NASA Administrator Charles Bolden will address students this Friday, January 28, at the MathScience Innovation Center in Richmond, Virginia, home of a Challenger Learning Center. Bolden will be joined at this event by U.S. Senator Mark Warner.

The students who will be in attendance are in the sixth and seventh grades at Albert Hill Middle School. Sen. Warner will join Bolden and center executives at 10 a.m. EST, with Bolden’s remarks beginning around 11 a.m.

According to NASA, Administrator Bolden’s remarks will highlight the need to invest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education, also known as STEM education, in order to remain competitive in the world and win the future.

January 28 marks the 25th anniversary of the loss of Space Shuttle Challenger and its crew. This year also marks the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Challenger Center for Space Science Education. Information on other events related to this anniversary can be found at http://www.challenger.org/25

Media representatives interested in attending should contact Robin Newton at 804-343-6525 x227 , rnewton@msinnovation.info, by 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 27. The MathScience Innovation Center is located at 2401 Hartman Street in Richmond.

In addition to hearing from Bolden and Warner, the students will have an opportunity to engage in hands-on activities related to science and exploration. Education staff from NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, will lead these activities.

For information about the MathScience Innovation Center’s Challenger Learning Center, visit: http://www.msinnovation.info/challenger/

About The Challenger Center for Space Science Education

Using space exploration as a theme and simulations as a vehicle, the Challenger Center for Space Science Education and its international network of 48 Challenger Learning Centers create positive educational experiences that raise students’ expectations of success, fosters a long-term interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and inspires students to pursue studies and careers in these areas. Challenger Center’s network of Challenger Learning Centers across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and South Korea reach more than 400,000 students each year through simulated space missions and educational programs. Over 4,000,000 students have experienced these programs during our 25 year history.

To learn more about the Challenger Center for Space Science Education, visit http://www.challenger.org.

For Further information, please contact:

Angie Tenne
info@challenger.org
Challenger Center for Space Science Education
300 N. Lee Street, Suite 301
Alexandria, VA 22314
1.888.682.9740