NASA has selected nine informal education organizations across seven states to receive grants with a total worth of $10 million in an effort to inspire the next generation of scientists, innovators and explorers.The nine organizations were chosen out of 73 applications for NASA’s Competitive Program for Science Museums, Planetariums and NASA Visitor Centers Plus Other Opportunities for their proposed projects ranging from botanical experiments with a focus on food growth in space, hands-on aviation exhibits, technology challenges with caves as stand-ins for other planets and a traveling exhibit on Earth’s extreme environments, NASA said Friday.
The selected institutions will work with other organizations, including museums, K-12 and higher education institutions and NASA’s Museum Alliance to create the exhibits with the goal to increase science literacy and inspire youths to take up a career within the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.
NASA added that the projects are each valued between $420,000 to $1.25 million.
“NASA’s investment in education is directly linked to inspiring the next generation of explorers and innovators,” said Donald James, NASA’s office of education associate administrator.
Hands-on interactive educational activities help to engage students, educators and families, as well as increase the general public interest in science and technology, he said.
The winners of the grant are as follows:
- DNC Parks & Resorts at KSC, Inc.
- Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens
- Orlando Science Center
- Museum of Aviation
- Exploration Place
- Museum of Science
- The Sciencenter
- Nurture Nature Center
- Wex Foundation
