NASA to grant $8 million for climate change education

NASA announced on Wednesday it will grant about $8 million to fund educational projects about global climate change.

NASA aims to enhance students' academic experiences and improve educators' abilities to engage and stimulate their pupils in this field. The federal agency seeks proposals for students of elementary, secondary, undergraduate and lifelong teaching and learning, it said.

This funding opportunity supports NASA's goal to engage students in the critical disciplines of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, the agency said in a statement Wednesday.

NASA called for projects that improve teacher competency for global climate change education; strengthen teaching and learning about climate change using NASA Earth system data and models; and enable global climate change science research experiences for undergraduate or community college students and pre- or in-service teachers, including those in nontraditional teacher licensure programs .

NASA's effort comes as the U.S. Congress may for the first time, address legislation to fight climate change later this year.