MSGC Updates

There are quite a few upcoming opportunities happening over the next couple of months and the MSGC team wants to make sure that you are updated on the latest challenges, programs, internships, contests etc. 

Let the MSGC team know if you plan on participating by sending an email to mispacegrant@umich.edu

FBI Forensic Science Research Opportunity
Applications Accepted on a Rolling Basis
https://myumi.ch/ypm6E
This project involves the development of extraction and instrumental methods for the analysis of residues from detonators (primary explosives) used in criminal cases. There are currently no validated methods for the trace analysis of primary explosives. This project uses analytical techniques such as solvent extraction, elemental assays for heavy metals, ion and liquid chromatography, and mass spectrometry. You will be expanding your knowledge and experience using these and other techniques to further your educational pursuit. Previous experience with ion chromatography, Thermo Electron Orbitrap mass spectrometers, and liquid chromatography are highly desired.

Future Leaders in Public Service Internship Program – Fall 2024
https://myumi.ch/zXw3b
Applications are open now for the fall 2024 Future Leaders in Public Service Internship Program. The program helps bring diverse young talent to government and offers students the opportunity to apply their educational training to work at a federal agency. Undergraduate, graduate and professional students from across disciplines are welcome to apply.

FLY ME TO THE MOON Movie Preview
Wednesday, July 10 at 7pm at Emagine Royal Oak
https://myumi.ch/1bMMn
You’re invited to the screening! Starring Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum, FLY ME TO THE MOON is a sharp, stylish comedy-drama set against the high-stakes backdrop of NASA’s historic Apollo 11 moon landing. Sparks fly in all directions as marketing maven Kelly Jones (Johansson) is brought in to fix NASA’s public image and wreaks havoc on launch director Cole Davis’s (Tatum) already difficult task. When the White House deems the mission too important to fail, Jones is directed to stage a fake moon landing as back-up and the countdown truly begins.

NASA Psyche Inspired Internship
Application Deadline: Friday, July 26
https://myumi.ch/Rm98G
NASA’s Psyche mission invites full-time, enrolled undergraduate students majoring in any subject at universities and community colleges in the U.S. and its territories to apply to become part of this year’s cohort of Psyche Inspired interns. Psyche Inspired brings undergraduate students together to share the excitement, innovation, and scientific and engineering content of NASA’s Psyche mission with the public through artistic and creative works.

AFTER DARK: THE MI-SCI GAMES
Saturday, July 27th
https://myumi.ch/23Q6E
Join us on Saturday, July 27, at the Michigan Science Center for the ultimate 21+ event. Tickets are now available for purchase! Secure your spot and ensure you don’t miss this epic night. Immerse yourself in the Olympic spirit as you sip on handcrafted cocktails, groove to the electric beats of a live DJ from the Todd Everett Experience and explore all of the museum’s interactive exhibits. We’ll even have specialized food vendors on site to satisfy your hunger. Experience the exhilaration of the After Dark Mi-Sci Games and create unforgettable memories.

USRA Distinguished Undergraduate Awards
Applications due Aug 7, 2024
https://myumi.ch/RmdJ6
Under its Distinguished Undergraduate Awards program, USRA offers scholarships to undergraduates who have shown a career interest in aeronautics or space science research related fields, or in space science education. Eligible majors include aerospace engineering, astronomy, astrobiology, biophysics, computer science, earth science, electrical or mechanical engineering (with applications to aerospace engineering or space science), geophysics, geology, physics, and space science education. Students in summer research intern programs in these fields are particularly encouraged to apply. Awards will be made to undergraduates who will be juniors or seniors in the fall. Up to five scholarships are available in amount of $5,000 each.
Applications are now being accepted through Aug 7, 2024.

Space Tech Challenge: Lunar Living
Submissions open August 15, 2024
https://myumi.ch/6yPzV
The Space Tech Challenge is a competition hosted by HeroX (an online community) where contestants (or a team of contestants) submit a proposal describing their concept for addressing the challenges of long-term lunar habitation and their projected results. Submissions opened on August 15 and close on September 30. Finalists will move
forward and present their proposal on October 13, and the winners will be announced on November 15. Winners receive a cash prize (5k for first, 3k for second, and 2k for third). The contest is open to all US Citizens who are not employees of JSEG or NASA and it will award cash prizes to the top three entries. Non-citizens can enter, but they are not eligible for any of the cash awards.

