NASA’s Science Mission Directorate has awarded Twin Cities PBS (TPT) $1.2 million dollars across four years in support of a new project entitled NASA Inspires Futures for Tomorrow’s Youth.
According to the press release, in partnership with the National Girls Collaborative, Space Science Institute, and the NASA Langley Research Center, this initiative is designed to broaden youth participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) studies by providing opportunities to learn from NASA STEM professionals.
NASA role models will help youth to learn about NASA missions and careers and provide personal sources of inspiration.
NASA Inspires Futures for Tomorrow’s Youth will prepare 100 NASA STEM professionals to use research-based best practices for role models and gender-equitable, culturally responsive, and anti-racist strategies to encourage youth (ages 9-14) to STEM studies and NASA career pathways.
The project has focused on engaging more girls and Black, Latinx, and Indigenous youth in STEM outreach programs across the nation. Trained NASA STEM professionals will act as role models programs within TPT’s national SciGirls network of 6,000 educators, the Space Science Institute’s STAR Library Network, and the National Girls Collaborative STEM programs reaching 40,000 educators and 17 million girls.
The project is strongly founded on diversity, equity, and inclusion principles. “Research shows that youth’s interest in STEM declines during and before middle school, especially for youth of color and for girls.
Given the importance of diverse representation in the STEM pipeline and NASA careers, we must provide opportunities for youth STEM professionals to meet and engage with role models who look like them,” says TPT’s Senior Managing Director of STEM Media and Education, Rita Karl, principal investigator (PI) of the award.
