NASA Hispanic Educational Outreach

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2006 Latina Women of NASA Featured in "Ay Mija, Why Do You Want To Be An Engineer?" Book On March 26 at the St. Louis Science Center will be the grand publishing of "Ay Mija, Why Do You Want To Be An Engineer?" by Author & Historical Researcher Edna Campos Gravenhorst, The book features twelve Latina engineers from around the country, three of which are NASA engineers and participants of Latina Women Of NASA web site. They are: Laurie Yvette Carrillo (from NASA JSC), Olga D. Gonzalez- Sanabria (NASA GRC), and Debbie Martínez (NASA LaRC). This event will be at hosted by Commentary Gilberto Pinela Host Hispanic TV Enterate on UPN. Reading by author, Edna Campos Gravenhorst . The book is intended for young adults and will be sold the day of the event. The author, illustrator and presenters will be available to sign books after the event. Web Site: http://www.slsc.org/default.asp?V_DOC_ID=984 Latina Women of NASA Guest Speaker at Charles E. Miner School On February 2, 2006, Debbie Martínez, a Computer Engineer in the Flight Simulation and Software Branch [currently detailed in the Flight Operations Branch] and participant/coordinator of Latina Women Of NASA website [http://latinawomen.nasa.gov/hep/lwon/] was the guest speaker at the Charles E. Miner [K-9] school in Caguas, Puerto Rico. Ms. Martínez discussed her work experience at NASA LaRC and encouraged students to pursue careers in science and technology. Approximately 100 students (grades: 2nd,3rd, 4th & 6th) attended her presentations. 2005 Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month through NASA's Digital Learning Network September 15 through October 15, 2005, is National Hispanic Heritage Month, which celebrates the achievements of Hispanic Americans. In conjunction with National Hispanic month, personnel at NASA Langley Research Center will be reading children's classics in Spanish to first and second grade students at Kate Waller Barrett Elementary School in Arlington, Virginia. Barrett, a NASA Explorer School, utilizes First Language Support (FLS) program to accelerate academic achievement through instruction in students' native language. Skills and concepts learned in their first language are then transferred to the learning of English language and academic subjects. Seventy-two percent of the student population at Barrett is Hispanic. NASA personnel will share their love of reading with these primary grade students via LaRC's Digital Learning Network. In these interactive events, students will listen to the story, answer comprehension questions, and participate in a hands-on activity. At the end of the connection, the NASA personnel will inscribe the book, which will then be sent to the students. Americans of Hispanic descent are engineers and mathematicians, scientists and technologists, educators and astronauts. Inspiring students to read opens a world of possibilities and opportunities for students of all cultures. POC: Ms. Rachael Manzer, Digital Learning Network, NASA Langley Research Center at (757) 864-8703 OEd and SHPE Exploring Educational Partnership On Wednesday, January 19, 2004, Dr. Thom Pinelli and Sharon Bowers (IPA-Virginia Beach City Public Schools) initiated a telecon with Rafaela Schwan and Gary Cruz of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. Founded in 1974, the primary function of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) is to (1) enhance and achieve the potential of Hispanics in engineering, math and science and (2) promote the development of Hispanics in engineering, science and other technical professions. (Ms. Schwan and Mr. Cruz are the SHPE managers for K-12 and college/university programs, respectively.) The parties agreed to pursue the development of a formalized partnership involving the NASA Langley Center for Distance Learning and SHPE that will include SHPE student and professional members becoming the official mentoring partner for Noticiencias NASA™, the training of SHPE student and professional members to conduct education and outreach events, the joint preparation and publication of K- 12 classroom activities and experiments, and the use of NASA LIVE™ to connect SHPE student and professional members to NASA. The OEd/SHPE partnership is being pursued as part of NASA Langley's Hispanic Education Initiative that is managed by Ivelisse Gilman. 