Finding 8
The Commission finds that the space exploration vision offers an extraordinary opportunity to stimulate mathematics, science, and engineering excellence for America’s students and teachers – and to engage the public in a journey that will shape the course of human destiny.

Recommendation 8-1

The Commission recommends the Space Exploration Steering Council work with America’s education community and state and local political leaders to produce an action plan that leverages the exploration vision in support of the nation’s commitment to improve math, science, and engineering education. The action plan should:

• increase the priority on teacher training;
  
• provide for better integration of existing math, science, and engineering education initiatives across governments, industries, and professional organizations; and
  
• explore options to create a university-based “virtual space academy” for training the next generation technical work force.

Recommendation 8-2

The Commission recommends that industry, professional organizations, and the media engage the public in understanding why space exploration is vital to our scientific, economic, and security interests.