Converting Student Potential Into Lifetime Achievement

Prairie View A&M University
Thurgood Marshall College Fund
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Converting Student Potential Into Lifetime Achievement
Pamela Denkins, Ph.D.
November 16-18, 2008
The Vision for Space Exploration
“Mankind is drawn to the heavens for the same reason we were once drawn into
unknown lands and across the open sea. We choose to explore space because
doing so improves our lives and lifts our national spirit.”
-- President George W. Bush
Our Mission
To pioneer the future in Space
exploration, scientific discovery,
and aeronautics research
The Exploration Roadmap
NASA’s Future Workforce Needs
• Systems
Engineering
• Mission Analysis,
Planning and Design
• Aerospace Medicine
• Software
Engineering
• Control Systems,
Guidance and
Navigation
• Business Operations
• Financial
Operations
• Aerodynamics
• Chemical
Engineering
Technology Priorities
•Human Research
•Aeronautics/Astronautics
•Human Factors
•Astrophysics
•Radiation Science
•Earth Sciences
•Propulsion Systems
•
hno
ys
ics
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Ph
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Communicate the
Enterprise’s unique
space research
Inspire achievement
of academic
excellence
Influence the choice
of science,
technology,
engineering, and
mathematics careers
Increase the
scientific literacy of
our nation’s
citizenry.
Tec
•
log
y
…Inspiring Future Generations
an ogy
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Hu ysio
Ph
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gin
En
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Chem
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Education Pipeline
From here…
…To there
NASA Education Partnership Opportunities
STUDENTS
• Harriet G. Jenkins Predoctoral Fellowship
Program
• Graduate Student Research Program
• Undergraduate Student Research Program
• Motivating Undergraduates in Science and
Technology (MUST)
• Post-Doctoral Program
FACULTY
• NASA Administrator’s Fellowship Program
• NASA Science and Technology Institute
INFRASTRUCTURE Building
• University Research Center
• Curriculum Improvement Partnership Awards
• Experimental Program to Stimulate
Competitive Research (EPSCOR)
• Space Grant
NASA Education Partnership Opportunities
MISSION DIRECTORATE PROGRAMS and
PARTNERSHIPS
• University Research, Engineering, and
Technology Institute (URETI) - Aerospace
• Radiation Interuniversity Science and
Engineering (RaISE) Program Exploration
• Pre – Service Teacher Institute (PSTI) –
LaRC
OTHER: NASA Mentor-Protégé Program
• SBIR/STTR
• Contracts
• Technology Transfer and
Commercialization
Increasing the Capability of Minority Institutions to Respond to NASA’s Research Needs
The NASA – PVAMU Relations
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The NASA – PVAMU Center for Radiation Engineering and Science for Space
Exploration, Prairie View A & M University, under the leadership of Dr. Richard
Wilkins, was awarded in 2008. The Center is funded for $6M over 5years.
The NASA-PVAMU Center for Applied Radiation Research (CARR) URC was
awarded in 1990. The URC, under the leadership of Dr. Thomas Fogarty and Dr.
Richard Wilkins, was funded for $15M over a 15 year period.
NASA Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate Aero-propulsion University
Research and Technology Institute awarded 2004 for multi-institutional research
leading to development of 3rd Generation Reusable Launch Vehicle; Value $15M
over 5 years and renewable for 10 years.
NASA Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate Bio-Nano-Information Technology
University Research and Technology Institute awarded 2004 for multi-institutional
research leading to development of Bio-Nano Materials and Structures; Value $15M
over 5 years and renewable for 10 years
The NASA ESMD Radiation Science and Engineering Program (RaISE), headed by
Dr. Premkumar Saganti, was established in 2004. Funds to date - $225K
Increasing the Capability of Minority Institutions to Respond to NASA’s Research Needs
The NASA – PVAMU Relations (con’t)
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PVAMU is Lead on the NASA Network Resources and Training Sites
(NRTS), 1994 – present, headed by Dr. John Williams; expansion of
internet capability to a consortium of HBCUs and MIs across the US
PVAMU is a member of the NASA Langley Pre-Service Teacher
Consortium and has served as host to the Institute
Partnership with Goddard Space Flight Center in Solar and Helospheric
Program, headed by Tian Seng Huang
Member of the NASA ESMD Constellation University Institute Program;
area of specialization – future space transport vehicles
Member of the NASA Space Grant Consortium; student focus on
microgravity experiments as a part of the Reduced Gravity Program
Established a space communication contractor ‘storefront’ in 2002
Technology development projects with Glenn Research Center in the areas
of material science, microelectronics technology, combustion modeling,
and solar cells
Increasing the Capability of Minority Institutions to Respond to NASA’s Research Needs
The NASA – PVAMU Relations (con’t)
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Dr. Sukesh Agara – selected to participate in the NASA Administrators
Fellows program, Cohort 11. Four NASA scientists and engineers served
as NASA Fellows to this institution – Kurt Kloesel, Dr. Robert Singletary,
Willie Williams, and Dr. Pamela Denkins
• Ms. Merlyn Pulikkathara, PVAMU student selected as NASA Harriet
Jenkins Pre-doctoral Fellow –Co-hort 2
• In the 1990’s, PVAMU students participated in balloon experiments at the
National Balloon Facility in Palestine, Tx
• Numerous PVAMU students have participated in the NASA Cooperative
Education program and in the Agency’s internship program
Approximately 100+ PVAMU Graduates are JSC Civil Servants or
contractors
Increasing the Capability of Minority Institutions to Respond to NASA’s Research Needs
Increasing the Capability of Minority Institutions to Respond to NASA’s Research Needs
NASA Education Supports Successful Transitions into the Aerospace
Workforce
Increasing the Capability of Minority Institutions
to Respond to NASA’s Research Needs
NAME: Guy L. King
TIME AT JSC: 27 years
ORGANIZATION: Engineering Directorate, Structures
and Mechanics Division
POSITION TITLE: International Space Station
Subsystem Manager for the Solar Array Wings, the Solar
Alpha Rotary Joint, the Thermal Radiator Rotary Joint
and the Manual Berthing Mechanism; Structures and
Mechanics Lead for H-II Transfer Vehicle
EDUCATION: Bachelors’ in mechanical engineering
from Prairie View A&M University
Outstanding Recognition: Patent for Remote
Manipulator Arm
NASA Education Supports Successful Transitions into the Aerospace Workforce
Featured in NASA Quest magazine 2004
NASA Student Programs
Increasing the Capability of Minority Institutions to Respond to NASA’s Research Needs
Internet Resources
For more information about NASA and its programs, visit
•http://www.nasa.gov
The gateway to all NASA programs and information
•http://education.nasa.gov
For all NASA education opportunities
•http://research.hq.nasa.gov/research.cfm
For research and education solicitations