2004 Hispanic Engineer Helps Space Station Crews Stay Fit Growing up in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Carlos Ortiz-Longo liked to take things apart. His father, a medical doctor, encouraged his young son's curiosity, helping him learn the way things work, even teaching him to fix his own bicycle. Today, Ortiz-Longo is still fixing his bicycle. Only this one is more than 200 miles above the Earth, on the International Space Station. Ortiz-Longo manages a team of more than 30 people who keep the Station's exercise equipment tuned. The Crew Health Care System and Exercise Countermeasures team is located at NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston. For more information, visit NASA New RELEASE : 04-141 Media organizations interested in interviewing Ortiz-Longo should contact Julie Burt, JSC Office of Public Affairs at: 281/483-5111. NASA SPACE MEDICINE CHIEF INDUCTED INTO HENAAC HALL OF FAME Dr. Nitza Margarita Cintron, chief of NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) Space Medicine and Health Care Systems Office, is a long way from her native Puerto Rico. Her plan to stay at NASA for only two years resulted in a 26-year career. Cintron was inducted into the Hispanic Engineers National Achievement Awards Conference's (HENAAC) Hall of Fame on October 7, 2004 during its 16th Annual Conference. The Hall of Fame was established in 1998 to recognize the contributions of Hispanics in science, engineering and technology. With Cintron, its membership numbers 25. Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Cintron holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology from Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore and an M.D. degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. Cintron has published scores of papers and holds numerous awards. Among them is the JSC Director's Commendation and Innovation Award, the center's highest award for civil servants. Cintron's advice to young people is, "In everything you do, always do you very best, be your very best. Everyone has skills and talents, and if you do your very best with them, you will always be a winner." NASA New RELEASE : 04-346. For more information, visit Latina Women of NASA Media organizations interested in interviewing Cintron should contact John Ira Petty, JSC Office of Public Affairs, at: 281/483-5111. NASA LARC HELPS TO ESTABLISH LOCAL SHPE CHAPTER The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) held its first interest meeting at NASA Langley Research Center's H.J.E. Reid Conference Center on Thursday, September 30 from 5-6 PM. Various professional individuals were invited to determine if enough interest existed in the Hampton Roads area to establish a local SHPE chapter. Meeting was coordinated by Mr. Juan Carlos Lam and Mrs. Venita Robinson (HEPM) NASA LARC HISPANIC ENGINEERS & SCIENTIST JUDGE FINAL VINNY COMPETITION The NASA LaRC Distance Learning in cooperation with Christopher Newport University (CNU) and Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) has created the VINNY™ Awards. Named in honor of Leonard da Vinci, a man famous for the creative use of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to solve human problems, the VINNY is designed to help heighten and increase awareness of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). VINNY is a global video competition. The competition challenges teams, made up of three students and one teacher, to identify and research a global problem and discover ways that STEM can be used to help solve it. Each team submitted a one-minute video explaining the global problem and a possible STEM solution. Submissions were made in six categories: English language video from elementary school grades 3-5, middle school grades 6-8, and high school grades 9-12 and Spanish language video from elementary school grades 3-5, middle school grades 6-8, and high school grades 9-12. NASA Langley Judges were Victor Carreño, Waldo Rodriquez (Research Scientist) and Debbie Martinez (Computer Engineer). The final winning team will be announced at the VINNY Competition Awards Ceremony in May 6, 2004 at 2:00 PM EST. EL NUEVO DIA NEWSPAPER VISITS NASA LANGLEY On January 16, 2004, "El Nuevo Dia" newspaper (from Puerto Rico) reporter Jose Delgado and photographer Jeanette Claudio were invited to NASA LaRC. The visit was coordinated by Ivelisse Gilman (Office of Education - Hispanic Outreach) and Kim Land (Office of Public Affairs). NASA LaRC field tour included: 14x22 subsonic wind tunnel (Gloria Hernandez), Cockpit Motion Facility (Debbie Martínez), and Structures and Materials facilities (Lucas Horta). This tour emphasized work opportunities LaRC presents for Hispanic employees. The on-line report of this visit entitled "Motivados los puertorriqueños de la NASA" may be found at http://www.adendi.com/archivo.asp?num=596857&keyword= 2003 UNIVISION PUERTO RICO TO BROADCAST NASA EDUCATIONAL SERIES FUTURE PROGRAMS TO FEATURE PUERTO RICAN CHILDREN [Full PRESS RELEASE (No. 03-086) or other LaRC News Releases] In an effort to inspire the next generation of Hispanic engineers and scientists, NASA Langley Research Center and Univision in Puerto Rico have partnered to broadcast Noticiencias NASA™, a series of one-minute video-and web-based programs, targeted for students in grades 3-5. The educational programs started airing on Dec. 13, 2003 during their Saturday morning children's programming starting at 8 a.m. Offered by NASA LaRC Distance Learning, the programs are designed to turn kids on to the excitement and fun of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, in the hope that they will want to pursue careers in those fields. NASA MULTIMEDIA SERIES SET TO INSPIRE HISPANIC YOUTH [Full PRESS RELEASE (No. 03-084) or other LaRC News Releases] Hoping to enhance the future U.S. scientific work force, NASA is