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You
are here: Washington Aerospace Scholars Program
The Washington Aerospace Scholars program for High School Juniors is a statewide interactive on line learning experience, highlighted by a six day internship at the The Museum of Flight in Seattle where selected students are encouraged to study math, science, engineering, or computer science by interacting with engineers and educators involved in aerospace.
For more than a decade, the declining numbers of engineers and physical scientists produced by Universities in the United States has concerned many sectors of the nation. The declining numbers of engineers impact the creativity, productivity, and economic well being of the nation. Additionally, the lack of "clearable engineers" has a deleterious impact on the national defense. The actual enrollment numbers have been formally tracked by the National Science Foundation since post World War II, 1945. The peak in engineering enrollment occurred in 1987 and has been declining since. Similar trends have been occurring in the physical sciences and mathematics. In 1956, pre Sputnik, the US graduated twice as many bachelor degrees in Physics as in 2004.
The lack of qualified science, mathematics, and engineering graduates has been cited by Washington State Companies, such as the Boeing Company, and Microsoft, as being an underlying reason for moving business activities (e.g. research and development) off shore to other countries such as India and China.
Statistics:
• While USA University enrollment is increasing, engineering enrollment is decreasing: from 8% in 1986, to 5% in 1998.
• 2001: 7.4 % of Engineering Undergraduates in US were non citizens, 42.8% of M. S. were non citizens and 45% of PhDs were non citizens
• Note that many PhD non citizens are returning to their home countries.
Most recently, the President of the United States, George W. Bush, cited a National Academy report published in late 2005 in his 2006 State of the Union Speech: "Rising Above The Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future." This study was commissioned by Senator Lamar Alexander and Senator Jeff Bingaman of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, with endorsement by Representative Sherwood Boehlert and Representative Bart Gordon of the House Committee on Science. In the Executive Summary of that study, is stated the following:
The United States takes deserved pride in the vitality of its economy, which forms the foundation of a high quality of life, our national security, and our hope that our children and grandchildren will inherit ever greater opportunities. That vitality is derived in large part from the productivity of well-trained people and the steady stream of scientific and technical innovations they produce. Without high quality, knowledge-intensive jobs and the innovative enterprises that lead to discovery and new technology, our economy will suffer and our people will face a lower standard of living. Economic studies conducted even before the information technology revolution have shown that as much as 85% of measured growth in US income per capita was due to technological change.
Today, Americans are feeling the gradual and subtle effects of globalization that challenge the economic and strategic leadership that the United States has enjoyed since World War II. Thanks to globalization, driven by modern communications and other advances, workers in virtually every sector must now face competitors who live just a mouse click away in Ireland, Finland, China, India and dozens of other nations whose economies are growing.
In a related tour of East Asia, the President of the National Academy of Engineers, Dr. William Wulf reported the following statistics:
• 2001: Taiwan: 35% of undergraduates are engineering students • 2001: China: 46% of undergraduates are engineering students.
• 1997: Asia produced 43% of all science and engineering degrees worldwide, Europe 34%, North America (including Canada), 23%
• 2004: China graduated 350,000 engineers, computer scientists and ITs with 4 year degrees, The US 140,000
"Rising Above The Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future", included among its findings the following:
"Having reviewed the trends in the US and abroad, the committee is deeply concerned that the scientific and technological building blocks critical to our economic leadership are eroding at a time when many other nations are gathering strength….we are worried about the future prosperity of the United States. Although many people assume that the United States will always be a world leader in science and technology, this may not continue to be the case inasmuch as great minds and ideas exist throughout the world. We fear the abruptness with which a lead in science and technology can be lost---and the difficulty of recovering a lead once lost, if indeed it can be regained at all."
"Less than one third of US 4th grade and 8th grade students performed at or above a level called "proficient" in mathematics."
The study concluded with Four Recommendations focused on actions in K-12 education. The Washington Aerospace Scholars program is well postured to align with several recommendations related to both teachers and students, but principally the following:
"Action A-3: Enlarge the pipeline of students who are prepared to enter college and graduate with a degree in science, engineering, or mathematics by increasing the number of students who pass AP and IB science and mathematics courses. Create opportunities and incentives for middle school and high school students to pursue advanced work in science and mathematics . . . provide the resources and staff for summer programs that introduce students to science and mathematics. Inquiry based learning: Summer internships and research opportunities provide especially valuable laboratory experience for both middle school and high school students."
Washington Aerospace Scholars (WAS):
The Partnership:
The partnership includes the Governor's Office, the Washington Aerospace Scholars Foundation, The Museum of Flight, the Aldarra Foundation, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Johnson Space Center, The Boeing Company, Avista, Microsoft, Battelle/Pacific Northwest National Laboratories, The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and other partners throughout the state. The program itself is based on a successful model launched by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 2000 in the State of Texas. (Reference Web Site: http://aerospacescholars.jsc.nasa.gov/)
NASA developed the on line curricula in collaboration with educational specialists and it is aligned with state standards. NASA will provide this curricula to the WAS and will provide start up guidance and mentorship. The curricula will be modified, if required, to the Washington State Standards. The summer experience, described below, will occur on site at the Museum of Flight on Boeing Field, King County Airport.
The Museum of Flight is already in the position for providing quality "experiential learning" opportunities for K-12 students with decades of experience behind its current 22 programs, including the Challenger Learning Center (CLC), the Aviation Learning Center (ALC), and it summer Aerospace Camp Experience (ACE). The MOF learning experiences are aligned with the Washington State Essential Learning Skills requirements and are guided by an Education and Learning Advisory Board (ELAB) composed of more than 40 educational specialists from throughout the State of Washington. Nearly 100,000 K-12 students are served annually with more than 500 schools served in 2005.
