The RGEFP June Team Video Conference

On January 23, 2014 the Boise State University Microgravity Research Team attended the Reduced Gravity Educational Flight Program (RGEFP) Blackboard Collaborate Undergraduate June Team Video Conference. 

At this hour long conference we introduced ourselves to Mr. Jamie Semple and the other accepted university teams. All schools learned additional information about the Test Equipment Data Package (TEDP), Stress Analysis, and Hazard Analysis documents due April 2nd.

Our team also got assigned our NASA Mentor, Dr. Tom Leimkuehler.

Please enjoy this educational video on the program and follow the program adventures on Twitter @NASA_RGEFP and our team @BSUMicrogravity.

 

Want to Learn More About the TEDP Document?
 

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Acceptance Into the Program

On December 18, 2013 the JSC-Reduced Gravity emailed our team lead: 

CONGRATULATIONS! Your team has been selected to participate in NASA's 2014 Microgravity University Reduced Gravity Education Flight Program.

Want to See Program Announcements?

Want to Read About all 18 Selected Teams?

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The Professional Development Workshop

In October and December of 2013, our team hosted and completed their first Outreach Events. 

The Professional Development workshops took place at Spalding Elementary School and focused on STEM and the Common Core State Standards. 

Teachers learned how to integrate English Language Arts and Mathematics into their science and engineering instruction using STEM journals to engage students in the scientific process, as well as the engineering design process. 

Teachers participated in hands-on NASA activities, "Mars and Earth" and "Toys in Space," as well as the "KidWind Project." Teachers learned how to meet English Langauage Arts and Mathematics Common Core State Standards with each of these activities.

What is Toys in Space?

What is the KidWind Challenge?

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Creating and Submitting the Proposal

On November 6, 2013, The Boise State University Microgravity Research Team submitted a 75 page document, plus appendices, to the Reduced Gravity Education Flight Program. This technical report included a four-section format containing a Technical, Safety Evaluation, Outreach Plan, and Administrative component. 

Creating the research proposal took a lot of team brain storming and late nights of pure team dedication; but when it was printed for the final time and ready to be mailed made it all worth it!!

Carl, Roxanne, and Janos Putting the Proposal in the Mail 

Scott and Mac Hard at Work 

Roxanne Taking a Power Nap!

Want to Learn More About Creating a Proposal?

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Creating a Team

The 2013-2014 Boise State University Microgravity Research Team's first challenge was ironically creating a team. With only three returning ground crew members from the 2012-2013 team and a second challenge of determining a brand new project focus, Roxanne Stone, excitingly volunteered to be this years Team Lead.

In August 2013, nine BSU undergraduate students majoring in Engineering, Biology, and Education proposed an idea, titled "Gravitational Effects on Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure and Flow in an Anatomical Model" to the BSU advising faculty members. With great encouragement from the advising faculty, the team started working on their first objective: Creating and submitting a research proposal.

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