Dr. Araceli Martinez Ortiz Principal Investigator on $324,000 NASA Grant Project

^{Announcement from Stacey L. Bennett
Research Coordinator, LBJ Institue for STEM Education and Research}

^{August 13, 2018}

Dr. Araceli Martinez Ortiz, associate research professor in the College of Education, is the Principal Investigator for NASA Future Aerospace Engineers and Mathematicians Academy (FAMA) Central Texas Minority Youth, a two-year research project awarded $324,000 by NASA's Minority University Research and Education Program (MUREP) Aerospace Academy (MAA).

The NASA FAMA Central Texas Minority Youth program will provide integrated, year-round STEM programming to economically disadvantaged student populations. By leveraging NASA resources from aerospace themes, FAMA students will engage in informal and culturally relevant hands-on activities with clear learning goals. These STEM learning experiences will focus on integrated STEM content and practices that will lead to meaningful and authentic experiences for students, who will be guided by and mentored by experienced educators, STEM professionals, and students. Situated in the Central Texas regions of San Marcos, Lockhart, and Hays County, this project will inform research related to professional development of educators, STEM career interest for children from historically underserved and underrepresented populations, and family and community involvement in STEM education.

View the official NASA news release for the project here.