Norfolk, Va.—On Monday, Oct. 9, Norfolk State
University President Marie V. McDemmond announced that the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration has awarded $2.9 million to fund three
research projects.
“This is an exciting time for all of us at the university,” said McDemmond.
“Norfolk State has always been committed to being the university of opportunity.
These grants will enable us to advance our mission and become a “science
and technology powerhouse.”
The NASA research grants include:
· A $2 million institutional research award for the university’s
Center for Materials Research to develop novel composite and random materials
for nonlinear optics and lasers, which will ultimately ignite the development
of technology on a nanoscale, a billionth of a meter. The grant
will also be used to further develop the infrastructure of the CMR through
the purchase of basic equipment and hiring a postdoctoral associate, and
involving more minority graduate and undergraduate students.
· A $675,000 grant for 3 years for “A NASA-HBCU Partnership to
Enhance Minority Education and Research Participation in the Space Sciences.”
This partnership will help enhance faculty and student participation in
the space sciences, provide astronomy education to high school teachers,
offer new astrophysics courses, and provide summer research opportunities.
· A $225,000 award to fund the fifth Pre-Service Teacher Education
Program, which will assist pre-service teachers from universities with
large minority populations in improving their competencies in science,
mathematics and technology.
In addition to these recent grants, NASA also awarded the university
another $2 million in February to enhance research and education programs
in the B.E.S.T lab.
“Norfolk State University will be opportunistic in making the best even
better,” concluded McDemmond.
#MDG#
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