Mystic -- NASA has designated Mystic Seaport Museum as one of its 21 Informal Education Community Anchors across the country. 

The designation recognizes the museum and its Treworgy Planetarium as a community resource and provides a $24,266 grant to bring space exploration to traditionally underserved areas and broaden student participation in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

The museum will now address the needs of middle school students in eastern and southern Connecticut by using and sharing NASA STEM engagement learning resources and opportunities.

“We are grateful to NASA for selecting our Museum to participate in this program, which will enable us to further our institutional goal of increasing outreach to underserved communities and diverse audiences,” said Brian Koehler, supervisor of the Treworgy Planetarium. “We are excited to create new opportunities where students can experience the feelings of discovery and confidence that space exploration and STEM engagement is all about.”

The grant will allow planetarium educators to develop new hands-on STEM programs for middle school students in virtual, in-school, and on-site formats, purchase the equipment and supplies needed to deliver the programs to students and provide programs at no cost to underserved community partners. The new programs will be rolled out in fall 2022.