This contest is held each year to commemorate Apollo 1's first manned landing on the moon.
The topic for this year's essay contest is:
"With the success of SpaceShipOne, space tourism may be just around the
corner. Where would you go, and what would you do?" You can read the
winning essays by clicking HERE
Last year's winning essays were published in the
Section Newsletter.
See the winning entries from years prior to that by clicking on the following
links:
2003,
2002,
2001,
2000.
Volunteers are needed each year to judge essays on originality and realism of ideas presented, soundness of logic used to develop ideas, and quality of composition and clarity of expression. Winners are honored at an Annual Awards Banquet held in July where U.S. Savings Bonds, calculators, and AIAA seals flown in space are among the prizes. Each year's contest generally begins in March.
For a week in April of 2005 the section had a booth in the NASA Ames 211 Hanger which was open to school children for this event. Young visitors were provided paper and designs for paper gliders and encouraged to test them for airworthiness. In the center of the hangar their planes could be lifted to the high ceiling and launched from the tether of a helium balloon. AIAA engineers, including our Section Chair provided technical expertise.
Established as a collaborative effort between NASA Ames Research Center and AIAA San Francisco, this annual Scholarship Program is held as a memorial to the NASA men who perished on the Ames Galileo I aircraft on April 12, 1973. Open to high school seniors who intend to pursue a career in engineering, mathematics, or physical or natural sciences.
See the 2005 Galileo Scholarship Announcement for more information.
Dr. Sally Ride, America's first woman astronaut, invites 5th to 8th grade girls Reach for the Stars, that is, help keep them in the science, math, and technology pipeline. In October 2004, AIAA SF joined the festival Street Fair with a table manned by Section members.
(See the Science Club webpage at Sally Ride Science Festival.)
In May of 2004 the section had a table in the Ames tent which was open to school children the day before the Big Air Show. Young visitors were asked to submit questions for which Space is the answer. See some of their responses by clicking HERE.
The section supports annual Engineers Week activities including the ongoing program to send engineers into local classrooms. David A. Levinson is chairman of Discover "E" for the Silicon Valley Engineering Council. See the SVEC web page for more information.
The Section continues with over nine years of Teacher Workshops co-sponsored by NASA Ames Research Center. Held at various sites in California, the workshops include hands-on science sessions, distribution of curriculum materials, facility tours, and presentations by AIAA members and Educator Associates.
For more information, or to volunteer for any of the above Precollege Outreach activities, please contact Precollege Outreach Director or Past Chair, Juanita Ryan.
