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NASA Industry‐Education Forum, online at Paragon Space Development Corp.
"On December 3, 2009, the NASA Office of Education hosted the NASA Industry‐Education Forum at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC. The purpose of the NASA Industry Education Forum was to obtain ideas on how NASA and industry can make a demonstrable impact on student achievements in STEM and their desire to pursue careers in the aerospace industry. Aerospace companies who had demonstrated success in STEM workforce development were invited. Participants presented innovative ideas to increase our collective impact on the future aerospace workforce. The forum accomplished its intent: provide a mechanism to start a dialog, identify areas for collaboration and explore next steps. ... A full report as well as well as a strategy for moving forward will be provided to participants and others upon request. ... Pictures of the opening general session can be found at the following website: "
Keith's 28 Dec note: This event was not publicly announced in advance and attendance was by invitation only. Nothing has been posted on NASA's Education website or anywhere else at NASA.gov as to what was presented, discussed, or decided at this meeting. Only this summary posted on the website of one of the participating companies has emerged. Why should anyone need to "request" this information? Shouldn't it just be posted as a normal way of doing business? Not exactly "open" or "transparent"...
Keith's 30 Dec update: I sent an email to NASA's AA for Education, Joyce Winterton asking "Why are events like this not publicly announced? Why isn't the outcome of this event posted on NASA.gov?". She replied today "Thank you for your interest in the discussions NASA recently held with industry representatives who are working in the area of STEM education. The outcome of the discussions will be on the NASA education section of the website early in January." I still do not understand why NASA does not tell the public what it is doing or why it takes a month to post such things on a website.
Keith's 14 Jan update: It is now mid-January. Still nothing posted.
Keith's 23 Jan update: It has been a month and a half since the event. Still nothing posted. Strange given the White House's interest in education these days.
"The purpose of the NASA Industry Education Forum was to obtain ideas on how NASA and industry can make a demonstrable impact on student achievements in STEM and their desire to pursue careers in the aerospace industry."
The best way NASA can impact student enrollment in careers in the aerospace industry (and thus impact STEM achievement) is to commit to doing something in SPACE that young STEM students can actually SEE, excites them and has them want to participate.
Then create a means for the students to participate throughout their STEM curriculum.
Oh, wait a minute,,,this requires the US to commit to something beyond the next presidential election cycle.