The NASA Office of Education at Stennis Space Center has announced a trio of 2017 winter/spring professional development workshops for educators. Preregistration is required, and space is limited.

Two of the workshops are open to in-service, pre-service, home school and informal STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) educators of grades 4-8. The third is open to the same educators of grades 5-8 and is restricted to U.S. citizens only.

The workshops focus on three aspects of NASA work – its journey to Mars, the science of flight, and weather and hurricanes. Dates and details are:

• Journey to Mars workshop. Jan. 26, from 9 a.m. -2:30 p.m., INFINITY Science Center at Mississippi I-10 Exit 2.

Participants will receive five continuing education/continuing learning units for the course. NASA has been on the forefront of exploring Mars and paving the way for future human exploration. This hands-on workshop will guide educators in an investigation of Mars using Earth and Mars comparisons, modeling and engineering design. It also will integrate NASA online resources and STEM classroom activities, including those from NASA’s “Modern Figures” campaign. “Modern Figures” activities highlight contributions made by African American women who served as “human computers,” as seen in the new movie “Hidden Figures.”

Registration closes Jan. 22 and is limited to 30 educators. The schedule includes a 30-minute lunch break; participants should bring lunch or plan to purchase at INFINITY café.

Register online at: https://www.etouches.com/219171.

• Aeronautics: The Science of Flight workshop. Feb. 23, from 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m, INFINITY Science Center at Mississippi I-10 Exit 2.

Participants will receive five continuing education/continuing learning units for the course. NASA puts stock in the importance of active hands-on engineering challenges that provide students the opportunity to create, design and build experiences with real-life applications. In this workshop, educators will be provided background information on the science of flight to inspire future scientists, mathematicians and engineers. They will explore basic principles of flight, construct aircraft models and use the engineering design process to make the activities educationally challenging. NASA aeronautics technology will also be introduced.

Registration closes Feb. 19 and is limited to 30 educators. The schedule includes a 30-minute lunch break; participants should bring lunch or plan to purchase at INFINITY café.

Register online at: https://www.etouches.com/219187.

• Weather and Hurricanes workshop. March 30, from 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m, Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi.

Participants will receive five continuing education/continuing learning units for the course. Keesler AFB Weather School, Hurricane Hunters and NASA Stennis Space Center are collaborating on this workshop. Educators will explore the Air Force and NASA’s role in the understanding and forecasting of weather, climate and hurricanes, as well as their effects on Earth’s systems. Air Force and NASA data, STEM curriculum resources and tours will guide educators through a “storm” of classroom activities and learning strategies in this unique “climate” of learning. 

Registration closes Feb. 19 and is limited to 30 educators. The schedule includes a 30-minute lunch break; participants should bring lunch and any snacks they wish for the day.

Register online at: https://www.etouches.com/211635.

For more information, contact April McIntosh in the NASA Office of Education at Stennis Space Center at 228-688-3338 or april.l.mcintosh@nasa.gov.

For information about the NASA Office of Education at Stennis, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/centers/stennis/education/index.html.