selection Criteria (Top Level)

Alignment to Goals

Benefit to NASA and Partner

Target Audience

Diversity and Inclusion Plan

Intended Outcomes

Anticipated Return on Non-Financial Investment

Timeline
Engagement with 119 Organizations (April 2021-May 2022)

25 Active Non-Reimbursable Space Act Agreements

21 Informal collaborations to share content or engage 

students

FY2022 NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

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16 Projects (completed or in-progress) about the Artemis I 

Mission

Key Numbers

7M+ Digital engagements (Content Downloads, 

Education Multi-Media Uses and Virtual Event 

Participants)*

* Source: Partner Provide Metrics for SY 20-21

Example Collaborators
NASA STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

HIGHLIGHTED BY NATIONAL SPACE COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 2022

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https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefingroom/statementsreleases/2022/09/09/fact-sheet-vicepresident-harris-announcescommitments-to-inspire-prepare-andemploy-the-space-workforce/
• STEAM Read and Draw Event with 

Harper Kids and Crayola Education 

connecting the Artemis I Mission and 

the iconic children's book.

• Garnered 144M+ Social Media 

Impressions

Crayola Education: Good Night 

Moon

COSI Learning Lunchboxes

• Innovative collaboration to 

distribute STEM kits through food 

banks to underserved students.

• Over 75,000 Artemis I themed kits 

have been distributed to students 

and families to date.

PARTNERSHIP EXAMPLES

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Google

• Collection of 65 NASA Developed 

3D Models and support resources for 

educators and the public.

• Launched on Sept 13, 2022, is now 

featured in Search, Classroom and Arts 

and Culture.
• Collaboration to introduce Pre-K and 

elementary students to STEM concepts 

and careers.

• Scheduled release of Space Themed 

Playlist in October 2022.

• You tube Feature "Rhymes Through 

Time- My Best" garnered 1.5 Million

views.

Microsoft NOGGIN/Viacom

• NASA supported Microsoft in use of 

Artemis data sets and themes as a 

real-world context for online 

coursework.

• 65K users have earned badges. 

Courses have a 4.8 (out of 

5) approval rating.

PARTNERSHIP EXAMPLES

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STEM Next Opportunity Fund

• Collaboration to support the Million 

Girls Moonshot in afterschool 

programs through Curriculum Support 

Resources, STEM Mentors and 

Educator Training and Support

• ISS downlink and watch party reached 

over 24K students and educators
• Collaboration to equip students and 

educators with access to resources and 

events.

• Create NASA Themed Channel 

and playlists resulting 

in 4.5 million uses of NASA created or 

inspired products in the platform.

Girl Scouts Discovery Education

• NASA supported the Girls Scouts in 

their first virtual STEM summit:

• Utilized 17 NASA speakers

• Reached 7,000 girls during the 5-hour 

event.

• Collaborated on an Artemis I essay 

contest which recently announced 90 

national winners.

PARTNERSHIP EXAMPLES

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LEGO Education

• Build to Launch Series focuses on open 

ended student design and 

creativity. The 10-week series 

introduces students to a variety of 

NASA STEM careers.

• This Artemis themed series has 

engaged over 4,000 teachers
Upcoming "Connected" Experiences

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Hour of Code

(Week of Dec 5, 2022)- The Hour of 

Code occurs each year around the 

birthday of Admiral Grace Hooper, a 

pioneer in computer programming 

with the US Navy. This year Hour of 

Code will feature space exploration 

as a Central Theme.

NASA is working with Code.org and 

multiple partners to:

• Share NASA Themed Coding 

Activities with Students

• Offer NASA Roles models in live 

and pre-recorded student 

engagements

• Raise Awareness of Coding and 

related Computer and Data 

Science Careers

Lights on for Afterschool 

(Oct 20, 2022)

Lights On is an annual celebration 

of the importance of afterschool 

programs across the 

country. NASA is leading an effort 

to raise the awareness of STEM 

careers.

NASA will work with multiple 

partners to:

• Host virtual and in-person events 

and connected watch parties

• Release supporting activities and 

career profiles

Introduce a Girl to 

Engineering Day (Feb 23, 

2023)

This day encourages 

volunteers, educators, and 

others to act as role models and 

facilitate engineering activities to 

show girls how engineers 

change our world.

NASA will connect with multiple 

partners to host national virtual 

events and local opportunities.
SAMPLING OF PARTNERSHIP REACH (SY20-21)

Org Digital Reach Type

Discovery Education 4,700,000 Products and Videos Used

NOGGIN 859,756 Video Views

Microsoft Learn 70,000 Product Usage

Ryan’s World 1,500,000 Video Views

Frito-Lay 71,000 Product Downloads

Girls Scouts 7,000 Presentation Attendees

Tynker 15,000 Video Views

Peanuts 92,000 Product Downloads

Total 7,314,756
PARTNERSHIP TREND 1: STEM CAREER PATHWAYS (FOCUS ON D&I)

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Trend Overview Almost all external organizations seek support in identifying NASA role models to 

share their career journey and specifics of a STEM job. The primary request is for 

video content that demonstrates the diversity of NASA’s scientific and technical 

workforce. Most partners prefer leveraging existing video for products, but a small 

percentage have resources to create their own. 

NASA Contribution 

Summary

• Many organizations were able to leverage existing videos or information under 

Agency Media Usage Guidelines. NASA had to provide significant support in 

identifying videos as NASA does not have a common location for these 

resources. 

• OSTEM worked with Mission Offices and Centers to identify SME’s when new 

content creation was requested. 

Discussion 

Question:

How might we better leverage and position video profiles for outside groups?
PARTNERSHIP TREND 2: INTERNSHIPS

Trend Overview Outside organizations seek agreements that place students in NASA internships or 

research experiences. In some instances, organizations provide stipends for 

students. The current NASA internship program is over-subscribed and the Agency 

has limitations on available mentors. Outside agreements place an unfunded 

burden on OSTEM coordinators who assist with mentor recruitment and 

onboarding.

NASA Contribution 

Summary

• NASA points organizations without funding to the internship portal and 

encourages them to have their students apply.

• NASA has an inconsistent approach to organizations who offer funding for 

students. OSTEM, Centers and Missions pursue individual agreements. 

Discussion 

Question

What criteria might NASA consider for externally supported interns working in 

Centers and Missions?
PARTNERSHIP TREND 3: STEM+

Trend Overview Outside organizations request NASA support for content that cuts across many 

disciplines. The most frequent examples include Computer Science, Coding, Data 

Science and the Arts.

NASA Contribution 

Summary

• NASA supported external request, were possible, by providing access to 

technical experts and role models to help modify existing content or review new 

content for accuracy.

• Access to NASA data sets for educational purposes represents a potential area 

of growth. My NASA Data (SMD) is one of few opportunities responsive to these 

request and is very well-regarded by partners who review materials.

Discussion 

Question

How might NASA better support topics like Data Science, Computer Science and the 

Arts (particularly with K-12 student audiences)?
Opening Remarks by Chair

Office of STEM Engagement Back-to-School Campaign

NAC Topics of Interest

Partnerships

Discussion

AGENDA
stem.nasa.gov

47

Discussion