Charles Bolden Speaks to Richmond Middle School Students

NASA Admin Charles Bolden visited the MathScience Innovation Center in Richmond, Va., to meet seventh and eighth-grade students from the city's Albert Hill Middle School. Bolden discussed his armed and space career and the significance of science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, education for tomorrow's careers. In his State of the Union speech on Tuesday, President Obama emphasized the significance of STEM education for the U.S. to fight globally and create jobs.

U.S. Senator Mark Warner and U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott joined Bolden and science center executives for the event.

STEM education is the basis of NASA's learning initiatives, such as the Summer of Innovation (SoI) project. Begun in 2010, the project engages middle school students in STEM studies and hands-on, or participatory, exploration during the summer hiatus, when many lose academic skills acquired during the school year.

SoI also supports a continuum of synchronized services to engage students in meaningful ways through summer and extensive learning during the school year. NASA will proclaim this year's summer of novelty plans in the spring.