Aug 18, 2010

Sonja Alexander Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1761 sonja r alexander@nasa gov

RELEASE: 10-195

NASA AND MARY J BLIGE ENCOURAGE SCIENCE CAREERS FOR WOMEN

WASHINGTON -- NASA is collaborating with award-winning recording artist Mary J Blige to encourage young women to pursue exciting experiences and career choices by studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)

A public service announcement featuring veteran NASA space shuttle astronaut Leland Melvin and Blige debuts this week on NASA TV and the agency's website at: http://www nasa gov

NASA's Summer of Innovation (SoI) project and Blige's Foundation for the Advancement of Women Now (FFAWN) have much in common Both show students the many possibilities available if they follow their dreams and reach for the stars

The SoI project is part of the President's Educate to Innovate Campaign It started earlier this summer to help keep middle school students engaged in fun and stimulating STEM-related activities during the school break

"Working with FFAWN is a rare opportunity to help spread the STEM message into communities not always readily accessible to us," Melvin said "Mary's presence can help NASA make the STEM message more appealing to these communities and increase the pipeline of underrepresented students going into these disciplines "

Working with the NASA Science, Engineering, Mathematics and Aerospace Academy project at York College of the City University of New York (CUNY), the joint effort is providing on-the-job training for FFAWN high school participants High school girls in the program will be prepared to deliver NASA SoI content to middle school students this summer at the New York City Housing Authority Van Dyke Community Center and the Harlem Children's Zone Promise Academy

The FFAWN participants also will have the opportunity to support the NASA Academy fall academic session at CUNY as student aides for grades one through nine later this year

For information about NASA's Summer of Innovation project, visit:

http://www nasa gov/soi

For information about FFAWN, visit:

http://www ffawn org

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