Author: Kerry Majher

NASA and Wichita State are interested in continuing their partnership by sponsoring NASA-related activities to the community. Up to $55,000 is available to fund up to four proposals, with a 50 cents per dollar cost share requirement.

WSU faculty are invited to submit proposals for activities:

• That engage a significant and diverse population of students, faculty, educators and the general public, especially those of underrepresented racial minorities and ethnicities, women and individuals with disabilities
• That offer exciting learning experiences and relevant NASA knowledge, resources and real-world applications
• That focus on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)

Email Dr. Linda Kliment, associate professor of aerospace engineering, at linda.kliment@wichita.edu to learn more.

The Teacher Workshop Program, part of the NASA Kansas Space Grant Consortium, supports the development and implementation of STEM educator workshops. NASA is especially interested in helping teachers bring NASA-relevant material and content into middle-school classrooms.

Multiple awards between $15,000 and $50,000 each are anticipated. Proposers must identify a 50 cent commitment for every NASA dollar requested (use of federal matching funds is not allowed). The majority of activity should be planned for between June 2023 and March 2024. Follow-up activities, such as reporting and program evaluations, can take place within three months following a workshop.

For more information, email nasainkansas@wichita.edu or visit the KSGC homepage.

The third annual Innovation Works Competition will take place beginnning at Oct. 21-23. The competition is a partnership between Wichita State, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works and NASA in Kansas and offers a fast-paced and challenging student competition with cash prizes.

Through the qualifying phase, teams of three to four students create a one-minute video about a qualification theme that describes an innovative solution to a real-world problem or scenario. The top 12 teams will be selected to compete in the weekend phase of the competition. 

The weekend competition theme will be announced during the opening session Friday, Oct. 21. the teams will then check during the next 48 hours with short presentations about their problem understanding, focus area, initial solution and offer a refined solution.

To enter the competition, student teams must create a one-minute video and submit register for the competition by 11:59 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14. For more information including rules and qualifications, visit the competition page below.

The NASA Kansas Space Grant Consortium (KSGC) is accepting proposals for teacher workshops for the 2022-2023 academic year through Sept. 9. The KSGC Teacher Workshop Program (TWP) supports the development and implementation of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics educator workshops, especially in middle-school classrooms.

Multiple awards of $15,000-$50,000 each are anticipated to be available. A non-federal $.50 match is required for every NASA dollar requested.

For more information, contact. Dr. Scott Miller at scott.miller@wichita.edu or to nasainkansas@wichita.edu.

The Kansas NASA Established Program (KNEP) to Stimulate Competitive Research Program is seeking proposals for a NASA Office of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Engagement (OSTEM) opportunity, entitled the Rapid Response Research (R3) Cooperative Agreement Notice (CAN). The Kansas deadline for proposal submissions is noon Feb.15.

The R3’s purpose is to provide a streamlined method to address research issues important to NASA mission directorates. NASA plans to make up to twenty $100,000 awards, with no cost-sharing requirements. Proposals must address topics identified by the involved NASA divisions (see appendices of the NASA Announcement – NNH22ZHA004C).

For more information, contact the NASA in Kansas director, Dr. Scott Miller, at scott.miller@wichita.edu.

The Kansas NASA Established Program (KNEP) to Stimulate Competitive Research Program is seeking proposals for eventual submission to a NASA fiscal year 2022 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). This research opportunity, previously a cooperative agreement notice (CAN), includes up to $750,000 in funding for three years. All NASA EPSCoR monies must be cost-shared at a level of at least 50% with non-federal monies.

The CAN efforts must include the following:

• Contribute to and promote the development of research capability in NASA EPSCoR jurisdictions (e.g., Kansas) in areas of strategic importance to the NASA mission.
• Improve the capabilities of the NASA EPSCoR jurisdictions to gain support from sources outside the NASA EPSCoR program.
• Develop partnerships among NASA research assets, academic institutions and industry.
• Contribute to the overall research infrastructure and economic development of NASA EPSCoR jurisdictions.

Interested investigators can submit proposals directly to KNEP (not NASA). The KNEP deadline is noon Jan. 14, 2022. Following reviews, KNEP will recommend one proposal for final preparation and submission to NASA.

For more information, contact KNEP director at scott.miller@wichita.edu or nasainkansas@wichita.edu.

Registration for the second Innovation Works competition has been extended until Nov. 4, with the weekend competition occurring Nov. 12-14. To qualify, teams of three to four students must submit a one-minute team presentation video addressing an innovative approach to real-life challenges faced every day by industry and government.

Multidisciplinary teams are encouraged but at least one team member must be a current engineering major. Undergraduate and graduate students are welcome to compete. Only the top twelve qualifying teams will be invited to continue in the weekend competition which will be announced Nov. 9.

The final contest theme will be announced on Nov. 12.

Once the final contest theme is announced, teams will periodically present short pitches to judges during sessions Nov. 12-14. Scoring is based on problem understanding, solution uniqueness, demonstrated value of the solution, solution practicality and the team’s overall effectiveness communicating.

Registration for the second virtual Innovation Works Competition is open until noon Oct. 7. To qualify, teams of three to four students must submit a one-minute team presentation video addressing an innovative approach to real-life challenges faced every day by industry and government. The competition will have $12,000 in student prizes.

Multidisciplinary teams are encouraged, but at least one team member must be a current engineering student. Undergraduate and graduate students are welcome to compete.

Only the top 12 qualifying teams will be invited to continue in the competition, which will be announced Oct. 12.

The final contest theme will be announced on Oct. 15. In the competition, teams will periodically present short pitches to judges during sessions over a 48-hour period (Friday-Sunday). Scoring is based on problem understanding, solution uniqueness, demonstrated value of the solution, solution practicality, and the team’s overall effectiveness communicating.

The NASA Kansas Space Grant Consortium (KSGC) Teacher Workshop Program is currently accepting proposals for KSGC affiliated middle-school teachers. The KSGC supports the development and implementation of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) educator workshops. NASA is especially interested in helping teachers bring NASA-relevant material and content into middle-school classrooms. 

Three awards worth about $50,000 each are anticipated (smaller proposals are also welcome) with a $0.50 match requirement for every NASA dollar awarded. All proposal submissions are due Aug. 30.

For more information, contact nasainkansas@wichita.edu.