The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is partnering with eight historically Black universities on research projects involving data science. The awarded projects – totaling $11.7 million – have up to three years to establish institutes and partnerships to increase the number and research capacity of STEM students at HBCUs, accelerate innovation in a wide range of NASA science, technology, engineering, and mathematic research areas, and prepare the future workforce for data-intensive space-based Earth sciences.
The HBCUs participating in these research projects are:
Bethune-Cookman University
Fayetteville State University
Florida A&M University
Lincoln University (Missouri)
Morgan State University
North Carolina A&T State University
North Carolina Central University
Prairie View A&M University
“We’re pleased to make progress through awards like this to intentionally build the STEM pipeline of the future, especially in communities of color,” said NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy. “It’s fitting that we make this tangible step to build on the talent pool at HBCUs in our ongoing work to bring to the table all the talents and perspectives we’ll need to send humans to the moon, Mars, and beyond, and do amazing science throughout the solar system.”
“NASA is tackling how to use the latest techniques in data science combined with the volumes of data produced by our missions to answer questions about our changing planet,” added Steven Crawford, senior program executive for scientific data and computing. “Working with students from HBCUs will not only engage the generation that will be most affected by these subjects but will help NASA scientists and engineers address these challenges.”
