NASA Awards $23 Million to 24 Science Activation Projects
NASA selected 24 organizations for its Science Activation portfolio, awarding about $23 million to expand community engagement with NASA science nationwide.
The story in focus
NASA's Science Mission Directorate selected 24 organizations for a new Science Activation cohort under the ROSES-25 solicitation, awarding about $23 million. The projects span all five science divisions and aim to connect communities across all 50 states and U.S. territories with NASA data, experts, and hands-on science experiences.
- NASA awarded approximately $23 million to 24 organizations in the new Science Activation cohort.
- The portfolio spans astrophysics, biological and physical sciences, Earth science, heliophysics, and planetary science.
- Projects are organized as National Portfolio Projects for broad reach and Regional Network Projects for place-based engagement.
Portfolio structure and reach
The selections are divided into National Portfolio Projects, described as broad and scalable, and Regional Network Projects, described as place-based and community-led. NASA says the portfolio will operate across all 50 states plus U.S. territories and include both formal and informal learning organizations.
Examples include a Caltech-led NASA Starlight Parks Network partnering with the National Park Service and a Boise State project tied to the Central Idaho Dark Sky Reserve. Others include Gulf of Maine Research Institute work in the Northeast and University of Alaska Fairbanks engagement applying Earth science data to local food, energy, and water challenges.
Skills and participation goals
NASA says many teams emphasize artificial intelligence and machine learning, coding, sensors, geospatial analysis, data literacy, engineering design, and modeling. The agency frames these as skills relevant to NASA missions and the commercial space economy.
Several projects center on public participation in research. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden's Growing Beyond Earth involves students and educators in plant growth research tied to NASA's early-stage crop evaluation. The ARK project at the University of Colorado Boulder combines high-resolution remote sensing with citizen science and machine learning.
Astronomy and planetary links
Some projects connect to specific science themes. A Texas Christian University program links dark-sky astronomy, meteorite science, and planetary defense to the 2029 close approach of asteroid Apophis. Other selections include 3D-printed astronomical models at San José State University and robotic telescope access through the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory.
How is NASA's new Science Activation portfolio organized?
It is split into National Portfolio Projects for broad, scalable reach and Regional Network Projects for place-based, community-led engagement. The 24 selected organizations span all five NASA science divisions.
Sources & further reading
- NASA Selects Projects to Engage Communities Across the US With NASA Science - NASA Science ↗science.nasa.gov
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