NASA Invites Local Middle Schoolers to Explore Agency STEM Careers

NASA is hosting TECH Day at its Glenn Research Center in Cleveland on May 1 for Ohio middle school students to explore STEM careers.
The event, which can be attended by media, will feature tours of various facilities, including the International Space Station Payload Operations Center and a simulated lunar operations laboratory.
Students will participate in an interactive engineering challenge and engage with professionals to learn about the wide range of careers available in the aerospace industry.
The goal of TECH Day is to inspire and inform the next generation of innovators by introducing them to clear and attainable career pathways into STEM fields.
Media interested in attending should contact Jacqueline Minerd at jacqueline.minerd@nasa.gov no later than April 30 for more information and potential interview opportunities.

A group of grade school students explore the lobby of NASA Glenn's Telecscience Support Center, a facility where researchers operate International Space Station experiments. A NASA expert wearing a white shirt with blue and red stars and jeans clasps her hands and smiles at a student looking up at her. The student is a grade school girl with a light blue shirt and braids with white hair clips. She smiles up at the expert and appears to be asking a question. Other students look on in the background.

Students take a tour of the Glenn International Space Station Payload Operations Center at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, where researchers operate International Space Station experiments, during 4-H Day on June 14, 2024.

Credit: NASA/Jef Janis

Ohio middle school students will step into the shoes of real-world NASA professionals for a day of career exploration and hands-on activities at NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. Nearly 200 students are slated to participate in TECH Day at NASA Glenn on May 1, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Media are invited to attend.

TECH Day is designed to inspire and inform the next generation of innovators by introducing them to clear and attainable career pathways into the aerospace industry. Students will tour NASA Glenn facilities, participate in an interactive engineering challenge, and engage with professionals to learn about the wide range of careers in STEM fields.

Student tours will include the following Glenn facilities:

Graphics and Visualization Lab, where researchers create engaging projects using virtual and augmented reality
Glenn International Space Station Payload Operations Center, where researchers remotely operate experiments aboard the International Space Station
Simulated Lunar Operations Laboratory, a unique indoor space designed to mimic the surface of the Moon and Mars
10×10 Supersonic Wind Tunnel, NASA Glenn’s largest and fastest wind tunnel facility

Creating Clear Pathways

Developing early and accessible entry points into STEM careers is essential to meeting the growing demand for a skilled technical workforce. NASA STEM engagement events help students visualize their future and better understand the technical experience needed for a career in the aerospace sector. Opportunities like this equip students with the skills to further technological advancement and become the STEM professionals of tomorrow.

Media interested in attending should contact Jacqueline Minerd at jacqueline.minerd@nasa.gov no later than 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 30. Interviews with experts will take place from 9 to 10 a.m.

For more information on NASA Glenn, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/glenn

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Jacqueline Minerd
Glenn Research Center, Cleveland
216-433- 6036
jacqueline.minerd@nasa.gov

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Q. What is TECH Day at NASA Glenn?

A. TECH Day is a career exploration event designed to inspire and inform middle school students about STEM careers in the aerospace industry.

Q. How many students will participate in TECH Day at NASA Glenn?

A. Nearly 200 Ohio middle school students are slated to participate in TECH Day on May 1, 2024.

Q. What facilities will student tours include during TECH Day?

A. Student tours will visit the Graphics and Visualization Lab, Glenn International Space Station Payload Operations Center, Simulated Lunar Operations Laboratory, and 10-10 Supersonic Wind Tunnel.

Q. Why is developing early entry points into STEM careers essential?

A. Developing early and accessible entry points into STEM careers is crucial to meet the growing demand for a skilled technical workforce in the aerospace sector.

Q. What can students expect to learn during TECH Day?

A. Students will participate in an interactive engineering challenge, engage with professionals, and gain hands-on experience exploring various STEM careers at NASA Glenn.

Q. How can media attend TECH Day?

A. Media interested in attending should contact Jacqueline Minerd at jacqueline.minerd@nasa.gov no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 30.

Q. What time will TECH Day take place?

A. TECH Day will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 1, 2024.

Q. Who can provide interviews with experts during TECH Day?

A. Interviews with experts will take place from 9 to 10 a.m. on the day of TECH Day.

Q. Where can more information about NASA Glenn be found?

A. More information about NASA Glenn can be found at https://www.nasa.gov/glenn.

Q. How can media contact Jacqueline Minerd for more information?

A. Media can contact Jacqueline Minerd at jacqueline.minerd@nasa.gov or 216-433-6036.