First African-American Spacewalker Speaks at National Conference

Feb. 8, 2007

Sonja Alexander
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1761

Lindsay Crouch
Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va.
757-864-3189

Harla Sherwood
National Institute of Aerospace, Hampton, Va.
757-636-6300

MEDIA ADVISORY: M07-020

FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN SPACEWALKER SPEAKS AT NATIONAL CONFERENCE

WASHINGTON - NASA and the National Institute of Aerospace (NIA) will
host the 12th Annual Pre-Service Teacher Conference Feb. 15-17 at the
Hilton Alexandria Mark Center, in Alexandria, Va.

Former Astronaut Bernard Harris, Jr., will open the conference as the
keynote speaker Feb. 15. Harris was the payload commander on shuttle
flight STS-63, the first flight of a new joint Russian-American Space
Program in 1995. During the flight, Harris became the first
African-American to walk in space.

The conference was created to help undergraduate education students
develop the confidence and skills to teach mathematics and science
effectively using cutting-edge technology and educational materials
only NASA can provide. Harris will address more than 300 prospective
elementary and middle school teachers and faculty advisors from 50
member institutions representing Historically Black Colleges and
Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), Tribal
Colleges and Universities (TCUs) and selected minority institutions.
Media are invited to attend.

The Pre-Service Teacher Program is a partnership between NASA, NIA and
the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. NIA is a nonprofit research
and graduate education institute created by a consortium of leading
research universities and the American Institute of Aeronautics and
Astronautics to complement NASA's mission to conduct innovative
aeronautics, space and atmospheric research; to develop new
technologies; and to inspire the next generation of explorers.

For information about conference events, visit:

http://research.nianet.org/pstc/index.html

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

www.nasa.gov

-end-

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