NASA Multimedia Series Set To Inspire Hispanic Youth

Gretchen Cook-Anderson
Headquarters, Washington December 9, 2003
(Phone: 202/358-0836)

Kimberly W. Land
Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va.
(Phone 757/864-9885)

RELEASE: 03-399

NASA MULTIMEDIA SERIES SET TO INSPIRE HISPANIC YOUTH

Hoping to enhance the future U.S. scientific work force,
NASA is launching Noticiencias NASA, a new program under the
agency's Hispanic Education Initiative.

Designed for students in grades K-5, Noticiencias NASA is a
Spanish-language, research-inquiry, standards-based, and
technology-focused educational program. Noticiencias NASA uses
the Internet, animation and video. It will introduce a rising
population of young Hispanics to the world of science,
technology, engineering, mathematics, NASA missions and
research.

According to the U.S. Department of Education National Center
for Education Statistics, Hispanics are the fastest growing
sector of the school-age population, the work force of
tomorrow. It is projected in 25 years; one in every four
children in U.S. elementary schools will be Hispanic.

Noticiencias NASA features Hispanic students explaining
science, technology, engineering, mathematics and NASA facts
to other children in an entertaining and instructional format.
The one-minute video programs explain everyday phenomena,
correct misconceptions, and answer frequently asked questions
about the Earth and space. The program also uses animated
characters (for grades K-2). The coordinating Web site offers
detailed written explanations, hands-on activities, resources
and computer-graded quizzes.

Topics range from, "Why do astronauts float in space?" and,
"Did you know NASA's Odyssey spacecraft found water ice under
the surface of Mars?" to "What is nanotechnology?" and "How
does the Internet work?"

"It is our hope these programs will inspire kids to pursue
careers in the engineering and science fields," said Ivelisse
Gilman, manager of the Hispanic Education Initiative at NASA's
Langley Research Center (LaRC), Hampton, Va. The Hispanic
Education Initiative is an outreach effort designed to address
the serious shortage of Hispanic men and women in these
fields. "We are striving to bolster students' learning
potential as well as address a critical aspect of maintaining
leadership in science and engineering in the 21st century,"
Gilman added.

Noticiencias NASA is sponsored by NASA's Office of Biology &
Physical Research (OBPR) and produced by LaRC for Distance
Learning. According to Bonnie McClain, OBPR chief of
education, statistics indicate participation by Hispanics in
the scientific labor force continues to trail behind other
ethnic groups. Hispanic students take fewer mathematics,
science, and technology courses. OBPR is pleased to support
this programming, designed to pique the interest of young
people, motivate them to find out more about science, math,
and technology, and to help overcome lack of participation by
Hispanic students.

LaRC for Distance Learning produces five award-winning,
educational programs in English and Spanish: NASA's Kids
Science News Network, NASA SCI Files, NASA CONNECT, NASA LIVE
and NASA's Destination Tomorrow.

For information about the Noticiencias NASA multimedia series,
on the Internet, visit:

http://ksnnsp.larc.nasa.gov

For NASA Web sites in Spanish on the Internet, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/En_Espanol.html

For information about NASA education programs on the Internet,
visit:

http://education.nasa.gov

For information about NASA and agency programs on the
Internet, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov


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