Students gathered at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the NASA Explorer Schools NES symposium.

Students from across the nation gathered at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the NASA Explorer Schools (NES) symposium. In the Center for Space Education at Kennedy, a student participates in a hands-on activity as an education specialist looks on.

During the NES event, students presented their investigation project to their peers, scientists, engineers and education specialists. About 60 fourth- through 12-grade students nationwide are at the center May 4-7 participating in tours of processing and launch facilities and the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, as well as several educational activities and a career panel question-and-answer session. About 30 teachers will receive professional development opportunities during the symposium. The participants were competitively selected after they completed an original investigation focused on existing NASA missions or research interests. Photo Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett