Texas Tech University Center for Engineering Outreach
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May 10, 2006

Texas Space Grant Consortium Funds Center Proposal

Highlighting a long-standing commitment to aero-science education, the Texas Space Grant consortium has awarded the Center for Engineering Outreach $15,000 to continue its development of space related curriculum for K-12 education.

This year’s series of grant awards focus on the consortium’s commitment to develop interdisciplinary space-related courses and curricula for both K-12 and undergraduate students. The Center for Engineering Outreach’s proposal was one of six grants funded for 2006.

“We’re thrilled by the announcement,” remarked John Chandler, Ph.D., a director of the Center for Engineering Outreach. “The Texas Space Grant Consortium’s annual grant program is competitive, and to have our proposal selected from those submitted from across the state brings important recognition and support to the work we’re doing at the Center for Engineering Outreach.”

The Center for Engineering Outreach’s proposal focuses on the development and dissemination of aero-science curriculum and educational resources for grades 6-12. Specifically, the center is interested in developing a rocketry and aero-science version of the Principles of Technology courses offered as part of the state of Texas’ common course catalog.

Chandler explained that developing aero-science courses at the middle school and high school levels builds directly on past successes the center has had at Estacado High School in Lubbock and Fredericksburg High School in Fredericksburg.

In many ways, students at both schools have pioneered space and engineering related education at the K-12 level. Just last year, students from Estacado High School broke the sound barrier with a rocket they designed and built in class.

Estacado High School is part of the center’s Pre-college Engineering Academy.

“We’re trying to make the engineering experiences of students in Lubbock and Fredericksburg something that students at other school districts can enjoy,” stated Chandler. “By capturing those experiences into curriculum designed to fit the Principles of Technology course description, schools across the state will be able to have similar programs in their classroom without having to worry about state standards.”

In addition to a focus on K-12 curriculum, the Center for Engineering Outreach grant cited opportunities to work with NASA’s Aerospace Education Program and the Texas Partnership for Aero-science Education. Partnerships were another key component of the Texas Space Grant Consortium’s evaluation process.

The Texas Space Grant Consortium is a group of 35 institutions which include universities, industrial organizations, non-profit organizations, and government agencies within Texas. The consortium works to raise awareness for NASA’s mission throughout the state of Texas.

Through collaboration with faculty and administrators, the Texas Space Grant Consortium works with higher education institutions to enhance the understanding and appreciation of the benefits of space exploration and space-based research. A key part of this partnership is the Texas Space grant Consortium Higher Education Program, which awards grant proposals from Texas universities on a yearly basis.

Other 2006 recipients include Rafic Bachnak, Texas A&M University Corpus Christi; Mary Kay Hemenway, University of Texas at Austin; Min Liu, University of Texas at Austin; Patricia Reiff, Rice University; and Ian Smith, Rice University.