This Echo is READ ONLY !   NO Un-Authorized Messages Please!
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dwayne Brown
Headquarters, Washington            April 3, 2003
(Phone: 202/358-1726)

Dilila Bigio
University of Turabo, Puerto Rico
(Phone: 787/743-7979)

RELEASE: 03-131

EDUCATOR ASTRONAUT REPORT CARD:
NASA Brings Learning in a Whole New Light to Puerto Rico

     NASA officials and astronaut Leland Melvin will visit 
several schools and universities in Puerto Rico April 7-10. 
They will encourage students in their pursuit of higher 
education and provide educators with unique resources to 
create learning activities and opportunities.

As part of NASA's commitment to inspiring the next generation 
of explorers, the visit is part of Science, Engineering and 
Technology Week sponsored by the Universidad del Turabo. The 
purpose is to give hundreds of teachers and students the 
opportunity to engage in the experience of space flight, gain 
a better understanding of NASA's education programs, and 
aerospace career opportunities. NASA representatives will 
also visit University of Puerto Rico campuses at Aguadilla 
and Mayaguez. 

Teachers and students will attend educational and career 
workshops, launch model rockets, and listen to inspiring 
presentations to help stimulate interest in science, math and 
technology education through the excitement of space 
exploration.  

Participants will also learn first-hand about NASA's Educator 
Astronaut Program (EAP), an out-of-this-world opportunity for 
teachers to become permanent members of NASA's Astronaut 
Corps. Unveiled in January, the EAP is part of NASA's effort 
to connect space exploration with the classroom. Teachers who 
want the opportunity to join the Educator Astronaut Program 
may apply using the Educator Astronaut Web site at: 

http://edspace.nasa.gov

The application deadline is April 30, 2003. Educators with 
questions about the program, or who do not have access to the 
Internet, can call (877/332-7876) toll-free.  The program has 
already received more than 6,800 teacher nominations.

Students, educators, parents, and anyone interested in 
participating in the EAP can nominate a teacher, and also 
join the Educator Astronaut "Earth Crew."  The Earth Crew is 
a Web-based interactive initiative linking audiences with 
education activities and programs, astronaut profiles, living 
and working in space, and basic information about NASA. 

Science, Engineering and Technology Week activities:
Monday, April 7 
8:30 a.m.- 11:30 a.m. EST (University of Turabo)
1 p.m.- 3 p.m. EST    (University of Puerto Rico, Recinto 
Universitario de Cayey)
*  Science and Math Educator's Day
*  Speakers, presentations, workshops 

Tuesday, April 8   (University of Turabo)
8:30 a.m.- 3 p.m. EST
*  Math Olympiad Competition
*  School visits, workshops, computer demonstrations
EAP Visits:
8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m. EST    (Ramey School)
10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.  EST  (University of Puerto Rico, 
Aguadilla)
1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. EST    (University of Puerto Rico, 
Mayaguez)

Wednesday, April 9   (University Of Turabo)
8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. EST 
*  NASA Pre-college Programs presentation
*  Sowing seeds in Science, Engineering and Technology
*  High school students solar boat, plane, rocket and car 
demonstrations

Thursday, April 10   (University of Turabo)
8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
*  NASA Educational Day with model presentations, engineering 
demonstrations
*  Math "blast" activity

For more information about other NASA education initiatives 
on the Internet, visit:

http://education.nasa.gov/

For more information about NASA, on the Internet visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

-end-

                            * * *

 - END OF FILE -
==========

@Message posted automagically by IMTHINGS POST 1.30
---