2024 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Data Challenge
Submission Deadline: Aug. 22
https://myumi.ch/AZyNn
Embarking on this challenge offers a unique opportunity to engage with real-world problems, leveraging vast datasets and cutting-edge technologies to make tangible impacts. Participants will have the chance to demonstrate their skills, creativity, and passion for aviation, all while being supported by academic mentors and the broader aviation community. This is more than a competition; it’s a chance to be at the forefront of a major shift towards an info-centric NAS, driving advancements that promise to enhance efficiency, safety, and sustainability across the aviation industry.

NASA’s L’SPACE Program
Applications are due Sept. 1!
https://myumi.ch/r8DDd
The NASA L’SPACE Program is a free, online, interactive experience open to undergraduate STEM students interested in pursuing a career with NASA or other space organizations. L’SPACE consists of two Academies – the Mission Concept Academy, and the NASA Proposal Writing and Evaluation Experience Academy. Students may participate in one Academy per semester. Each 12-week Academy is designed to provide unique, hands-on learning and insight into the dynamic world of the space industry. Students can expect to learn NASA mission procedures and protocols from industry professionals as they collaborate with fellow team members to complete mission-related team-projects.

NASA Innovation Corps Pilot
Next Proposal Deadline: Sept. 13
https://myumi.ch/9gyqd
In partnership with the National Science Foundation, NASA’s Science and Space Technology Mission Directorates offer a new pathway to participate in Innovation Corps (I-Corps). The NASA I-Corps Pilot aims to accelerate the transition of promising ideas from the lab to the marketplace, while encouraging collaboration between academia and industry. The NASA I-Corps Pilot will support teams with access to training in innovation and entrepreneurship skills through a grant, up to $10K, and the opportunity to apply for an additional $40K. Proposals may be submitted at any time through March 28, 2025, but applications will be reviewed in intervals on the following dates: Sept. 13, 2024, Jan. 24, 2025, and March 28, 2025

FLY ME TO THE MOON Movie Preview
Wednesday, July 10 at 7pm at Emagine Royal Oak
https://myumi.ch/1bMMn
You’re invited to the screening! Starring Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum, FLY ME TO THE MOON is a sharp, stylish comedy-drama set against the high-stakes backdrop of NASA’s historic Apollo 11 moon landing. Sparks fly in all directions as marketing maven Kelly Jones (Johansson) is brought in to fix NASA’s public image and wreaks havoc on launch director Cole Davis’s (Tatum) already difficult task. When the White House deems the mission too important to fail, Jones is directed to stage a fake moon landing as back-up and the countdown truly begins.

Go For Launch! Sault Ste Marie
July 23-25, 2024
https://myumi.ch/kZVMz
Higher Orbits is excited to bring #GoForLaunch back to Sault Ste Marie in July! Registration is open but space is limited so register today to guarantee you can be part of this space inspired #STEM event with an #Astronaut! Join us for an exhilarating three-day event at Lake Superior State University, where aspiring astronauts and space enthusiasts in grades 8-12 (including rising 8th graders and recently graduated seniors) will have a unique opportunity to dive into the world of space exploration.

Gigabytes high school camp at EMU
Camp: July 22-26
https://myumi.ch/ZD89R
Gigabytes is an all-day, week-long, summer computing program for high school girls. It introduces computing and technology through robot-based programming. Coding is introduced through educational robots with the support of student mentors. The program concludes with a hackathon and a career discovery event. It is staffed by the Women in Computer Science (WICS) club members at Eastern Michigan University (EMU) and led by a faculty member. Gigabytes participants are not expected to have a prior knowledge of computer programming, but if they do, they will have plenty of opportunities to further that knowledge through programming of robots. The first offering of Gigabytes, in 2023, was a great success with an enrollment of 26 enthusiastic participants. We are hoping that MSGC will continue to help support and grow this program over the next few years.

NASA Space Place Art Challenge
Entry Deadline: Wednesday, July 31
https://myumi.ch/VGdde
If you were sending commands from Earth to a faraway spacecraft or a robotic rover on another planet, what would you tell it to do? NASA Space Place wants to see your ideas! Young artists are invited to learn about NASA’s Deep Space Network and then use their imagination to create artwork representing their deep space communication ideas.

