Excellence in Engineering & Science Summer Internship (E2S2I) Accepting Applications

The Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT), located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio, is the Air Force’s premiere graduate school. AFIT’s Summer Internship program, the Excellence in Engineering & Science Summer Internship (E2S2I), offers undergraduate science and engineering students the opportunity to gain valuable research experience working alongside its experienced faculty members. Interns will develop scientific and engineering independence and self-confidence through participation in actual research projects in a graduate educational environment.

The Program benefits undergraduate students by immersing them in graduate level research with professors and graduate students. Many Interns are AFROTC cadets who receive the benefit of witnessing AFIT’s graduate level programs.  Interns are encouraged to pursue MS or PhD Programs at AFIT at a future time in their careers — the experience gives a head start at AFIT. Interns will also learn about the Air Force, Department of Defense Laboratories, and graduate education programs.  Non AFROTC students witness government graduate education which may influence future employment decisions with the government.

Please visit the official website (see below) for details regarding eligibility requirements. The student must be a U.S. citizen who is currently earning an undergraduate degree. Applications must be received by the 28 February 2008 deadline. The program application can be accessed here https://www.afit.edu/en/Interns/

Apply Today for the NASA INSPIRE Program

The Interdisciplinary National Science Program Incorporating Research and Education Experience (INSPIRE) is a multi-tiered student pipeline program designed to encourage underrepresented and underserved students throughout the U.S. to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and careers. To be considered, students must be a U.S. citizen, be in the appropriate grade at the start of the program and have at least a 2.5 overall unweighted grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale.

Program Description: INSPIRE’s three tiers provide students in grades 9th through the freshmen year of college opportunities to immerse themselves in on-line activities, e-learning, distance learning and video teleconferencing featuring NASA’s unique content. These activities provide grade appropriate information, interaction, and experiences to add relevancy to courses being taught and real life experiences. INSPIRE also provides opportunities for NASA to encourage family and community participation through activities that inspire, engage and educate the public in NASA’s Exploration Vision.

In addition to the on-line component, INSPIRE students who achieve a 3.0 GPA will have the opportunity to compete for special NASA/STEM experiences with parent’s permission. It is estimated NASA will select 200 students to participate in each of the following experiences:

For tier 1: 10th grade “NASA Explorers” students compete for a VIP tour of a NASA center and attend workshops at a NASA center as a reward for their achievement and participation in tier activities. Students and their parent/guardian are selected are awarded transportation, lodging and meals to attend the event.

For tier 2: Rising 11th grade students compete for the “Collegiate Experience” that provides a two (2) week on-campus residential experience at a selected college/university to be exposed to college life as a way to encourage pursuit of a STEM education and career. This is designed to enhance study skills, and provides contact with other STEM engineers, professors, and university-level students. To help defray transportation expenses, families which live outside a 100 mile radius of the participating academic institution will be provided $500 for transportation. Rising 12th grade students compete for the “High School Internship” which provides a six-week long paid summer internship at a NASA center. Students gain valuable on-the-job experience by working directly with NASA scientists and engineers. Students are involved in intensive educational experiences after work and during weekends to introduce other STEM fields through tours and presentations. Students take shortened academic courses and work in teams to solve problems and give presentations. For this tier students are provided transportation, lodging and meals.

For tier 3: Rising college freshmen students who have been accepted at a college or university and have declared a STEM major compete for an eight-week ”Collegiate Intern” experience at a NASA field installation during the summer prior to their freshman year of college. This introduces the students to other education-sponsored and employment opportunities offered at the university level.

To learn more about each Center: http://education.nasa.gov/about/nasacenters/
To learn more about INSPIRE or to download the application materials, please visit: http://nspires.nasaprs.com/external/solicitations/summary.do?method=init&solId=%7b09DBA413-21CE-51D5-28EE-14F01A09304F%7d&path=open

Reminder – FAA University Design Competition Open

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is offering a Design Competition for Universities for the 2007 – 2008 academic year.

The Competition challenges individual students or teams of students from U.S. colleges and universities working under the mentorship of a faculty advisor to address challenges in three broad areas: Airport Operations and Maintenance, Runway Safety/Runway Incursions, and Environmental Interactions of Airports. Students must have a faculty advisor. Cash prizes are given to first, second and third place winners in each category. The first place winners will present their design solutions at the American Association of Airport Executives June 2008 Meeting in New Orleans.

Competition guidelines and full details are available at:
http://www.faa.gov/runwaysafety/design_competition.htm

NEW AERONAUTICS COMPETITION FOR HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS

The Fundamental Aeronautics Program of the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters announces a new aeronautics competition for high school and college students for the 2007-2008 academic year. The new aeronautics competition encourages high school and college students to share their ideas of future aircraft with NASA for a chance to receive trophies, student internship offers and cash prizes. Students will write about the next generation of aircraft, what they would look like and how they would operate.

For the competition, high school students will write a research paper that explains ideas for a future aircraft that could revolutionize passenger and cargo travel in the year 2058. Papers should include sections on fuel, environmental effects, noise levels, runway length and conditions, operating costs, passenger and cargo loads, and service operations.

A group of federal, university, industry and other expert representatives will judge the high school entries, which are limited to 12 pages. Entries will be judged on how well students focus their essays and meet four basic criteria: informed content, creativity and imagination, organization, and writing. Subject to availability of funds, team entries can win cash awards up to $1,500 and individual entries up to $1,000.

College students are challenged to write about their designs for the next generation of 21st-century aircraft. Design considerations include reduced environmental impact, reduced noise, daily operations on short runways, cost analysis for production and operation, passenger and cargo limits, structure and materials, and engines.  Students should also briefly describe three valid scenarios for potential use of this vehicle in the year 2058.

Each college entry is limited to 25 pages and must be sponsored by a supervising or advising faculty member. Winning entries may be invited to a student forum sponsored by NASA and/or industry, receive offers of student internships, and receive other prizes, including up to $5,000 cash, depending on available funds.

College entries will be judged by how well they address all aspects of the problem they chose to discuss, including the following criteria: innovation and creativity, discussion of feasibility, a brief review of current literature, and a baseline comparison with the relevant current technology, system or design.

These two competitions have different eligibility and submission requirements. To learn more about the competition, visit: http://aero.larc.nasa.gov/competitions.htm

6th International Planetary Probe Workshop (IPPW-6) – June 23-27, 2008

The 6th International Planetary Probe Workshop (IPPW-6) will be held at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia, USA on 23 – 27 June 2008. The goal of the workshop is to bring together an international group of scientists, technologists, engineers, mission designers, and policy makers with an interest in the exploration of solar system bodies with substantial atmospheres. The workshop scope covers the technological challenges and scientific opportunities that are both enabled and constrained by entry, descent, landing and flight in planetary atmospheres.

In addition to the 5-day workshop, a two day short course, Extreme Environment Technologies, will be held on the weekend preceding the workshop, 21-22 June 2008 at the same venue.

Scientists, students, and educators interested in the science, technologies, and engineering techniques and challenges of entry and descent probe studies of solar system bodies with atmospheres should consider attending or presenting at the conference. Please visit the official website for further details. Discounts are available for early registration.
http://www.planetaryprobe.org/

Space Shuttle Atlantis Launch Postponed Until January 2008

Space shuttle Atlantis’ STS-122 mission to the International Space Station is targeted to launch no earlier than Jan. 2 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The liftoff date depends on the resolution of a problem in a fuel sensor system.

Read more about the delay at NASA’s official shuttle website:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html