LiftOff 2002

A Texas Space Grant Consortium
Summer Institute for Middle and High School Teachers
July 15 - 19, 2002

PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT

Beginning in the summer of 1990, the Texas Space Grant Consortium initiated a series of professional development training workshops for teachers. These aerospace workshops, called LiftOff, emphasize science, mathematics, and technology learning experiences by incorporating a space science theme supported by NASA missions. Teacher participants are provided with knowledge, materials, and experience through hands-on activities and field trips that will promote space science and enrichment activities to others.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

People can endure many discomforts in exchange for the thrill of living in space. The nausea of space sickness, fitful sleep without the familiar pressure of a bed, meals eaten from plastic bags - it's fine as long as the novelty of being in space lasts. But what happens to space travelers psychologically and physically during long-duration space flight to extreme environments? Will they long for the comforts of home?

How do scientists and engineers choose astronauts for space flight? What are the physiological challenges that we face when traveling off the planet? Will space tourism become a reality? What have we learned about the human body from space voyages?

Explore the possibilities of space travel, the thrill of space exploration at...LiftOff 2002: Have Spacesuit Will Travel!

PROGRAM FEATURES

Sponsored by the Texas Space Grant Consortium and held at Space Center Houston, LiftOff 2002 features:

• Presentations by NASA scientists and engineers
• Tours of NASA and Space Center Houston
• Hands-on inquiry-based classroom activities
• Free curricula and space science materials matched to educational standards
• Teacher activity share
• Opportunity to interact with researchers dedicated to future space missions

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

All teachers must: 1) currently teach or coordinate middle or high school students, 2) have at least two years teaching experience in math or science at the middle and/or high school grade level, and 3) demonstrate a willing-ness to participate in follow-up activities.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

• Texas Teachers: FREE - All expenses paid
• Non-Texas Teachers: $450 registration fee + travel to Houston, Texas

DEADLINES