The Report of the President's Commission on Implementation of United States Space Exploration Policy Now Available

The President's Commission Report, A Journey to Inspire, Innovate, and Discover, concludes that a fundamental change must take place in how the nation approaches space exploration. Commissioners argue that this fundamental change must involve "a transformation of NASA, a robust international space industry, a discovery-based science agenda, and educational initiatives to support youth and teachers."

Report Cover

The report lists several things NASA should do and makes several recommendations, many of which are relevant to NASSMC coalitions' missions and objectives:

• Better integrate existing mathematics, science and engineering education initiatives across governments, industries and professional organizations;
• Use the space exploration mission to galvanize and reform our educational system because long-term competitiveness requires a skilled workforce;
• Maximize the impact of space-related education programs by working--along with the U.S. Department of Education and National Science Foundation--with state and local leaders to infuse the excitement of space exploration into mathematics, science and technology education program across the country; and
• Work with the White House, industry and professional organizations to forge a new model for public engagement built on grassroots support; this support requires "sustainable, systematic, effective marketing and communication programs."

NASSMC Executive Director Jim McMurtray testified before the Commission. His testimony can be read at: http://www.nassmc.org/moontomars.html.

The full President's Commission Report can be downloaded from NASA's website at: http://www.nasa.gov/home/index.html.

ideaFestival 2004

The Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation's highly successful ideaFestival is an opportunity to explore innovations and ideas across and at the intersections of different fields and is grounded in the understanding that all knowledge is part of an unbroken web. The 2004 event is September 21-25 in Lexington, Kentucky. The ultimate goal is to meld ideas and generate innovations in products, services and creative endeavors. Held every two years, the ideaFestival is sponsored by the University of Kentucky, BellSouth, the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation and other businesses, organizations and academic institutions.

Presenters include Oliver Sacks, Ben Carson, Iain Cousins, Sir George Martin, Twyla Tharp, Steven Pinker and Dith Pran. NASSMC Executive Director Jim McMurtray will also be a presenter at this year's ideaFestival. His presentation, "Systems Thinking for Social Change," deals with the complex interplay of seemingly unrelated systems and the dynamics of change.

For complete information about events, presentations, speakers and how to buy tickets, go to http://www.ideafestival.com/.

Linking Leaders National Conference, February 9-11 2005

Mark Your Calendars: NASSMC will host a Linking Leaders National Conference in Washington, DC February 9-11, 2005. Linking Leaders alumni coalitions are invited to participate in an exploration of the successful past and promising future of this NASA-sponsored program and to celebrate 10 years of progress in systemic improvement efforts.

E-mail notices on this event will be sent to past and present Linking Leaders participant organizations. You may also check the NASSMC website in the coming weeks for the agenda and information about travel and accommodations.

Awards Made to 10 States in NASA Explorer Schools Partnerships for Sustainability Program Pilot

Pilot Program Announcement of Opportunity

Partnerships linking state coalitions and NASA Explorer Schools in Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio, Tennessee, and the District of Columbia have been awarded grants in the Partnerships for Sustainability program.

The NES Partnerships for Sustainability program was launched this year as a pilot program to gauge the effectiveness of state-based coalitions working in partnership with the NASA Explorer Schools. NASA's Explorer Schools program establishes a three-year partnership between NASA and school teams, consisting of teachers and education administrators from diverse communities across the country. While partnered with NASA, NES teams acquire and use new teaching resources and technology tools for grades 4 - 9 using NASA's unique content, experts and other resources. The purpose of the Partnerships for Sustainability program is to develop and execute an action plan to strengthen established NASA Explorer Schools and to sustain them beyond the initial funding period.

Subject to availability of funds from NASA, NASSMC will issue a second solicitation for proposals this fall. NASSMC, NASA and NSTA co-sponsored the Partnerships for Sustainability pilot program.

For more information about NASA Explorer Schools go to http://explorerschools.nasa.gov.