HR: 0830h
AN: ED51C-1216 [PDF]
TI: Supporting Research at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Through Focused Education and Outreach
Programs
AU: * Ireton, F
EM: frank_ireton@sesda.com
AF: Science Systems and Applications, Inc., 10210 Greenbelt Road
Suite 500, Lanham, MD 20706 United States
AU: Closs, J
EM: jim_closs@sesda.com
AF: Science Systems and Applications, Inc., 10210 Greenbelt Road
Suite 500, Lanham, MD 20706 United States
AB:
NASA research scientists work closely with Science Systems and Applications, Inc. (SSAI) personnel at Goddard Space Flight
Center (GSFC) on a large variety of education and public outreach (E/PO) initiatives. This work includes assistance in
conceptualizing E/PO plans, then carrying through in the development of materials, publication, cataloging, warehousing, and
product distribution. For instance, outreach efforts on the Terra, Aqua, and Aura-still in development-EOS missions, as well
as planetary and visualization programs, have been coordinated by SSAI employees.
E/PO support includes convening and taking part in sessions at professional meetings and workshops. Also included is the
coordination of exhibits at professional meetings such as the AGU, AAAS, AMS and educational meetings such as the National
Science Teachers Association. Other E/PO efforts include the development and staffing of booths; arranges for booth space and
furnishings; shipping of exhibition materials and products; assembling, stocking, and disassembling of booths. E/PO
personnel work with organizations external to NASA such as the Smithsonian museum, Library of Congress, U.S. Geological
Survey, and associations or societies such as the AGU, American Chemical Society, and National Science Teachers Association
to develop products and programs that enhance NASA mission E/PO efforts or to provide NASA information for use in their
programs.
At GSFC, E/PO personnel coordinate the efforts of the education and public outreach sub-committees in support of the Space
and Earth Sciences Data Analysis (SESDA) contract within the GSFC Earth Sciences Directorate. The committee acts as a forum
for improving communication and coordination among related Earth science education projects, and strives to unify the
representation of these programs among the science and education communities. To facilitate these goals a Goddard Earth
Sciences Directorate Education and Outreach Portal has been developed to provide a repository and clearinghouse for upcoming
education events, and a speaker's bureau. The committees are planning a series of workshops in the near future to expand
participation, and further leverage respective Earth science education and outreach efforts through cooperative work with
other NASA centers.
Founded in 1977 as a minority, women-owned business, SSAI's staff includes a large and varied pool of scientists, E/PO
employees covering a broad range of training and talents. SSAI provides support on a number of NASA related projects at
Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in Greenbelt, Maryland ranging from science research to data acquisition, storage, and
distribution.
UR: http://webserv.gsfc.nasa.gov/ESD/portal/
DE: 6600 PUBLIC ISSUES
DE: 6605 Education
DE: 6699 General or miscellaneous
SC: Education and Human Resources [ED]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting