Honeywell (HON) and NASA are launching FMA Live! Forces in Motion, a newly expanded version of the award-winning, hip-hop physics education program that inspires middle school students to learn and enjoy math and science in a compelling, fun, and memorable way. The show opens in September in the nation’s capital with performances at public, private and military-connected schools in Washington, D.C.
Using live actors, hip-hop songs, music videos, interactive scientific demonstrations and video interviews with scientists and engineers from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the FMA Live! show teaches Newton’s Three Laws of Motion and Universal Laws of Gravity.
“FMA Live! brings physics to life by using real-life examples that are relevant to today’s world, giving students the dose of inspiration needed to turn them on to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM),” said Tom Buckmaster, President, Honeywell Hometown Solutions. “We are proud to partner with NASA on this program.”
The name of the show comes from Newton’s Second Law of Motion: that Force = Mass x Acceleration.
Over the course of 10 weeks, the show will reach 30 middle schools in 9 northeast and central U.S. states, including stops in: Philadelphia, PA; Brooklyn and Syracuse, NY; Paramus, NJ; Euclid, Ohio; Gross Point, MI; Oak Lawn, IL; and Cedar Rapids, IA. A similar schedule is slated for other parts of the country next spring.
“Having a sound background in the laws of physics is a critical component of a student’s education and can open up a whole new world of opportunity,” said Leland Melvin, NASA Associate Administrator for Education. “This has been a great collaboration between NASA and Honeywell, and I’m proud of how many students we’ve engaged through FMA Live! I have no doubt that many of those students are future NASA scientists who were just waiting to be inspired.”
The popular show is in high demand, and has been performed before 320,000 students at 900 middle schools in all 48 contiguous U.S. states, as well as in Mexico and Canada.
Like many technology-based companies, Honeywell is concerned that too few students have the necessary math and science skills to compete for jobs in the 21st century. Through its Honeywell Hometown Solutions initiative, Honeywell has a number of award-winning programs focused on inspiring students at all grade levels to embrace STEM education. The company chose physics for FMA Live! because studies have shown that the middle school years of education offer the best window of opportunity to get kids interested in STEM careers.
To learn more about FMA Live! visit the new FMALive.com website, which includes National Science Standards-based teaching resources, downloadable streaming videos, music from the show, and a comprehensive educational guide with lesson plans. Whether combined with the live show or used separately, the site contains a lasting set of tools to support the Forces and Motion curriculum, a vital building block of physics and engineering education.
About Honeywell Hometown Solutions
The Honeywell Initiative for Science & Engineering program is part of Honeywell Hometown Solutions, the company’s corporate citizenship initiative, which focuses on five areas of vital importance: Science & Math Education, Family Safety & Security, Housing & Shelter, Habitat & Conservation, and Humanitarian Relief. Together with leading public and non-profit institutions, Honeywell has developed powerful programs to address these needs in the communities it serves. For more information, please visit http://citizenship.honeywell.com/.
About Honeywell
Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; turbochargers; and performance materials. Based in Morris Township, N.J., Honeywell’s shares are traded on the New York, London, and Chicago Stock Exchanges. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywellnow.com.
