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03-004
For Release: January 24, 2003

Sally V. Harrington
Media Relations Office
216/433-2037
Sally.V.Harrington{at}nasa.gov

New Educational Facility Makes the Sky the Limit for Students
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NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, in partnership with 
Richland School District One in Columbia, S.C. today dedicated a new 
educational laboratory today. The facility will send students off to a 
flying start, as they explore the world of math and science using 
modern computer technology.

Through the newly dedicated Aerospace Educational Laboratory (AEL), 
which is a state-of-the-art, electronically enhanced computerized 
classroom, students will discover the concept of flight, as they 
design an aircraft and plot its flight or take a virtual trip to the 
International Space Station.

"The AEL is designed to stimulate the curiosity of students. We want 
to make science, discovery, exploration and research exciting to 
engage the imagination of the Nation's youth and inspire them to 
pursue careers in science, mathematics, engineering and technology," 
said NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe.

Rep. James E. Clyburn, 6th Congressional District and John Hairston,
director External Programs at NASA's Glenn Research Center 
participated in the dedication. Also present from NASA was Edwin 
Prior, deputy director of the Office of Education at NASA's Langley 
Research Center in Hampton, Va.  South Carolina is part of the 
five-state region Langley's Office of Education serves.

The laboratory is located at the new Science, Engineering, Mathematics 
and Aerospace Academy (SEMAA) Program site in the Challenger Space 
Science Center. The laboratory is part of a nationwide network of 
similar facilities cosponsored by NASA and education organizations.

SEMAA exposes historically underrepresented students in grades K-12 to
activities in the fields of science, engineering, mathematics and
technology. The program consists of three eight-week, Saturday morning
sessions with distinct curricula for each grade level. There are no 
student fees.

"The young people who participate in this program will be the 
engineers, researchers and computer experts of tomorrow," said John 
Hairston, director of External Programs at NASA's Glenn Research 
Center in Cleveland, which manages the program. "The goal of this 
program is to inspire them to excel in the areas of math, science and 
technology, so they may reach their full potential."

SEMAA, a vision of former Cleveland congressman Louis Stokes, was 
developed in 1993 through a partnership between Glenn and Cuyahoga 
Community College, Cleveland to foster understanding and enthusiasm 
for math and science in school children. Since then, SEMAA has grown 
from a single location to 19 sites reaching more than 45,000 students, 
parents and teachers around the country. NASA's Office of Equal 
Employment and Opportunities in Washington funds the SEMAA program.

Additional information about SEMAA is at:

http://www.semaa.net

For more information about AEL, go to:

http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/MAEL/

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