Your student's project could be an award winner! Encourage your students with an existing environmental stewardship project or an idea for a project to apply so that their achievements can be further recognized. Applicants from all 50 states as well as U.S. territories are eligible to compete for a national Presidential award.

The CTE CHIPS Challenge, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, is a multi-phase $1 million prize competition that will empower you to expand your student recruitment, training, and placement strategies in semiconductor fabrication (fab) construction and advanced manufacturing careers that align with the CHIPS and Science Act (CHIPS).

Join the DAF STEM Office for a fun and engaging virtual program celebrating the 5th anniversary of the U.S. Space Force! We’ll explore the Top 5 Space Force Space Facts that will spark your students’ curiosity about space and the important role the Space Force plays in protecting us. From satellites and space missions to astronauts and rocket launches, we’ll discuss the best facts about the Space Force! 

This program is recommended for elementary school students.

Join the DAF STEM Office in celebrating the 5th anniversary of the U.S. Space Force as we explore the Top 5 Ways the Space Force Protects Us. In this engaging session, middle school students will learn how the Space Force contributes to our safety and security through advanced technology and space-based operations. From satellite communication that keeps us connected to monitoring space traffic and defending against potential threats, discover the essential role the Space Force plays in protecting our everyday lives. This program will shed light on the often unseen but critical missions of the U.S. Space Force that ensure safety on Earth and in space. 

This program is recommended for middle school students.

STEM Opportunity for High School Seniors, Undergraduate, and Graduate Students!

The Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship-for-Service Program awards full-tuition STEM scholarships to hundreds of rising college freshman, current college students, and current U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) civilian employees every year. Funded by the DoD, SMART offers a unique education and workforce development opportunity. During degree pursuit, SMART scholars receive an annual stipend enabling them to focus on their studies. Then, scholars dive into exciting summer internships at world-class DoD facilities during school breaks. Here, they engage in cutting-edge research critical to national defense and receive mentorship from top scientists and engineers, honing their skills and building a solid foundation for their future career. After graduation, scholars are springboarded into a rewarding DoD civilian career. They begin their one-for-one service commitment by directly applying their knowledge and skills to real-world challenges, contributing to the nation's security and technological advancement.

Celebrate the 5^th anniversary of the United States Space Force! In this session, the DAF STEM Office will highlight the top five careers in STEM. This engaging program is designed for high school students eager to learn about the exciting world of STEM careers in space. The Space Force, the newest branch of the U.S. military, is paving the way for cutting-edge innovation and exploration beyond Earth. As we mark five years since its establishment, discover the opportunities available in space STEM careers.  

This session will spotlight the top five STEM careers that are crucial to the Space Force’s mission, including aerospace engineering, satellite operations, space systems engineering, cybersecurity, and data science. You’ll gain insight into what each role entails, the skills and education needed, and how these careers contribute to the mission of protecting U.S. and allied interests in space. 

This program is recommended for high school students.

The Joint Hypersonics Transition Office (JHTO) is pleased to announce the release of Hypersonic Horizons 2024: The High Speed Video Challenge! This video competition is intended to introduce students to hypersonics science concepts and career opportunities. Students will answer questions designed to spark an interest in hypersonic technology and space travel and will have a chance at part of a $32,000 prize pool!  

NESST is the Network for Emergent Socio-Scientific Thinking. Housed at Smithsonian Science Education Center, it is a global network comprised of youth, educational innovators, business leaders, STEM professionals, organizations, and communities interested in transforming STEM education for sustainable development. Committed to thinking differently through the lens of emergence and complexity, NESST reimagines education for life on a sustainable planet. NESST seeks to engage a collaborative, enthusiastic group of educators to join the Teacher Ambassador Program. 

Program with our friends in the DAF K-12 STEM Office:

How many Halloween costumes in your classroom match Air Force uniforms? We bet there’s more than you think! Join Katie Mauro and Jordan Rader for a fun filled themed bingo game as we guess and explore the various “costumes” in the Air Force. Don’t forget to download and make your bingo boards so you’re to play! Costumes are encouraged!

Students will guess the job as the hosts reveal tools used by each profession. 

An event with our friends at the DAF K-12 STEM Office and the US Air Force Academy:

Does all visible light come from the sun? No – it can be created in many ways and many forms! In celebration of National Chemistry Week, the U.S. Air Force presents a special virtual program exploring the science of chemiluminescence – visible light from a chemical reaction. Join us as chemist Stacey Lazzelle walks us through five exciting experiments!