2025 NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge – Now Open to Grades 6-12
Handbook Release: Aug. 1
https://myumi.ch/8rE9W
NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge (HERC) is an engineering design competition where students design, build, and test a rover to traverse challenging terrains while completing scientific tasks along the way. As an Artemis Student Challenge, HERC draws inspiration from both the Apollo and Artemis missions, emphasizing designing, constructing, and testing technologies. The 2025 HERC activity year will be open to proposal submissions from teams of students in grades 6-12. The 2025 HERC Handbook and Request for Proposals will be released on August 1.

NASA’s Astrophoto Challenge
Entries are due Aug. 5.
https://myumi.ch/zXjbr
Join NASA’s Universe of Learning for an exciting opportunity to use real astronomical data and tools to create your own beautiful images of Cassiopeia A. Explore how this dynamic dead star behaves across different types of light. Or just create an image that you think is beautiful. Capture your own real-time telescope image using the MicroObservatory robotic telescope network. Or work with archival data files taken with multi-wavelength missions from NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency (Webb, Hubble, Chandra, and NuSTAR).

2025 Drop Tower Challenge – Paddle Wheel
Proposal Deadline: Oct. 31
https://myumi.ch/AZ4pA
Student teams are invited to design and build paddle wheels that will turn in water because of the wetting properties of their surfaces when they are exposed to microgravity. Paddle wheels from selected teams will be tested in the 2.2 Second Drop Tower at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Ohio. Top performing teams will have the opportunity to present their results in a student poster session at the 2025 meeting of the American Society for Gravitational and Space Research.

FLY ME TO THE MOON Movie Preview
Wednesday, July 10 at 7pm at Emagine Royal Oak
https://myumi.ch/1bMMn
You’re invited to the screening! Starring Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum, FLY ME TO THE MOON is a sharp, stylish comedy-drama set against the high-stakes backdrop of NASA’s historic Apollo 11 moon landing. Sparks fly in all directions as marketing maven Kelly Jones (Johansson) is brought in to fix NASA’s public image and wreaks havoc on launch director Cole Davis’s (Tatum) already difficult task. When the White House deems the mission too important to fail, Jones is directed to stage a fake moon landing as back-up and the countdown truly begins.

FY2024 TEAM II NOFO Announcement
https://myumi.ch/N6n2q
Next Gen STEM’s Teams Engaging Affiliated Museums and Informal Institutions (TEAM II) program is pleased to announce an upcoming FY2024 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) that will expand the current program from a two-tier to a three-tier system by adding a mid-level funding tier. The NOFO is expected to be released in the third quarter of FY2024 (April-June). The new mid-level funding tier was created in response to feedback from the informal education community. The new “STEM Innovator” tier will fund awards of approximately $250,000. In addition, the highest tier award will be designated the “National Connector” award and fund initiatives up to $900,000. The “Community Anchor” tier will continue to offer awards up to $50,000. The Community Anchor tier opportunity will be offered each fiscal year, and the STEM Innovator and National Connector tiers will be offered in alternating years. The FY2024 NOFO will include the Community Anchor and STEM Innovator tiers and the FY2025 NOFO will focus on the Community Anchor and National Connector tiers. By adding the mid-level tier, NASA and Next Gen STEM aim to broaden the number and type of awards made to Informal Education Institutions for creating innovative, NASA-inspired programming for K-12 students and their families.

IDEAS (Innovative Differentiated Exploration Activities in Space Science) Team Summer 2024 Educator Professional Development Workshop
July 15 – 18, 2024
https://myumi.ch/bEqM2
The IDEAS Team is comprised of the South Carolina Space Grant Consortium (SCSGC), North Carolina Space Grant Consortium (NCSGC), and the North Dakota Space Grant Consortium (NDSGC). This hands-on workshop is funded by NASA’s National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program. The overall goal of this workshop is to center Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) in NASA and STEM lessons and activities for both K-12 and informal education settings. Participants will be eligible to earn two Professional Development credits (30 hours) through the University of North Dakota. Interested educators are highly encouraged to contact their local Space Grant Consortium to inquire about potential funding sponsorship to attend the workshop.

