News

Posted On: 09/19/2006

NASA selects Howard University for launch of science education program

PlantServices.com

Honeywell and the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will launch the 2006 fall tour of their award-winning FMA Live! science education program on Wednesday, September 20, 2006 at Howard University in Washington, D.C. The innovative, traveling hip hop science concert will reach its 100,000th student while at The Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science before continuing on to perform for nearly 14,000 students in 30 schools during its 9-week, 21-city tour across the Unites States and Canada.

Named for Sir Isaac Newton’s second law of motion (force = mass x acceleration) FMA Live! uses professional actors, original songs, music videos and interactive science demonstrations to teach middle school students Newton’s three laws of motion and universal law of gravity. Created by Honeywell and NASA in 2004, FMA Live! has already traveled 30,000 miles, covering 34 U.S. states to reach nearly 100,000 students in 232 schools. More than 1,500 students from 21 schools will participate in the four FMA Live! performances held at Howard University.

“FMA Live! continues to inspire students to pursue technology-related careers,” said Tom Buckmaster, President, Honeywell Hometown Solutions. “Honeywell is committed to providing students and teachers with programs, experiences and resources that bring science to life in memorable, life-changing ways.”

Research shows that fewer people are pursuing science, math and engineering careers while employment opportunities in these fields will increase three times faster than all other occupations. FMA Live! addresses key learning objectives identified by the National Science Education Standards to increase student interest and participation in the sciences.

“The need for more minority scholars in science and mathematics has been a longstanding challenge for us and certainly one of the biggest reasons behind our decision to establish a middle school here at Howard,” said H. Patrick Swygert, President of Howard University. “This collaboration with Honeywell to host FMA Live!  and to expose DC area middle school students to the wonders of science, mathematics and technology is another step in the right direction. I am certainly very pleased that Howard is able to participate in this way and I know that all of this bodes well for the future.”

During each FMA Live! performance, students, teachers and school administrators interact with three professional actors on stage in front of a live audience to experience Newton’s laws firsthand. A large Velcro wall is used to demonstrate inertia, go-carts driven across the stage illustrate action and reaction, and ‘extreme’ wrestling and a huge soccer ball show that force is determined by mass multiplied by acceleration. All three of Newton’s laws are exemplified simultaneously when a futuristic hover chair collides with a gigantic cream pie. Feedback from educators and participants has been overwhelmingly positive.

"FMA Live! is amazing,” said Utaff Gorton, a science teacher at Ridgeland Middle School in South Carolina. “It really makes science fun and brings it alive for our students.”

FMA Live! will perform in the following cities during the 6,000-mile fall tour: Washington, District of Columbia; Baltimore, Maryland; Fort Washington and Pottsville Pennsylvania; Morristown and Jersey City, New Jersey; Syracuse, Camillus and Long Island, New York; Northford, Connecticut; Stratford, Mississauga and Toronto, Ontario; Fostoria, Ohio; Des Plaines, Arlington Heights and Freeport Illinois; Minneapolis, Minnesota and Mountain View, Missouri.

FMA Live! was recently named the top caused-based marketing program in the United States during the Brandweek-sponsored 2006 PMA Reggie Awards. In 2005, FMA Live! was awarded a gold SABRE award and recognized as the best community relations program worldwide by The Holmes Group. The entire program, including the 18-wheel truck, tour bus and 10-person street team, is fully funded by Honeywell. 

FMA Live! is part of Honeywell Hometown Solutions, the company’s community outreach initiative which focuses on three areas of vital importance: Family Safety and Security; Housing and Shelter; and Science and Math Education. Together with leading public and non-profit institutions, Honeywell has developed powerful programs to address these needs in its communities. Honeywell also partners with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children for the abduction prevention program, Got 2B Safe!; and Rebuilding Together on home revitalization projects for low-income homeowners.