Education Initiative Successes Continue at Goddard

Recently NASA announced a new initiative that has launched education into the major enterprise arena. As the NASA efforts continue to evolve, Goddard has celebrated several successes within the center's education programs that are providing positive results.

Morgan State University Ribbon Cutting Ceremony (left to right) Dr. Eugene M. DeLoatch, Dean, School of Engineering; Dr. Earl S. Richardson, President, Morgan State University; Dr. Carl White, Director of CAMRA Rick Obenschain; Director Applied Engineering and Technology; Mr. A.V. Diaz, Center Director, Goddard

On Dec. 16, A. V. Diaz, Center Director, joined Dr. Earl Richardson, President Morgan State University, Baltimore, in a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially open The Center for Advanced Microwave Research and Applications. The research center is the result of a five-year $6 million dollar grant from NASA Goddard's University Research Center (URC) program.

During his remarks, Center Director Diaz spoke of NASA's mission statement and the charge to inspire the next generation. "None of our dreams can be a reality without the next generation of explorers," said Diaz.

This marks the first time that NASA has awarded a research grant to Morgan State University. Coordinated through Goddard, Morgan will provide future NASA missions with a technology base for the production of microwave components and systems.

"Morgan is being increasingly recognized as one of Maryland's premier research institutions, which makes this partnership that much more significant," said Morgan President Richardson. "This center will provide our engineering students with a unique educational opportunity and ultimately enhance NASA's technology," added Dr. Richardson.

The NASA grant is part of an effort to establish university research centers. The program is designed to achieve a broad-base competitive aerospace research and technology capability among Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Other Minority Universities.

Another success story for NASA's education initiative occurred on Dec. 12 when Lincoln University opened its NASA, MASTAP (Mathematics and Science Teacher Partnership Program) Continuing Education Teaching Resource Center (CETRC) at the University's Urban Center, Philadelphia, Pa.

Dillard Menchan, NASA Goddard Chief, Office of Equal Opportunity gives keynote address at Lincoln University.

Keynote speaker for the evening Dillard Menchan, NASA Goddard's Chief of the Office of Equal Opportunity, spoke about purpose, scope and the future of such research programs. "The more we can help build our teacher core the more of a chance we have to inspire young minds in math and science," said Menchan. "Anyone that remembers a positive educational experience also remembers that there was a teacher right there in the middle to facilitate," he later added.

The goal of the Lincoln NASA MASTAP is to address the critical shortage of under-represented minority students entering the fields of mathematics, science, engineering and technology. Lincoln's CETRC will train Philadelphia-area school teachers to use NASA educational program resources for the continuous improvement of mathematics, science, engineering and technology instruction in K-12 schools.

Undoubtedly the New Year will bring with it renewed educational efforts from NASA. In 2003, NASA Goddard will also continue its quest "To inspire the next generation of explorers as only NASA can."