SolarSTEAM: A National Impact Outreach Program promoting Heliophysics and Space Weather

Perhaps more than any other field of space science, heliophysics, the study of the sun and space weather - its effects on Earth and the solar system, most impacts our daily lives. The potential for disruptions in radio communications, navigation systems, and satellite operations as well as power grid outages and threats to astronauts in space are among the very real challenges posed by an active sun and the near-space radiation environment. Yet, the vast majority of Americans are unaware of these effects. SolarSTEAM is a national impact science engagement program funded by NASA Heliophysics Division directed at increasing the public's awareness of the sun, the heliosphere, space weather, and its impacts on humanity by leveraging national science education networks, partnering with Earth and space science missions, and emphasizing multimedia communications to hold theme based Big Events throughout the year. In this presentation, we will discuss SolarSTEAM’s methods, themes, partnerships, and technologies used to communicate heliophysics and space weather discoveries and concepts to diverse national audiences.