Join Air & Space STEM Outreach for World AI Week and as they introduce students and classrooms to the exciting world of artificial intelligence (AI) in the U.S. Air Force. In addition to learning about AI’s role in the Air Force, students will also get a clear overview of what AI really is—and what it isn’t! We’ll debunk common myths and misconceptions about AI.   

Event with our partner, the National Air and Space Museum!

The U.S. military began training women as pilots and other aviators in 1973. But they didn’t achieve full equality until 1993, when they gained the right to fly combat aircraft. Join Beverly Weintraub, author of Wings of Gold: The Story of the First Women Naval Aviators, and Eileen Bjorkman (U.S. Air Force, ret.), author of Fly Girls Revolt: The Story of the Women Who Kicked Open the Door to Fly in Combat, as they discuss the challenges faced by America's pioneering women military aviators and their fight to open doors for future generations. 

Learn how to collaborate with your students can take action for healthy ocean systems!

Join the Smithsonian Science Education Center (SSEC) to learn how to support young people to build their systems-thinking skills and knowledge around healthy ocean systems! Take part in a virtual professional development academy on the Smithsonian Science for Global Goals community research guide, Ocean! How can we create a sustainable future for the ocean?

See over 50 unique aircraft, flown in for one day only, at this annual event outside at the Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia.

Explore the engineering and design innovations that have taken place during the last century of flight. Talk with pilots of vintage and modern aircraft, on display outside the Museum for one day only.

Tickets are required.

It’s National Paper Airplane Day! Celebrate by learning the basics of flight from the US Air Force. Learn about the forces that allow your airplane to fly with maximum performance. Whose airplane can fly fastest and furthest?

In this lecture, Dante Lauretta, OSIRIS-REx primary investigator and professor at the University of Arizona, will discuss the findings from the first set of data from analysis of the Bennu samples.

This program will be presented in-person in Planetarium at the National Air and Space Museum in DC and will be streamed live on YouTube.

This session will highlight the life cycle of an aircraft, from the engineers who build, to the pilots who fly and the technicians who maintain them. Hear from each member of the team to explore their role in an aircraft’s production.

Did you know there are a variety of careers in the Air Force beyond aviation? In this session we will explore a variety of jobs you may not think of when discussing the Air Force. There will be several Air Force members in this panel talking about their role in the Air Force. We will explore their careers, education, training, and day to day activities.

The 2024 Dream with Us design challenge is NOW OPEN! For students ages 13-18, this team-based challenge gives students a chance to share their vision for the future of aviation with NASA experts. This year’s theme is focused on natural disasters--students are developing new and improved ways aviation can help with natural disaster response.

Challenge submissions will be accepted March 1 – April 30, 2024. Learn more about the challenge and NASA’s ACERO project on the Dream with Us Design Challenge webpage.

Let’s celebrate Earth Day with the Air Force! What’s the difference between meteorology and climatology? The Air and Space STEM Office will be joined by a member of the US Air Force at Altus Air Force Base to learn the difference. Changes made across the global are leading to elevated levels of warming. We’ll discuss how monitoring weather and climate impact the Air Force today and in the future.

Attention students in grades 7 through 12: You have an opportunity to design DNA experiments that address a challenge in space exploration!

Life on Earth has evolved under the effects of our gravity and the protection of our atmosphere. Human space exploration opens up amazing new opportunities for life, and serious challenges too. The Genes in Space Challenge is a great way to expand upon life science!

April 14th is World Quantum Day. Let’s celebrate with the US Air Force! Students will be introduced to the concept of quantum science with Dr. Michael Senatore, expert on quantum computing from Rome Labs in Rome, New York. Students will learn about quantum science and how it relates to every-day things, and solving real life problems. Dr. Senatore will describe his work in the quantum lab and share a day in the life of an Air Force scientist.

In celebration of “Find Your Place in Space” Week (April 6-13, 2024), join the Air and Space Forces STEM Office for a virtual panel with members of the U.S. Space Force who will share their space career journeys and how they found “their place in space”.

Celebrate and observe the solar eclipse that will be visible all across North America on Monday, April 8! The National Air and Space Museum, in collaboration with other Smithsonian museums, NASA, NOAA, and the National Science Foundation, presents an outdoor festival with activities for all ages.The eclipse will be visible in the Washington, DC area between 2:04 pm and 4:32 pm. Maximum eclipse will be at 3:20 pm, with the Sun 89% covered by the Moon.

Visitors should bring their own eclipse glasses to the event. Please check the resources listed NASM’s solar eclipse deep dive for information on how to obtain safe eclipse glasses or solar viewers.