BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University students and educators will benefit from a NASA-funded project designed to bring space science data to broader audiences.
Dr. Rachel Smith, professor in App State's Department of Physics and Astronomy and head of the Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Laboratory and curator of meteorites at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (NCMNS), is helping coordinate North Carolina participation in a new five-year project titled “Amplifying OpenSpace: Building Community to Disseminate a Universe of Data.” Launching in October 2026, the project is part of an $8.7 million award led by the American Museum of Natural History and funded by NASA's Science Mission Directorate. NCMNS received a $230,000 subaward to support work across the state.
The initiative centers on OpenSpace, an open-source data visualization platform that allows users to explore scientific data from Earth, the solar system, and beyond through immersive, interactive experiences. OpenSpace is used by researchers and educators to make NASA science more accessible to the public.
At App State, the project will support annual workshops led by Dr. Chrystal Dean, professor of mathematics education and director of App State's Mathematics and Science Education Center (MSEC) in the Reich College of Education. The workshops will help educators incorporate OpenSpace into teaching and learning while expanding access to NASA science resources.
The project will also create new opportunities for App State students. Undergraduate interns will work with NCMNS to develop digital visualizations, educational activities, and public programs using OpenSpace, while additional support will enable student participation in outreach events and professional conferences. The project will also support involvement in events such as the MSEC STEAM Expo and expand outreach to K–12 schools and communities across North Carolina.
“While, as in previous iterations of this project, this grant goes through the museum, it will bring significant new projects and experiences to App State and our department,” Smith said in an email announcing the news.
App State's involvement will also include participation by Dr. Dan Caton, professor of astronomy and director of the Dark Sky Observatory, who has contributed to OpenSpace programs since early development.
NASA selected the project through its Science Activation program, which supports partnerships that connect people of all ages and backgrounds with NASA data, research, and experts through authentic science experiences.
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About the Department of Physics and Astronomy
The Department of Physics and Astronomy’s curriculum has an applied nature that includes a core of fundamental physics courses and laboratory experiences. The department prepares graduates for a variety of scientific, teaching, or engineering professions, as well as future educational endeavors. Learn more about the Department of Physics and Astronomy
About the Mathematics and Science Education Center
Since 1985, the Appalachian State University Mathematics and Science Education Center has offered special workshops, summer institutes, graduate courses, and other instructional programs aimed at helping update and recertify teachers in Northwest North Carolina. The center’s goals are to increase the quality and quantity of mathematics and science teachers in North Carolina public schools; strengthen instruction in mathematics and science in grades K-12; sponsor research and development in mathematics and science education; and increase the use of educational technology in schools. Learn more about the Mathematics and Science Education Center
By Lauren Gibbs
October 30, 2026
BOONE, N.C.
A person stands on a wooden block touching a Van de Graaff generator while a boy points at them.
A student participates in a physics demonstration at App State's STEAM Expo on Wednesday, March 25, 2026. The event is among the outreach and educational activities that will benefit from a new NASA-funded OpenSpace partnership involving App State and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. Photo by Kyla Willoughby