NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Iowa has more NASA "explorers" than you might expect. In fact, NASA has enlisted about 600 people from the Hawkeye State to be the next generation of space explorers and to fulfill the Vision for Space Exploration -- for Space Shuttles to return to safe flight to complete the International Space Station, and human and robotic exploration of the solar system.

But there's one catch: Most of these Iowans aren't yet old enough to drive a car.

Image to right: Astronaut George Zamka and members from Marshall Space Flight Center's Education Programs Office visiting the Sioux Central Community School pose for a picture during a visit Zamka made to the school in the fall of 2004. Credit: NASA

These "explorers" are all students at Sioux Central Community School in Sioux Rapids, Iowa. With grades kindergarten through 12, Sioux Central is in the second of a three-year partnership with NASA as an Explorer School -- a collaboration with NASA that brings mathematics, science and technology learning opportunities to students in economically underprivileged areas across the country. The school, about 175 miles northwest of Des Moines, was selected in 2003 and is Iowa's only Explorer School.

Teachers from Sioux Central will join the Explorer School program manager from NASA Headquarters in Washington and Explorer School officials from NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., Thursday, Jan. 27, in Des Moines to participate in Iowa's Mathematics, Science and Technology Education Day. They will interact with state representatives and members of Iowa county boards of education in the Capitol rotunda to explain the impact of the program and what it provides to the students.

"We are very excited about the opportunity to speak with state representatives from across Iowa and hopefully open more doors for NASA's education programs throughout the state," said Beth Ingrum, the Explorer School program coordinator at the Marshall Center. "We want to better inform the public about the programs and services we have to offer. And events like this give us a great chance to do just that."

Created in 2003, the program is sponsored by NASA's Office of Education. NASA selects 50 Explorer Schools each year to participate in the program. Today there are 128 Explorer Schools in 46 states and the District of Columbia with more than 40,000 students involved in the program. The program engages students with hands-on classroom projects and computer-based math and science tutorials that teach problem-solving skills and real-life challenges faced by NASA engineers.

Image to left: Astronaut George Zamka and NASA's Chief Engineer Rex Geveden are greeted by eager explorers of the Sioux Central Community School during a visit in the fall of 2004. Credit: NASA

Schools apply for the program, competing with other schools in a rigorous screening process, which includes providing a detailed description of the school and its potential team members. Each school must provide demographic information; the educational challenges facing the school and its students; and community, family and societal factors that affect student success. Applicants must list the goals of a school district, the school and its staff to improve science, mathematics, technology and geography test scores. The description must include improvement efforts that are currently under way and how they support meeting state standards.

NASA reviews the applications, and announces the selections each spring. Once a school is designated an Explorer School, its teachers work with NASA education specialists to create innovative science and mathematics instruction for students. The goal is to spark students' interest in pursuing careers in science, technology and engineering.

Iowa's Mathematics, Science and Technology Education Day is hosted by the Iowa Mathematics and Science Coalition -- an alliance of industry leaders, educators and public policy makers working to improve mathematics and science literacy statewide.

For more information, please visit:
NASA Explorer Schools


Martin Jensen/MSFC