CHARLOTTE, NC – Discovery Place has been named a NASA Community Anchor and awarded a grant to develop programming that will engage students and families in NASA-themed educational experiences. Discovery Place is one of 13 institutions nationwide to share $510,000 in NASA Community Anchor Award funds.
In celebration of this award, in February 2025 Discovery Place will launch NASA Community Space Stations, a series of STEM learning opportunities in communities across the greater Charlotte region.
“As a leader in STEM education in the Carolinas, Discovery Place is committed to providing educational opportunities to inspire future generations of scientists, explorers and leaders in STEM fields,” said Catherine Wilson Horne, Discovery Place President and CEO. “The goal of the NASA Community Space Stations program is to reach students and families in historically underserved communities across the Charlotte region and invite them to boost their understanding of NASA STEM and space science, while considering how these efforts could address community challenges.”
Discovery Place’s NASA Community Space Stations learning opportunities are being coordinated with six community partners in Charlotte, Huntersville, Cornelius and Rockingham, North Carolina and Rock Hill, South Carolina:
- Renaissance West STEAM Academy
- Winding Springs Elementary School
- Huntersville Elementary School
- J.V. Washam Elementary School
- Richmond County Schools
- The Catawba Nation
Over the course of one year, Discovery Place and the community partners will create four events featuring guest speakers, stargazing experiences and informal learning stations. These events will show students and families how NASA’s scientific and engineering endeavors can provide pathways to solving some of our area’s current challenges. For example, through exploration and analysis, participants will consider solutions to challenges like housing availability and food waste.
Additionally, Discovery Place Science will host a Planetarium experience in its Charlotte IMAX Dome Theatre to highlight present and future NASA projects, including the work of the International Space Station, Artemis and the James Webb Space Telescope. The Museum also will host a special lab experience where guests can observe carbon dioxide, water quality and population data to develop solutions to anticipated issues in Charlotte, including housing, fresh water and the effects of climate change.