Informational Webinar: Europa Clipper- Seeking Life on Jupiter’s Icy Moon
Tuesday, July 23, 12-1PM ET
https://myumi.ch/wyZZA
Learn about NASA’s next mission that seeks to understand whether conditions for life exist in the solar system beyond Earth. In October 2024, NASA is sending a mission to explore an ocean on another world. Europa, a moon of Jupiter, has a global ocean of liquid water under an icy surface. The Europa Clipper mission will orbit Jupiter, making several close approaches to Europa, to collect data on its geology and chemistry, and determine whether there are places below Europa’s surface that could support life.

AFTER DARK: THE MI-SCI GAMES
Saturday, July 27th
https://myumi.ch/23Q6E
Join us on Saturday, July 27, at the Michigan Science Center for the ultimate 21+ event. Tickets are now available for purchase! Secure your spot and ensure you don’t miss this epic night. Immerse yourself in the Olympic spirit as you sip on handcrafted cocktails, groove to the electric beats of a live DJ from the Todd Everett Experience and explore all of the museum’s interactive exhibits. We’ll even have specialized food vendors on site to satisfy your hunger. Experience the exhilaration of the After Dark Mi-Sci Games and create unforgettable memories.

My Favorite Things: K-12 Teacher Lesson Plan Competition
Entry Deadline: Wednesday, July 31
https://myumi.ch/mZkkV
Summer is here and as you reflect over your year in the classroom, ORISE wants to see your favorite STEM lesson plan! Teachers of any grade level or subject are invited to submit their favorite STEM lesson plan. Show off your neatest, most fun, or most creative lesson plan – whatever makes it your favorite may also make it our favorite! THREE teachers who submit lesson plans will be selected to receive mini grants up to $1,500 to buy new equipment and supplies for their classroom that will soon become your favorite things!

Funding Opportunity: Research Initiation Awards
Proposal Deadline: Aug. 15
https://myumi.ch/9gbk9
NASA’s Science Mission Directorate is seeking proposals for two-year research awards of up to $300,000 to faculty/researchers at institutions of higher education classified as non-R1s. Proposers must NOT have received federal funding prior to award. The program encourages proposers from Minority-Serving Institutions, primarily undergraduate institutions, and community colleges to apply. The project requires funding for undergraduate students and requires relevance in one of the Science Mission Directorate’s research goals.

Computational Astronomy Workshop for Middle and High School Educators
Online Course Begins Sept. 7
https://myumi.ch/Q6mR8
Computational Astronomy: A Universe of Calculations for Middle and High School Math and Science Teachers. The workshop is offered online starting September 7, 2024. The lectures are on every other Saturday from 9am-12pm MT. The last class time is on November 16, 2024.

NASA’s Next Gen STEM Career Day
NASA’s Back-to-School Career Day: Virtual Participation
Interactive Platform OPENS: Monday – Friday, September 23-27, 2024,
NASA Live Panel Events: Thursday, September 26, 2024 10 a.m. EST – 2p.m. EST
Registration Deadline: Thursday, September 5, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. EST
https://myumi.ch/G4M9n
To help connect students to the variety of career options at NASA, the agency’s Next Gen STEM project is hosting a Back-to-School Career Day virtual event on Thursday, Sept. 26, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. EDT. Participants will get the chance to engage directly with NASA employees and gain access to NASA resources. Throughout the entire week, bring your classroom to engage in our interactive platform where students can take virtual tours of NASA facilities, check out the NASA Recess Station, or ask questions during Thursday’s Live panel sessions. Stay tuned for additional information on the Career Day panel topics and agenda as we get closer to the event date.

U.S. Department of Education Fall 2024 Teach to Lead Summit
Event Dates: Sept. 27-29
https://myumi.ch/zXpMR
Teach to Lead (TTL) began as a collaboration between the U.S. Department of Education, ASCD, and TeachPlus, and envisions a world where teachers are valued as experts in instruction and leaders in informing, developing, and implementing policy and practice to steer systematic improvements to benefit student learning.
Powered By TTL Summits provide teams with collaborative planning time, skills development, and professional consultation to develop and refine innovative projects that can make a positive impact for educators and students in their schools, communities, districts, and states.