NASA and Honeywell kicks off the spring 2015 tour of “FMA Live! Forces in Motion” Monday with shows at Talley Middle School in Wilmington, Delaware, marking the 11th year of this innovative collaboration designed to ignite students’ interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

FMA Live! is a high-energy, live stage show that features actors, hip-hop dance, music videos, interactive scientific demonstrations and video interviews with NASA scientists to teach Sir Isaac Newton’s three laws of motion and universal laws of gravity. The name of the show comes from Newton’s second law of motion: force = mass x acceleration.

“This innovative collaboration between NASA and Honeywell has been immensely successful over the past decade,” said Donald James, NASA’s associate administrator for Education. “The combination of exciting, NASA-unique content and a dynamic stage performance is a proven formula for helping students grasp the fundamentals of physics. Together, we are inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers and explorers.” 

Research shows interactive, experiential learning is the most effective way to engage students in STEM studies. A major goal of FMA Live! is to compel middle school students to pursue STEM academic coursework and ultimately seek careers in STEM-related fields.

Since its inception in 2004, FMA Live! has reached more than 400,000 middle school students across the United States, as well as students in Canada and Mexico.

Over the course of the next 10 weeks, the show, under the direction of Honeywell Hometown Solutions, will travel to 30 public, private and Department of Defense-affiliated  middle schools in 10 states: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine.  FMA Live! will return in the fall with a tour of Midwest states.

“As a technology-based company, it’s our goal to prepare the next generation of engineers, scientists and innovators, but to do that, you have to capture a student’s interest,” said Mike Bennett, president of Honeywell Hometown Solutions. “With FMA Live! Forces in Motion, students are actually experiencing science and technology firsthand, rather than reading about it in a text book. This show helps students understand how science and technology apply to their everyday lives.”

NASA is committed to using the agency’s unique assets, programs and facilities to inspire students to pursue STEM studies and careers. NASA’s Office of Education collaborates with a wide variety of organizations from academia, industry and government to reach learners and educators across the United States. 

To learn more about FMA Live! and the 2015 tour, visit: http://fmalive.honeywell.com 

To learn more about NASA’s educations program, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/education