NASA Explores...Humanity Benefits

By Rear Adm. Craig E. Steidle
Associate Administrator, Exploration Systems Mission Directorate

The cornerstone goal of NASA’s new Education Enterprise is to inspire our next generation of explorers—the next wave of inventors, discoverers, technologists, scientists, mathematicians, engineers and educators.

For nearly 50 years, the men and women of NASA have broken barriers to open new horizons of opportunity. Our journeys in air, in space and on Earth have given us a new understanding of our universe, safer and faster air travel, and breakthroughs in health care and scientific research. We also have inspired humanity, young and old alike, to reach for new heights. While each of these achievements and the people behind them are unique, at their foundations they are linked by a common denominator—education. None of the accomplishments we herald in our nation’s history, our daily lives or in our laboratories and research centers would have been possible without quality education and the people who help to open the minds of those who dare to explore and dream.

In his “Pioneering the Future” address on April 12, 2002, NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe said, “Today, America has a serious shortage of young people entering the fields of mathematics and science. This critical part of NASA’s mission is to inspire the next generation of explorers so that our work can go on. This educational mandate is an imperative.”

NASA’s call “to inspire the next generation of explorers” now resounds throughout the NASA community, as well as in colleges, universities, schools, museums, science centers, community centers and planetariums around the country. The goal is to capture student interest, nurture their natural curiosities and intrigue their minds with new and exciting scientific research. The Agency also is determined to provide educators with the creative tools they need to improve America’s scientific literacy.

The future of NASA begins with America’s youngest scholars. According to Administrator O’Keefe, if NASA does not motivate the youngest generation now, “there is little prospect this generation will choose to pursue scientific disciplines later.”

Since embracing Administrator O’Keefe’s educational mandate over a year ago, the NASA family has been fully devoted to broadening the Agency’s roadmap to motivating our nation’s future workforce. Our efforts have generated a whole new showcase of thought-provoking learning opportunities that are fun and that reach out to young people, educators and families through printed material, Web sites and Webcasts, robotics, rocketry and aerospace design contests, and various other activities.

Educators create horizons of opportunity in classrooms every day. They prepare, inspire, excite and encourage future generations of explorers to ask new questions and to seek answers. Educators are the adventurers in our midst, and without them our journeys would not succeed. As we move into our second century of flight, we must work with all who touch the future to help prepare a new generation of Americans to meet the growing challenges in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
To meet this challenge, NASA has established the Education Enterprise. Working collaboratively with NASA’s scientific and technical Enterprises, the Education Enterprise will ensure that education is an integral component of every major NASA research and development mission. This Enterprise will provide unique teaching and learning experiences, “as only NASA can,” through the Agency’s research and flight capabilities. Students and educators will work with NASA and university researchers and scientists to use authentic data to study the Earth, explore the universe and conduct scientific investigations in the fields of aerospace and space-based research.

As we celebrate the accomplishments of the nation’s first 100 years of flight, we look forward with great anticipation to the next century of flight. The next generation of explorers—the explorers of the new millennium—must fully represent this nation’s rich and vibrant diversity. NASA’s Education Enterprise will strive to ensure that all children can explore their full potential as Americans. In doing so, the Agency will fully engage underrepresented and underserved communities of students, educators and researchers. Furthermore, we will support our nation’s universities, colleges and community colleges by providing exciting research and internship opportunities that fuel the passion of young people, creating a culture of learning and achievement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Welcome to NASA’s Education Enterprise. Working together, we can “see learning in a whole new light.” *

NASA Official: Janelle Turner • Web Design: Printing & Design Office, NASA Headquarters • Credits