March 27, 2023Â RELEASE 23-034 NASA Helps Fund Minority Institutions Preparing Students for College
fayetteville_state_university_-_murep_psi_2022.jpg MUREP PSI students constructing a drone during Fayetteville State Universityâs 2022 summer residential experience. Credits: NASA |
High school students from traditionally underrepresented and underserved communities will have a path to pursue careers in STEM with help from NASA. The agency announced Monday it has selected seven Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and one Predominantly Black Institution (PBI) to receive more than $3 million in funding to strengthen their support for students in those communities in precollege summer programs around the nation. âAs we explore the cosmos for the benefit of all humanity, NASA remains steady in its effort to lift as we soar. NASA is not only committed to inspiring the Artemis Generation â weâre working to make sure they have the tools they need to succeed,â said NASAâs Senior Advisor for Engagement and Equity Shahra Lambert. âThis funding will help open doors of opportunity for high school students across the country to help prepare and empower them for the future.â MUREP Precollege Summer Institute (PSIs) uses evidence-based strategies to enhance high school studentsâ precollege performance, prepare them for college entrance, and ultimately help them achieve success in their higher education pursuits and in science, technology, engineering, and math careers. âThis project gives students an opportunity to experience what itâs like to live on a college campus, attend classes, and build relationships with professors and like-minded peers,â said Torry Johnson, MUREP project manager. âWhat makes this program special is that itâs tied to NASA research. Students will be participating in engineering design challenges and research related to NASA missions with support from NASA subject matter experts.â The selected institutions and their proposed projects under NASAâs MUREP (Minority University Research and Education Project) are: Albany State University, Georgia ASU Accelerated Research Training Experience and Mentorship in STEM (ARTEMIS) 2.0 PSI Scholars Program Albany State University (ASU) propose a two-week residential camp for students interested in pursuing a STEM-based career. Using the theme âMission to Mars,â students will participate in NASA activities related to power generation and transmission; remote and autonomous vehicles and rocket propulsion; the geology of Earth and other planets; and the biology and chemistry of space travel. Students will become immersed in the expectations of life as a STEM student at ASU, gain useful knowledge about the campus, and build support networks to help ensure success in their life and in academics. ASU was awarded $425,000 for its proposal. Clayton State University, Morrow, Georgia Artificial Intelligence Study in Earth Exploration Summer Academy Clayton State University proposes to host a NASA-themed summer program for minority high school students. This program will provide eight-day summer residential STEM camp exposing participants to college life, NASA research, Earth data, and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Participants will gain an understanding of NASAâs missions and learn how to apply AI technology to solve real-world problems in Earth science. Clayton State University was awarded $425,000 for its proposal. Fayetteville State University, North Carolina Fayetteville State Universityâs NASA MUREP Precollege Summer Institute: Cutting-Edge Technologies for Examining Climate Change (FSU-CTECC) Fayetteville State University (FSU) proposes two-week long residential summer STEM camps over the five-year period of the project. Each year, 20 high school students will be recruited from high schools in Cumberland County and its surrounding counties in North Carolina. Project partners include NASAâs Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASAâs Goddard Space Flight Center, and multiple academic organizations and industries to provide STEM workshops for the students. FSU was awarded $423,487 for its proposal. Lincoln University, Jefferson City, Missouri Digital Agriculture, Data Science, and Robotics: Applied Research and Training for Enhancing Motivation in Science (DDR-ARTEMIS) In collaboration with the University of Missouri, Lincoln University proposed two identical and intensive nine-day residential summer camps designed to offer keys for success for the participating students to advance their careers in STEM fields as undergraduate students and beyond. Each summer camp will accommodate 12 students for a total of 24 students each year. The educational program will provide hands-on experience for underrepresented minority students in digital agriculture, data science, and robotics to develop a broad understanding of STEM careers along with professional development activities and interaction with STEM professionals and entrepreneurs. Lincoln University was awarded $424,403 for its proposal. Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee Collaborative Interactive Data Science Academy |