launching Noticiencias NASA™, a new program under the agency's Hispanic Education Initiative. Designed for students in grades K-5, Noticiencias NASA™ is a Spanish-language, research-inquiry, standards-based, and technology-focused educational program. Noticiencias NASA™ uses the Internet, animation and video. It will introduce a rising population of young Hispanics to the world of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, NASA missions and research. According to the U.S. Department of Education National Center for Education Statistics, Hispanics are the fastest growing sector of the school-age population, the work force of tomorrow. It is projected in 25 years; one in every four children in U.S. elementary schools will be Hispanic. Noticiencias NASA™ is sponsored by NASA's Office of Biology & Physical Research (OBPR) and produced by NASA LaRC Distance Learning. First issue of "El Noticiero de NASA" newsletter [October 2003] This newsletter strives to engage the Hispanic education community in NASA's science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs. The underlying goals of the newsletter are to share information on achievements in NASA related education and research and foster networking among Hispanic educators, researchers, students and parentsŠ "as only NASA can". Website: "El Noticiero de NASA" newsletter [October 2003] NASA ENCOURAGES HISPANIC STUDENTS TO REACH FOR THE SKY NASA helped to encourage an estimated 325,000 high school students of Hispanic descent to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics during Hispanic Engineering, Science and Technology Week 2003, Oct.13-16. "One of NASA's core goals is to inspire the next generation of explorers, a diverse group of young people who will replenish our aging workforce," remarked Dr. Clifford W. Houston who is NASA's Deputy Associate Administrator for Education Programs. "Our participation at HESTEC Week events enables us to reach an enormous audience of Hispanic students, advancing our ability to inspire and motivate young people traditionally underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics-related careers," he said. NASA LARC INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION….OF HISPANICS NASA Langley Research Center newest program, NASA's Kids Science News Network™ (KSNN), is a Spanish language series of video and web-based programs designed to turn kids in grades K-2 and 3-5 on to the excitement and fun of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics as only NASA can! NASA's KSNN™, or Noticiencias NASA in Spanish, features Hispanic children explaining science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and facts about NASA to other kids in an entertaining and instructional format. This program is designed to introduce young Hispanics to the "world of science," to scientific inquiry, and to inspire them to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The KSNN Web Site http://ksnnsp.larc.nasa.gov is not only a useful tool for educators to enhance and enrich their classroom curriculum, but it is also a valuable asset for parents to share the fun and exciting content with their child while being actively involved with their learning. NASA's KSNN™ also provides an opportunity for both educators and parents to help students increase their knowledge of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics thus giving them an edge as they face the demands of the future. Ms. Ivelisse Gilman from the Office of Education manages Langley's Hispanic Education Initiative, which is an outreach effort to help inspire future Hispanic engineers and scientists. For more information about this or other NASA LaRC Distance Learning programs, contact Ivelisse Gilman at 757-864-5036. [Article: 8/03] Latina Women Of NASA Supports "Career Quest" workshop at Bayamón Prep Inter-American University The "Career Quest" is an English workshop being offered (July to August 1, 2003) to 24 Proyecto Access' participants (between 13 & 15 years of age) at Bayamón Prep Inter-American University in Puerto Rico. The workshop is intended to help development of the participant's language skills. As part of the workshop activity, students research on the career they would like to pursue by interviewing people in different fields like those featuresd on Latina Women Of NASA website. POC: Pilar Vázquez (Mpilar@intranet.bc.inter.edu), Associate Professor in the Languages Department at Inter American University Bayamón, Puerto Rico. Ph: 787-279-1912 ext. 42140, 42769 [Article: 7/03] Hispanics@NASA LaRC in the News Mr. Guillermo Gonzalez (SEC/Electronics Systems Branch) had a live radio interview by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Latin America Group about his work on the Aerial Regional-scale Environmental Survey of MARS (ARES) Airplane. The interview was in Spanish on June 2, 2003 at 10 AM EST and will be transmitted to South America and through their web site. This interview was organized by Dr. Arlene S. Levine, Manager of the ARES Education and Public Outreach (EPO) office. For more information, visit the BBC Mundo.com website