NASA-sponsored Forum Seeks to Build Partnerships to Improve Education

The growing shortage of skilled workers emerging from the U.S education system will be the focus of a NASA-sponsored event Tuesday, May 11, as officials explore ways to build partnerships to improve education, provide leadership in the aerospace industry, and leverage existing resources.

The “Forum on Benchmarking Educational Partnerships,” sponsored by the Education Programs Department at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., will be held at the Huntsville Marriott.

Marshall Center Director David King will welcome industry representatives, education officials, and community and civic leaders to the day-long event. Dr. Adena Loston, NASA Associate Administrator for Education, will discuss the objectives of NASA’s Education Enterprise and the Enterprise’s role in the Vision for Space Exploration.

Dr. Joe Morton, Alabama’s interim State Superintendent of Education, will report on the success of Alabama’s partnership with NASA through the Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative, which provides classroom teachers with the materials, equipment, technology, and supplies needed to deliver high-quality, activity-based instruction. Such resources enable students to learn math, science, and technology through actual hands-on activities and real-life experiences.

“Everyone has a role to play in improving education,” said Jim Pruitt, manager of the Marshall Education Programs Department. “A future beneficiary of improved education will

be the aerospace industry, and we at NASA welcome ideas from companies on how to
approach education, and thus, develop our future workforce.”

Some of the Marshall Center’s prime contractors have been invited to showcase their educational outreach programs, and all participants will be encouraged to identify areas of

possible collaboration with NASA in an effort to leverage available resources toward common goals.

The Forum begins at 8:30 a.m. CDT. For more information and an agenda, visit the Marshall Center Education Web site at: http://education.msfc.nasa.gov/docs/137.html.