Important News

The HST Cycle 18 Call for Proposals
will be available in mid-June 2010.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and its Science Mission Directorate (SMD) have established a comprehensive approach to providing education and public outreach (E/PO) to enhance the public’s understanding of space science. NASA and the SMD have incorporated these objectives as integral components of all missions and research programs. The documents that establish the basic E/PO policies and guidelines for NASA and the SMD are as follows:

• The NASA Education Strategic Coordination Framework: A Portfolio Approach
• Explanatory Guide to the NASA Science Mission Directorate Education & Public Outreach Evaluation Factors (Version 3, April 2008)
• Partners in Education: A Strategy for Integrating Education and Public Outreach Into NASA's Space Science Programs (March 1995)
• Implementing the Office of Space Science (OSS) Education/Public Outreach Strategy (October 1996)

These documents can also be found at the NASA Science>Researchers>Education & Public Outreach site.

In accordance with NASA SMD E/PO policies, 2% of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Cycle 18 budget has been allocated for E/PO funding. Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) is announcing the opportunity for accepted HST Cycle 18 General Observers, Archival and Snapshot (GO/AR/SNAP) researchers and current Hubble Fellows to submit a proposal for an E/PO supplement to the parent research program. HST Cycle GO/AR/SNAP programs from previous cycles and Guaranteed Time Observers (GTO) are not eligible for an HST Cycle 18 E/PO supplement.

The spirit of the HST Cycle E/PO Grant Program is to encourage collaborative efforts between professional astronomers/space scientists and professional educators that would broaden the knowledge and understanding of the latest discoveries of the Hubble Space Telescope. The HST Cycle 18 E/PO proposal must have clear intellectual linkage to the science and/or science theme of the parent research program(s).

There are three HST Cycle 18 E/PO funding categories:

• Individual--An HST Cycle 18 GO/AR/SNAP Principal Investigator or Co Investigator may request up to $20,000 for an E/PO program. A current Hubble Fellow may also request up to $20,000 for an E/PO program.
• Teamed--A maximum of three (3) science research programs can team together, including Hubble Fellows, at $20,000 each, for up to $60,000.
• Treasury--Programs may request up to $50,000, but are not able to request a larger funding amount through a teamed effort.

The HST Cycle 18 Call for Proposals will be available in mid-June 2010.