NASA exhibit on display in Marshfield

Whitehead was recently named the NASA education specialist for southwest Missouri. Her job is part of the Missouri NASA Education Resource Center, based at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau.

She said her job is intended to make NASA more visible in schools.

“I can do in-service training for teachers or give demonstrations and presentations,” she said. “Anything from a teacher saying, ‘I need a current set of planets, do you have one?’ to, ‘Can you come in and teach the planets?’ We also cover home schools, private schools, youth groups and any community groups that are out there that have any interest in space.”

One of NASA’s first local outreach efforts will be in conjunction with Marshfield’s annual Harvest Days celebration Friday and Saturday. Marshall Space Center in Huntsville, Ala., a partner of the SEMO resource center, is bringing in the Mobile Theater, a self-contained outdoor video exhibit, along with a scale replica of a space shuttle, complete with orbiter, external tank and solid rocket boosters.

The traveling exhibits are part of an effort by NASA officials to increase emphasis on science and math education in schools, Whitehead said, and to increase awareness of the jobs in the aerospace field.

“You think NASA, you think astronauts, but there are so many career potentials there – everything from rocket scientists to engineers, computer programmers, math technicians and statisticians,” Whitehead said. “Most kids have an interest in space but they don’t see it as something they can pursue. One thing we want to do is make it known that you don’t have to go live on Mars to (work for NASA).”

The exhibits will be open all day Friday and Saturday. For more information, call Whitehead at (417) 459-0974.