Education Committee
Investing in the next generation of space professionals across the DMV.
About the Education Committee
The Washington Space Business Roundtable exists to connect industry, and to invest in the next generation of space professionals. The Education Committee is how that second mission gets done.
Chaired by Shiv Patel (Axiom Space), the Committee deploys funding from WSBR’s monthly luncheon proceeds to underserved DMV-area schools, enabling students and teachers who might not otherwise get there to access hands-on STEM learning. The process is designed to be simple: educators submit a proposal, the full board votes, and funding flows directly to the school or program.
How Funding Works
WSBR supports two types of initiatives:
Field Tripsup to $1,000 per trip
WSBR helps cover transportation and entry costs for student trips to space and science destinations such as:
• Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
• Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
• NASA Headquarters
We cover transportation and entry costs so students can experience the real space industry up close.
Events and Programsup to $5,000 per trip
We support school-based STEM programming, including:
• In-school-based STEM events
• Robotics clubs
• After-school programs
• Special programming
Educators interested in applying should contact the Education Committee directly. Proposals are reviewed by the WSBR board on a rolling basis.
Recent and Current Initiatives
Higher Orbits — Go For Launch!
WSBR’s board approved a $1,000 grant to Higher Orbits in support of its flagship Go For Launch! program, which engages high school students in designing real microgravity experiments under the guidance of former astronauts and industry experts. Over the past decade, Higher Orbits has worked with thousands of students across 23 states, launched 24 student-designed experiments to space, and has five more manifested for launch in 2026 and 2027. WSBR is proud to bring this program to the DMV region and expand access to real spaceflight science for local students.
Miner Elementary School
WSBR sponsored a school-wide solar eclipse viewing event at Miner Elementary, bringing the science of orbital mechanics and solar phenomena to life for students in the DMV. The event included educational programming connecting the eclipse to space exploration and Earth science.
Field Trip Series — Air, Space & NASA
WSBR regularly funds field trips to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (DC), the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center (Chantilly), and NASA Headquarters. These trips give students direct exposure to space science, engineering careers, and the federal agencies that drive exploration.
What we fund:
Funding Guidelines
Proposals under $1,000 (field trips) and under $5,000 (programs/events) are preferred
To apply: Submit a brief proposal describing your program, the students it will reach, and the funding amount requested. Proposals under $1,000 (field trips) and under $5,000 (programs/events) are preferred.
Contact the Education Committee
The WSBR Education Committee is funded through proceeds from WSBR’s monthly industry luncheons and the annual Flagship event. Member companies who wish to make additional contributions to the Education Fund should contact WSBR leadership.