Welcome to the RealWorld-InWorld (RWIW) NASA Engineering Design Challenge!

In this unique education initiative, students in grades 7-12 work collaboratively as engineers and scientists to solve real-world problems related to the James Webb Space Telescope and Robonaut 2. This work encourages students to explore and build skills essential for successful careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). The RWIW Challenge runs during the academic year in two phases of project based learning and team competition.

RealWorld (RW): Teachers or other adults register teams of students. Each team then chooses a problem to solve related to the James Webb Space Telescope or Robonaut 2. RealWorld resources guide teachers/coaches/parents and students through activities that support team building and lead to a design solution for the chosen problem. All work is shared by uploading solutions to this website. Educator and student resources are available in the RealWorld Toolkit. This work can be completed in ten 50-minute work sessions and may be scheduled anytime before January 28, 2012. There is no limit to the number of teams that can participate in the RealWorld phase.

(NEW for 2011!) Upon completion of RealWorld registration, teachers and others guiding students through the RealWorld design phase will receive over $900,000 in PTC Creo (Pro/ENGINEER) professional engineering software along with free online training for use in the design challenge.

InWorld (IW): Engineering students from across the country join RWIW as Team Leaders at this stage of the challenge. Their first task is to choose the RealWorld team they will mentor InWorld. Participation InWorld is limited to 20 teams: 10 teams working on the Webb telescope challenge and 10 teams focusing on Robonaut 2.

(NEW for 2011!) College Team Leaders will also receive access to both PTC Creo (Pro/ENGINEER) and SolidWorks professional engineering software along with free online training for use in the design challenge.

Each team is given a virtual Team World to expand RealWorld designs and develop digital models for their solutions. Team Worlds are within the NIA Universe, an ActiveWorlds virtual environment managed by the National Institute of Aerospace (NIA). This is a protected environment.

This work runs from January 28, 2012 through April 20, 2012 with scheduled deadlines. In addition to the engineering solution, teams are judged on their use of the medium, organization, and presentation skills. Three of the 10 teams for each challenge will be selected as finalists to interact with the public and the evaluation team through a synchronous open house and scheduled presentation. One winning team per problem will be selected based upon this work.

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2011 - 2012 Design Problems

Solve one of these two problems!

Robonaut 2 (R2) already has an incredible pair of arms, and it has legs in development to match, but it needs to securely attach itself to the outside of the space station while working. Design a “zero-g foot” for R2 that will provide support and stability during space walks.

The James Webb Space Telescope will be a large infrared telescope able to study every phase in the history of our Universe. Design a shield to keep the Webb telescope cold enough so that it can detect infrared light from faint sources such as distant galaxies and extrasolar planets.

RWIW Team

Principal Investigator: Dr. Bernard Grossman, Vice President, National Institute of Aerospace (NIA)
Partners: Shelley Spears, NIA; Jan Brown, USA TODAY Education; Julie Fletcher, LearniT-TeachiT
Project Manager: Sharon Bowers, NIA, 757.325.6870, [email protected]
Project Coordinator: Shannon Verstynen, NIA, 757.325.6714, [email protected]
Educational Resource Development Team: Jim Egenrieder, NIA Educator in Residence; Michael Connet, LearniT-TeachiT; Becky Jaramillo, NIA Educator in Residence; Sara Davis, USA TODAY Education; Andrew Vanden Heuvel, USA TODAY Education
InWorld Technical Team: Margaret Corbit, NIA Universe Consultant; Dave Hartino, NIA Universe Master
Marketing and Communication: Gary Staszak, Petra Communications
Project Support: Stacy Dees, NIA; Michael Wagner, NIA Intern
Evaluation: Jennifer Maddrell, Old Dominion University

Contributing Experts and Organizations

This project relies on the expertise and contributions of many individuals and organizations that have enhanced the opportunities, resources and tools available to participants.

Contributing Scientists and Engineers

Scientists and engineers associated with each mission help develop the specific challenges for our young engineering teams. In addition to participating in the planning, many also interact directly with team members through InWorld presentations, Q&A sessions, and team project tours.

Schedules of guest presenters can be found in the RealWorld Toolkit and InWorld Toolkit.

Contributing Organizations

In addition to our partners, the following organizations contribute tools and resources for both the RealWorld and InWorld phases of the design challenge.

	PTC provides its Creo 3D CAD software and online training to registered participants, along with an invitation to high school teams to participate in its Real World Design Challenge.
	Boise State University provides SolidWorks Engineering software through accessing the Engineering Learning Community of Idaho (ELCI) cloud resource (funded by a Hewlett-Packard Innovation in Education Award).

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Partners

RealWorld-InWorld is a joint education initiative of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Institute of Aerospace (NIA), USA TODAY Education, and LearniT-TeachiT.

The RealWorld-InWorld NASA Engineering Design Challenge builds on the successful SIGHT/INSIGHT and No Boundaries design challenges developed by USA TODAY and NASA and the Virtual Exploration Sustainability Challenge (VESC) developed by NIA and NASA. Both educational initiatives were based upon NASA themes and content for students in grades 9-12. They enhance students’ skills, proficiency, and interest in problem-solving and careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).

Press Kit

These assets are being updated to reflect changes for the 2011-2012 challenge. They can be used to enhance RealWorld-InWorld (RWIW) communications, promote the RWIW NASA Engineering Design Challenge, and encourage teachers/coaches/parents, middle and high-school-aged students, and college students to participate in this challenge. These items are approved and ready for use:

1. Logos and Banners	Graphics for use in all communications.
2. Business Card	A double-sided, take-home card for audiences.
3. Description	A concise description of the initiative and Challenge.
4. Fact Sheet	The most relevant and important facts in the least amount of space.
5. FAQs	Anticipated, frequently asked questions.
6. Teacher E-Flyer	Colorful, one-page pamphlet targeted at teachers/coaches/parents and students.
7. College Student E-Flyer	Colorful, one-page pamphlet targeted at college engineering students.
8. Invitation	Direct invitation to teachers to register and participate.
9. News Release	A release announcing the winners of the 2010-2011 Challenge.

As other items become available they will be added here. You may contact the RWIW Team at [email protected].

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