NASA Headquarters, Program Integration Division, Washington, DC 20546 Attn:YM/Lisa Ostendorf

A -- NRA-96-MTPE-07, MISSION TO PLANET EARTH EDUCATION PROGRAM SOL NRA-96-MTPE-07 POC Lisa Ostendorf tel: 202/358-0792 The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announces the release of the Opportunities to Participate in NASA's Mission to Planet Earth (MTPE) Education Program NRA. The MTPE program is NASA's contribution to developing a vastly improved understanding of the earth by capitalizing on the unique vantage point of space to provide information about the earth's air, land, water and life - and the interactions among them. This approach to studying the earth as an integrated system is referred to as earth system science. The purpose of this announcement is to solicit unique and innovative proposals from a broad range of education and research professionals to develop and implement earth system science education programs targeted for the pre-college, pre-service teaching community and higher education student population. NASA's MTPE has worked with NASA's Education Division to develop a strategically sound formal education program with national impact, relevant science content, attention to equity and diversity and collaboration with external partners as basic principles. Two of the six primary objectives of the MTPE Education Strategy are: to train the next generation of scientists to use an interdisciplinary earth system science approach; and continue to educate and train educators as research evolves and capabilities change. The current MTPE Education Program does not adequately address the above two objectives on a national basis, particularly for the undergraduate student population of emerging researchers and educators. This proposal seeks to round out the MTPE Education Program by strengthening these two aspects of the MTPE Education Strategy. This announcement solicits two different types of proposals. First, the Higher Education Student Support proposals to provide direct student support for summer research opportunities. Second, the Pre-Service Teacher Enhancement proposals to provide workshops for students of education that will provide exposure to earth system science and training/access to available curriculum support materials. Participation in this program is open to all categories of domestic organizations: educational institutions, other nonprofit organizations, NASA Centers, industry, and other Government institutions. This solicitation will be available electronically on the release date via the Internet at the Mission to Planet Earth Home Page: ''http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/mtpe/'' under ''MTPE Research Announcements'' or via anonymous ftp at: ftp.hq.nasa.gov/pub/mtpe. Paper copies of the NRA will be available to those who do not have access to Internet by calling (202)358-3552 and leaving a voicemail message. Please leave your full name and address, including zip code, and your telephone number, including area code. This announcement will be open for the period from September 16, 1996, through November 18, 1996, and proposals may be submitted at any time throughout that period. (0243)

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