Editing Draper Laboratory (section)

==Outreach programs==
Draper Laboratory applies some of its resources to developing and recognizing technical talent through educational programs and public exhibitions. It also sponsors the [[Charles Stark Draper Prize]], one of the three so-called "Nobel Prizes of Engineering" administered by the US [[National Academy of Engineering]].

===Exhibitions===
[[File:Apollo Gudiance Computer at Draper Hack the Moon exhibit.agr.jpg|thumb|[[Apollo Guidance Computer]] at the ''Hack the Moon'' exhibition, with a picture of software pioneer [[Margaret Hamilton (software engineer)|Margaret Hamilton]] at upper right]]
From time to time, Draper Laboratory hosts free exhibitions and events open to the public, which are presented in special semi-public spaces at the front of the central atrium space in the main Duffy Building. For example, in 2019 Draper presented ''Hack the Moon'', a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the [[Apollo 11|first Apollo Moon landing on July 20, 1969]]. The exhibition featured artifacts, such as the [[Apollo Guidance Computer]] hardware developed at Draper, and the mission software developed by Draper staffers including [[Don Eyles]], [[Margaret Hamilton (software engineer)|Margaret Hamilton]], and [[Hal Laning]]. Visitors could practice landing the [[Apollo Lunar Module]] on a software simulator, and then attempt to land while riding inside a full-sized [[motion simulator]] like the one used by the astronauts to practice the actual mission. Talks by Draper staffers and retirees, and free public concerts rounded out the festivities. A special ''Hack the Moon'' website was created to memorialize the celebration.<ref name="HackMoon">{{cite web |title=Hack the Moon |url=https://wehackthemoon.com |website=Hack the Moon |access-date=2021-02-24 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Trove">{{cite web |title=Digital Trove of Apollo Artifacts Debuts on Draper's New Website: Hack the Moon |url=https://www.prweb.com/releases/Digital_Trove_of_Apollo_Artifacts_Debuts_on_Draper_s_New_Website_Hack_the_Moon/prweb16225503.htm |website=Cision PRWeb |publisher=Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC |access-date=2021-02-24}}</ref><ref name="Jungreis">{{cite news |last1=Jungreis |first1=Max |title=Draper dusts off treasures of the Apollo era - The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2019/07/19/draper-lab-dusts-off-treasures-apollo-era/M9mJHz0urCaxwGT9WULwXJ/story.html |access-date=2021-02-24 |work=BostonGlobe.com |date=July 19, 2019}}</ref>

Other exhibitions have highlighted different aspects of the research projects conducted at Draper, including information about employment opportunities. All visitors must pass through a [[Full body scanner|security scanner]] similar to those used at airports, but special [[security clearance]]s are not required to access the semi-public areas.<ref name="CSDL-Visitor">{{cite web |title=Visitor Information |url=https://www.draper.com/contact-us/visitor-information |website=Draper |publisher=The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc |access-date=2021-02-24}}</ref>

===Technical education===
The research-based Draper Fellow Program sponsors about 50 graduate students each year.<ref>{{cite web| last = Donnelly| first = Julie M.| title = Draper program prepares fellows for advanced, niche roles| work = Mass High Tech| publisher = Boston Business Journal| date = 4 January 2011| url = http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/blog/mass-high-tech/2011/01/draper-program-prepares-fellows-for-advanced.html| access-date = 2013-12-28}}</ref> Students are trained to fill leadership positions in the government, military, industry, and education. The laboratory also supports on-campus funded research with faculty and principal investigators through the University R&D program. It offers undergraduate student employment and internship opportunities.

Draper Laboratory conducts a [[STEM fields|STEM]] (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) K–12 and community education outreach program, which it established in 1984.<ref>{{cite web| last = Mytko| first = Denise| title = Educational Outreach| publisher = The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.| url = http://www.draper.com/educational_outreach.html| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110612193115/http://www.draper.com/educational_outreach.html| url-status = dead| archive-date = 2011-06-12| access-date = 2013-12-28}}</ref> Each year, the laboratory distributes more than $175,000 through its community relations programs.<ref>{{cite web| title = 2010 Tech Citizenship honoree: Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Inc.| work = Mass High Tech| publisher = Boston Business Journal| date = 23 November 2010| url = http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/blog/mass-high-tech/2010/11/2010-tech-citizenship-honoree-charles-stark.html| access-date = 2013-12-28}}
</ref> These funds include support of internships, co-ops, participation in science festivals and the provision of tours and speakers-is an extension of this mission.<ref>{{cite web| last = Mytko| first = Denise| title = Community Relations| publisher = The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.| url = http://www.draper.com/community_relations.html| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110612184141/http://www.draper.com/community_relations.html| url-status = dead| archive-date = 2011-06-12| access-date = 2013-12-28}}</ref>

{{Asof|2021}}, Draper Laboratory also sponsors Draper Spark!Lab, at the [[National Museum of American History]] on the [[National Mall]] in Washington, DC. The hands-on invention workspace operated by the [[Smithsonian Institution]] is free to all visitors, and focuses on educational activities for children aged 6 to 12 years.<ref name="SparkLab">{{cite web |title=Frequently Asked Questions about Spark!Lab |url=https://invention.si.edu/frequently-asked-questions-about-sparklab |website=Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation |publisher=Smithsonian Institution |access-date=2021-02-24 |language=en |date=14 March 2020}}</ref>

===Draper Prize===
The company endows the [[Charles Stark Draper Prize]], which is administered by the [[National Academy of Engineering]]. It is awarded "to recognize innovative engineering achievements and their reduction to practice in ways that have led to important benefits and significant improvement in the well-being and freedom of humanity". Achievements in any engineering discipline are eligible for the $500,000 prize.<ref>{{cite web| title = Charles Stark Draper Prize for Engineering | publisher = National Academy of Engineering| date = 26 September 2013| url = http://www.nae.edu/Activities/Projects/Awards/DraperPrize.aspx| access-date = 2013-12-28}}</ref>