High school students throughout the United States are invited to participate in NASA’s Interdisciplinary National Science Program Incorporating Research Experience, or INSPIRE, through the program’s Online Learning Community.

Applications are being accepted through June 30, 2010. NASA will make selections for the program in September.

Selectees will participate in an online learning community in which students and parents have the opportunity to interact with their peers and NASA engineers and scientists. The online community also provides appropriate grade-level educational activities, discussion boards and chat rooms. Participants and their families also gain exposure to the many careers and opportunities at NASA.

Students selected for the program will have the option to compete for unique grade-appropriate experiences during the summer of 2011 at NASA facilities and participating universities throughout the nation. INSPIRE is designed to encourage ninth- through 12th-grade students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math. The summer experience provides students a hands-on opportunity to investigate education and careers in those disciplines.

INSPIRE is part of NASA’s education strategy to attract and retain students in the science, technology, engineering and math disciplines critical to NASA’s missions.

For more information about this opportunity, visit http://www.nasa.gov/education/INSPIRE.

If you have questions about this opportunity, please e-mail your inquiries to INSPIRE Project Manager Steve Chance at steven.h.chance@nasa.gov.