Sept 16, 2009

Stephanie Schierholz Headquarters, Washington 202-358-4997 stephanie schierholz@nasa gov

RELEASE: 09-213

NASA AWARDS GRANTS FOR RESEARCH CENTERS AT 6 MINORITY UNIVERSITIES

WASHINGTON -- NASA has selected six universities that serve large numbers of minority and underrepresented students to receive research grants totaling nearly $30 million The funding will help the universities establish significant, multi-disciplinary scientific, engineering and commercial research centers that contribute substantially to NASA programs

The six universities selected are:

• California State University in Long Beach for the Center for Human Factors in Advanced Aeronautics Technologies
• Delaware State University in Dover for the establishment of a NASA Optical Sciences Center for Applied Research
• North Carolina A & T State University in Greensboro for the Center for Aviation Safety
• North Carolina Central University in Durham for the NASA Center for Aerospace Device Research and Education
• University of Texas in Brownsville for the Center for Gravitational Wave Astronomy
• University of Texas in El Paso for the Center for Space Exploration Technology Research

Each university will receive up to $1 million per year for up to five years based on performance and availability of funds

These awards provide funding that continues NASA's commitment of achieving a broad based, competitive aerospace research and technology development capability among the nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other minority schools

Through the NASA Group 5 University Research Center awards program, NASA seeks to foster new aerospace science and technology concepts and expand the nation's base for aerospace research and development The program also aims to develop mechanisms for increased participation in NASA's research by faculty and students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other minority universities The goal is to increase the number of underrepresented minorities who obtain advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics

NASA's Office of Education funded the awards The six institutions were selected from among 35 that submitted proposals Selections were based on proposal reviews by scientists and educators from the academic community, private industry and NASA

Through this and the agency's other college and university programs, NASA continues to invest in the nation's education with a focus on developing a future workforce trained in critical science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills

For more information about NASA's education programs, visit:

http://www nasa gov/education

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