COE Celebrates 45th Anniversary of NASA’s Aerospace Education Services Program

On March 14, the 45th anniversary of NASA’s Aerospace Education Services Program was celebrated with a reception and banquet at Oklahoma State University. This event took place during the NASA Education Professional Development Conference, March 13-17, 2006. The contributions of Larry Bilbrough, NASA’s program manager for the AESP, were recognized during this special occasion at the new ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center.

The program for the NASA Education Professional Development Conference included a live downlink from Astronaut Bill McArthur on March 14. McArthur is currently on the International Space Station until mid-April. His wife, Cindy McArthur, is an OSU NASA education specialist with the Teaching from Space Program Team at the Johnson Space Center. Three educator astronauts were invited to Stillwater for the conference. The current educator astronauts are Barbara Morgan, Joe Acaba, Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, and Richard Arnold.

“The NASA Aerospace Education Services Program has always been concerned with promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics careers in America’s youth,” said Dr. John Ulrich, NASA AESP 45th Anniversary Celebration coordinator.  “Although OSU’s involvement started out in just the Johnson Space Center states, it has grown to include all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam.  There are OSU AESP Offices at each NASA Center and NASA Headquarters.  In recent years our specialists’ educational expertise have been dedicated to assisting 150 NASA Explorer Schools across the U.S. The closest Explorer School is in Sasakwa, Okla.  These schools are provided enhanced, technology-rich programs on a regular schedule.  OSU is also a partner involved with sustaining quality education at Sasakwa.”

Through the College of Education, OSU has administered this NASA public affairs program for 34 of its 45 years in existence. AESP provides teachers, students, and the general public nationwide with information about NASA’s latest programs and research. Information is disseminated through teacher professional development and demonstration and lecture programs provided by 35 aerospace education specialists who are based at nine NASA space flight and research centers across the nation, and by faculty of the college.

AESP provides aerospace education community involvement programs; courses and workshops for elementary and secondary school teachers; assistance with curriculum revision and development activities of national, state, regional, and local programs; presentations for delivery on educational television and radio; presentations before civic clubs and professional organizations; special services at science and technology centers; in-service programs for aerospace specialists; and the development of instructional materials for various aerospace activities. The program offers several of these activities in selected inner city areas. A branch of AESP that serves underrepresented minority populations is the Urban and Rural Community Enrichment Program.

Another NASA contract allows the College of Education to direct the administration of the Teaching from Space Program. The college also provides logistical support for workshops and conferences associated with the program.

NASA Education Programs Director at OSU, Dr. Steve Marks, said, “OSU has achieved national recognition by being affiliated with NASA education over the years.  This affiliation has kept the OSU College of Education on the leading edge of teacher education and scientific research and development.”

Guests at the 45th anniversary celebration of NASA’s Aerospace Education Services Program.

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Last Updated Friday, March 31, 2006