What is NASAs Office of Space Science (OSS) commitment to Education and Public Outreach (E/PO)?
Historically OSS has placed a premium on training the next generation of scientists via the support of graduates and postgraduates in their usual scientific roles on research proposals. Such support for future scientists is important and ongoing*. The OSS E/PO program expands the OSS role in education to meet national needs for improving precollege science education and enhancing general literacy in science, mathematics and technology. This means supporting the involvement of the space science community in partnership with the education community to enhance K-14 science education and the public understanding of science (see FAQ 3 for a definition of “K-14”, and FAQ 16 for a discussion of links to higher education that are appropriate to this E/PO program). OSS is devoting a substantial level of resources toward its E/PO program. Every NASA Office of Space Science (OSS) flight project proposal (AO) is required to include a significant segment on E/PO (1-2% of the overall mission budget