at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/spanish/programmes/default.stm (Ciencia). Ms. Debbie Martínez (AirSC/Systems Development Branch) was selected as a "Powerhitter in Business and Technology" by the editors of Hispanic Engineer & Information Technology magazine (http://www.hispanicengineer.com/Editorial/Power%20Hitters.shtml) published in May 2003 edition. Being selected for this list is one of the most prestigious honors in the Hispanic professional community. Thousands of candidates are reviewed, and those that are selected stand out in areas such as professional achievement, technological innovation, and community leadership. Ms. Martínez is recognized for her support of NASA Hispanic educational outreach via the HEP@NASA LaRC (http://oeop.larc.nasa.gov/hep/), the Latina Women of NASA (http://oeop.larc.nasa.gov/hep/lwon), and the Hispanic Astronaut (http://oeop.larc.nasa.gov/hep/hep-astronauts.html) websites. For more information on other Hispanics@NASA LaRC, visit http://oeop.larc.nasa.gov/hep/hep-bios.html NASA SCI Files Airs "The Case of the Galactic Vacation" "The Case of the Galactic Vacation," the ninth and final program in the 2002-2003 season of the NASA SCIence Files™ will air on PBS stations nationwide ( locally on WHRO, Channel 15) and internally on LaRC Channel 10 from 11:00 AM - noon (EDT) on Wednesday, May 14. In this episode, the tree house detectives "go galactic" with their latest class project as they try to create the ultimate "out-of-this-world vacation." They visit NASA Langley Research Center to learn more about the Moon from Ed Prior and more about Mars from Bobby Braun. The detectives visit Starship 2040 and Derek Wang of NASA Marshall Space Flight Center to learn about the future of tourists in space. They also learn about the next generation of propulsion systems from Dr. Franklin Chang-Diaz at NASA Johnson Space Center and talk with the Expedition 6 crew as they learn what it is like to work and live in space. Barbara Morgan, Astronaut Educator, opens the show as the guest celebrity. This episode showcases the Langley Hispanic Education Initiative by highlighting the history, people, and culture of Puerto Rico. You won't want to miss Bianca's internship at the Arecibo Observatory where she learns about radio telescopes and the search for intelligent extraterrestrial life. Bianca also receives help from the Antonio Gonzales Suarez Bilingual School in Añasco, Puerto Rico where Alice Acevedo's fourth grade class, who are members of the NASA SCIence Files™ Kids Club, along with mentors from the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) learn how to measure distances in space. The NASA SCIence Files™ is an Emmy®-award winning, research and standards-based, integrated mathematics, science, and technology instructional distance learning series that uses Problem-Based Learning (PBL) to teach students in grades 3-5 about science as inquiry. NASA's Educational Show to feature Arecibo Observatory [Full PRESS RELEASE (No. 03-018) or other LaRC News Releases] As part of NASA's mission to inspire the next generation of explorers, NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., and the Arecibo Observatory (an astronomical observatory, and the largest single-dish radio telescope in the world) in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, will help students plan an out-of-this-world vacation - an imaginary trip through the solar system and beyond. The Case of the Galactic Vacation (aired May 14) was filmed in Puerto Rico on March 10-14, 2003. For more information on NASA Langley's Hispanic Education Initiative, please contact Ivelisse Gilman (ivelisse.gilman-1@nasa.gov), at 757-864-5036 NASA at SWE Conference in Puerto R ico NASA participated in a panel entitled "Women in Engineering" at the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) Conference in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico during March 14-16, 2003. This 2003's theme was: Integrating Culture into Engineering. Click on links to view this event's PRESS RELEASE (No. 03-019) or other LaRC News Releases. For more info, visit http://www.ece.uprm.edu/sweconf2003/ or contact Milagros Mateu (mmateu.hq.nasa.gov) at NASA HQ. 2002 NASA at the ILWC Conference in Puerto Rico Latina Women of NASA, Monsi Roman, Marla Perez-Davis, and Debbie Martinez, presented the General Session entitled "Challenges and Opportunities for Women in NASA" at the International Latino Women’s Congress (ILWC) conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Sept 25-27, 2002. 1999 Minority Bone Marrow Donor Registry Drive at NASA Langley As part of NASA LaRC celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month 1999, there was a Bone Marrow Donor Registry Drive held on Wednesday, October 6, 1999. According to the Red Cross, there is a CRITICAL need for minority donors, particularly Hispanics and Blacks...please consider registering. For more information, visit http://www.bonemarrow.org/ NASA Outreach Links NASA/MAES Scholarships NASA Langley Educational Outreach Programs

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Web log: Created: 28 de febrero del 2003. Updated: abril del 2008