NASA is supporting career aspirations of students from underrepresented and underserved communities to enter careers in science, technology, engineering, and math.
To further that goal, NASA has awarded eight institutions a total of $3.8 million for its Minority University Research and Education (MUREP) awards for the MUREP Aerospace Academy (MAA). Through cooperative agreement awards, MAA funding affords Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) the opportunity to develop exciting new avenues to inspire local high school students in STEM fields.
The selected institutions and their proposed projects are:
Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton
Experiential Learning Opportunities for South Florida Underserved High School Students
Florida Atlantic University (FAU) will offer students from two local schools, Boyd Anderson High School and Lake Worth Community High School, serving predominantly Black and Hispanic student population, experiential learning opportunities, field trips, study tours, engagement with STEM professionals, and near-peer mentoring. NASA themes will be explored, including Earth Observations and Aeronautics. FAU was awarded $478,699.55 over three years.
University of Central Florida, Orlando
Novel Experience Geared to NASA Engineering Design Challenges (NEXTGEN-EDC)
The University of Central Florida (UCF) will bring together organizations to facilitate a NASA-relevant learning opportunity including using experiences from science conducted using NASA’s Martian rovers. Teams will compete in simulated NASA-style mission engineering design challenges under various themes over three years. UCF was awarded $479,999 over three years.
Hartnell Community College District, Salinas, Calif.
Hartnell College MUREP Aerospace Academy Project
Hartnell College’s MUREP Aerospace Academy (MAA) will provide opportunities for local high school students in STEM fields to engage in STEM experiential learning opportunities and other programming. These activities will build students’ NASA-specific STEM content, knowledge and skills, and college and career readiness. Hartnell College was awarded $480,000 over three years.
California State University San Marcos
CSUSM NASA MUREP Aerospace Academy
California State University San Marcos will build on its experience conducting after-school STEM programs for local underserved students. Local high school students will engage in authentic STEM activities, engage with STEM professionals, and increase their college and career readiness. CSU was awarded $480,000 over three years.
Texas State University, San Marcos
High School Innovation, Discovery, and Exploration in Aerospace and Science (IDEAS)
Texas State University’s (TSU) Lyndon B. Johnson Institute for STEM Education and Research will partner with NASA’s Johnson Space Center and five independent school districts to begin a three-year curriculum model for the Future Aerospace Engineers and Mathematicians Academy (FAMA). Students will gain STEM skills needed for engagement in a NASA research-based capstone project. TSU was awarded $479,800 over three years.
Tennessee State University, Nashville
MUREP Aerospace Academy
Tennessee State University (TSU), a Historically Black University, proposes to house the Tennessee MUREP Aerospace Academy. The goals of the project are to inspire underrepresented high school students to pursue their interest in STEM post-secondary careers. The award for TSU is $480,000 over three years.
University of Hawaii, Honolulu
From High School through College to Aerospace STEM Careers
The University of Hawaii will establish an aerospace engineering academy to provide engaging STEM opportunities for Hawaii’s underserved high schools. The academy will inspire and train its students through experiential learning, research studies and offer exposure to space exploration missions and technologies. The award for the University of Hawaii is $479,973.20 over three years.
University of Texas at El Paso
MUREP Aerospace Academy for the Southwest (MAA Southwest)
The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) plans to expand the workforce by providing opportunities for students through cutting-edge, applied research in aerospace. The goal of the MUREP Aerospace Academy is to inspire and prepare high school students in West Texas and Southern New Mexico who are underrepresented in STEM occupations for advanced studies and careers in aerospace-related fields. The award for UTEP is $479,997.00 over three years.
About MUREP
Administered through NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement, MUREP supports the training and development of students and faculty at minority-serving institutions in STEM fields. MUREP awards are established to strengthen and develop these institutions’ research capacity and infrastructure in areas of strategic importance and value to NASA’s mission and national priorities.
For more information about MUREP, visit:
https://www.nasa.gov/learning-resources/minority-university-research-education-project