NASA EXPRESS -- Your STEM Connection for Dec. 4, 2025

Check out NASA's latest STEM opportunities and learning resources.

NASA STEM Engagement Celebrate Computer Science Education Week Computer Science Education Week begins on Monday, Dec. 8. This annual celebration introduces millions of students to computer science using fun tutorials and hands-on activities. This year's event includes a focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and how computer science powers AI innovation. Launch your celebration with NASA computer science educational resources. NASA Knows Article: What Is Artificial Intelligence? Grades 5-8 NASA Space Detectives Activity: Become a Cosmic Sleuth With AI Grades 5-8 Make a Binary Bracelet Grades K-8 Kahoot! Quiz: Computer Science With NASA Grades 5-12 Code a Mars Landing Grades 9-12 NASA's Space Jam: Make Music With Code Grades K-12 Decoding Space Images With the Deep Space Network Grades 4-9 Coming Up Later This Month Mark your calendar to stay up to date with these upcoming events to make timely STEM connections! Monday, Dec. 8: NASA astronaut Jonny Kim and cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky will return home after more than 230 days living and working on the International Space Station. Learn about the space station's current crew with the NASA Kids' Club "Now in Space" interactive. Saturday, Dec. 13 - Sunday, Dec. 14: Check out the "What's Up for December?" video to get skywatching tips for the Geminid meteor shower peak. Wednesday, Dec. 17: Celebrate the anniversary of the Wright brothers' first flight with a paper airplane challenge.   Sunday, Dec. 21: Welcome winter in the Northern Hemisphere by learning about the solstice. Opportunities for Educators Webinar: 3D Thursdays for Rural Educators – What’s New From NASA eClips and Astromaterials Event Date: Thursday, Dec. 11, at 8 p.m. EST Contact: Rachael.Arens@ops.org   Join NASA’s Science Mission Directorate for a monthly series that connects rural educators to resources, networking, and professional development opportunities.   This month, Sharon Bowers will share the latest classroom-ready videos and resources from NASA eClips. And Paige Valderrama Graff will spotlight new materials from NASA’s Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science Division. Attendees will get a quick overview of these projects and gain access to fresh resources, activities, and tools for the classroom and beyond. Click here to register to attend. Summer Institute – LiftOff 2026: Moon to Mars Application Deadline: Friday, Dec. 12 Institute Dates: June 22-26, 2026 Contact: cmiller@csr.utexas.edu   The 2026 LiftOff Summer Institute is a weeklong training event at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston sponsored by the University of Texas Center for Space Research. This year’s theme is "Moon to Mars: A New Era of Discovery." Attendees will explore how NASA, commercial space companies, and research institutions are working together to shape the future of deep space exploration.   Participants will attend presentations by NASA scientists and engineers, tour NASA facilities, and receive hands-on, inquiry-based classroom activities aligned to education standards. Applicants must be U.S. citizens currently employed as a 5-12 grade STEM educator, CTE instructor, or current pre-service teacher. Click here for more information and to apply. Higher Education Opportunity 2026 NASA Heliophysics Summer School Application Deadline: Jan. 31, 2026 Contact: bruyerec@ucar.edu   The NASA Heliophysics Summer School is a unique educational experience with hands-on learning and lectures focusing on the physics of space weather events that start at the Sun and influence atmospheres, ionospheres, and magnetospheres throughout the solar system. The 2026 event will be held July 21-29, in Boulder, Colorado.   Applicants must be majoring in a field related to heliophyics and be pursuing a career in heliophysics or astrophysics. There is no tuition cost for the event, and each participant receives full travel support to Boulder. Click here for more information and to apply. Partner Opportunities 2026 American Rocketry Challenge Registration Deadline: Saturday, Dec. 6 U.S. Department of Energy: Marine Energy Post-Grad Fellowship Summer 2026 Cohort Application Deadline: Friday, Dec. 12 Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum 2026 Teacher Innovator Institute Info Session Event Date: Sunday, Dec. 14, at 8:30 p.m. EST Want to subscribe to get this message delivered to your inbox each Thursday? Sign up for the NASA EXPRESS newsletter at https://www.nasa.gov/learning-resources/nasa-express. Are you looking for NASA STEM materials? Search hundreds of resources at https://www.nasa.gov/learning-resources/search. Check out the ‘Science for Everyone’ website! Science starts with questions, leading to discoveries. Visit https://science.nasa.gov/for-everyone. To view the site in Spanish, visit https://ciencia.nasa.gov. Are you looking for more NASA prizes, challenges, and crowdsourcing opportunities? Visit https://www.nasa.gov/get-involved/ to find ways to contribute to NASA’s work. Share This Email Share This Email Share This Email NASA Office of STEM Engagement We are engaging students in NASA’s exciting missions, broad range of careers, and unique opportunities. Visit nasa.gov/learning-resources/  Follow Us on Social Media The National Aeronautics and Space Administration As explorers, pioneers, and innovators, we boldly expand frontiers in air and space to inspire and serve America and to benefit the quality of life on Earth. Visit nasa.gov Follow NASA

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