The WAS Program:
The WAS partnership will provide a unique learning experience to 160 High School Juniors and 24 High School Teachers from throughout the State of Washington each year. Selected educators from across Washington serve as counselors during the summer. Math and science teachers are ideal counselors. Educators compete for the opportunity through a proposal process, with their travel expenses covered by the program.
Who can attend?
Students from across the state of Washington are selected to participate by their state legislator through a competitive process. In order to participate students must be:
• A U.S. citizen
• At least 16 years of age
• A Washington State resident
• Currently in junior year of high school
• Interest in and an aptitude for math, science, engineering, or computer science
• Committed to a one-year relationship with the Museum of Flight, including a designated six-day residential experience during the summer
• Access to the Internet (home, school, or public library) and e-mail
What will the students do?
During the school year, scholars will complete 10 web-based lessons. http://aerospacescholars.jsc.nasa.gov/HAS/cirr/default.cfm. Lessons begin in December and are due every two weeks. These lessons include a variety of activities such as reading online curriculum, writing essays, designing upgrades to be used on the Shuttle and ISS, solving math problems, and taking online quizzes.
If selected, during the summer, scholars attend a six-day summer session at the Museum of Flight, which will include:
• A team project in Mars exploration
• Tours of Engineering and Science facilities at Boeing, Microsoft, the University of Washington, and other locations.
• Mentoring by local engineers
• Participation in hands-on engineering activities
• Briefings by astronauts, pilots, engineers, and other experts.
Students and counselors are provided transportation, housing, and meals during their week-long stay at the Museum of Flight.Distance Learning On Line Modules
Ten lessons have been compiled to prepare the scholars for their week at the MOF and to familiarize them with space exploration. These activities are submitted (in sequential order) once every two weeks by the online system, the "Comm-Link" (accessible once signed-in). Each activity is reviewed by a certified Washington educator through the online system.
Online Discussions/Chat Room:
Scholars participate with TBD mentors and WAS staff in on-line discussions during the year. These online discussions focus on the Space Shuttle, International Space Station, the Moon, and Mars. The online chat room is always available for official online team meetings.Final Projects:
Scholars submit a final project before arriving at MOF in the summer. These projects represent the culmination of knowledge gained from the online modules. These are displayed in the online gallery for viewing by parents, legislators, engineering mentors, and MOF administrators. All work is posted with the student's first name only to ensure privacy.On-Site Activities
Cooperative Activities:
Scholars are grouped into four teams, Getting There (RED), Living There (WHITE), Working There (BLUE), and Mission Integration (GRAY). Teams work cooperatively designing a feasible manned mission to Mars.
At the end of the week on-site, they present details of their mission to TBD engineers, administrators, astronauts, pilots, state legislators, parents, and other VIPs at the closing banquet.Competitive Activities:
Teams compete against each other in various engineering activities that include a budget where funds can be earned or lost. Throughout the week, each team competes in rocket launches, landers, oral presentations, etc. with the overall goal of sending a rover to Mars and back. The team with the most funds left over at the end of the week wins the competition.Tours
Scholars and teachers participate in tours through various companies, typically not accessible to the public. Students get the opportunity to see a vast array of careers in the areas of math, science, engineering, and technology.
Mentoring
During the program a mentor, usually an engineer or someone working in a science-related field in the Seattle area, is assigned to each team. They facilitate team chat sessions and the team project presented at the closing luncheon.
Follow-Up Commitment
As an Aerospace Scholar, once the distance learning activities are finished and the summer workshop has ended, the responsibility continues. Scholars are encouraged to
• Maintain an e-mail relationship with their team mentor
• Stay in touch with fellow scholars
• Continue to visit the WAS web site
• Recommend the program to others
• Help recruit new students
• Participate in on-line chat sessions for new students
• Continue contact with WAS, as required, and maintain information concerning their choice of college, choice of major, and post-graduation plans.The Washington Aerospace Scholars program is a unique state wide partnership which we believe will substantially provide a positive impact to the declining numbers of young students selecting careers in engineering, mathematics, physics, chemistry, and computer sciences, and therefore providing a positive impact to the economic future of the State of Washington. It is a program based on a NASA developed curriculum and processes with five years of history and supportive data, both measured and anecdotal from the students themselves, which we believe can be successfully executed in Washington.
However, the program will be optimized for the State of Washington, meeting essential learning skill requirements and including teachers and practicing engineers in both in its development and its execution. Its success and visibility will be enhanced by the involvement of every Washington legislator in the selection of students from throughout the State. Students who graduate from this program will gain an integrated knowledge of technical careers, the processes of business, and the functions of our legislative institutions. Because Washington and the Northwest are central to so many high technology businesses and Educational Centers, it is also hoped that this program will help to provide a solution to a much larger national imperative.
Selected references
• Space Policy Institute Report on Origins of Scientists and Engineers: 1989
• National Science Foundation "Indicators": 1995-2002
• Hart- Rudman: Commission on National Security/21st Century, 2001
• Walker Aerospace Commission Report: 2002
• The National Academies: Rising Above The Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future, 2005
For Further information or questions contact The Museum of Flight website at:
http://www.museumofflight.org/display.asp?Page=washingtonaerospacescholars
Dr. Bonnie Dunbar, PhD, is a retired NASA Astronaut and President and CEO of the Museum of Flight. Dr. Dunbar became a NASA astronaut in August 1981. bdunbar@museumofflight.org
©July 2006 New Horizons for Learning
http://www.newhorizons.org
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