Announcements

Kelsey Mueller has joined the Department of Aerospace Engineering staff as program coordinator for NASA Iowa EPSCoR (Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research).

Her duties will include working with the internal Iowa research audience to connect them to NASA EPSCoR opportunities at the national level and to provide support for researchers in Iowa as they develop proposals and reports.

Kelsey is originally from Wisconsin and is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Prior to coming to Iowa State she was a medical laboratory scientist. New to the Ames area, she is married and enjoys outdoor activities, including running.

Among the goals of NASA EPSCoR are developing research infrastructure in areas of strategic importance to the NASA mission and develop partnerships between NASA research assets, academic institutions and industry.

The Iowa Space Grant Consortium (ISGC) awards fellowships to support outstanding graduate students pursuing research opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) disciplines that support the mission of NASA. For the 2019-20 academic year, the ISGC is sponsoring the following awardees:

• Marc Brittain, Iowa State, Doctorate in Aerospace Engineering
• Leo Brueggeman, Iowa, Doctorate in Medicine/Genetics
• Sadie Elliot, Iowa, Doctorate in Physics and Astronomy
• Jordan Fuqua, Iowa, Doctorate in Human Physiology
• Kari Jurgenson, Iowa State, Doctorate in Mathematics Education
• Noah Laird, Iowa, Doctorate in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Experimental Therapy
• Adam Lawrence, Iowa State, Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering
• Hannah Molitor, Iowa, Doctorate in Environmental Engineering
• Claire Muerdter, Iowa, Doctorate in Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Emily Olson, Iowa State, Doctorate in Materials Science and Engineering
• Ashley Paulsen, Iowa State, Doctorate in Genetics and Genomics
• Christopher Sullivan, Iowa, Masters in Mechanical Engineering
• Dustin Swarm, Iowa, Doctorate in Physics with an Astronomy emphasis
• Katharine Woodruff, Iowa, Masters in Industrial and Systems Engineering

The deadline to apply for Spring 2020 NASA internships is quickly approaching on November 5, 2019.

NASA internships and fellowships leverage NASA’s unique missions and programs to enhance and increase the capability, diversity, and size of the nation’s future science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workforce. Internships provide students with the opportunity to participate in either research or other experiential learning, under the guidance of a mentor at NASA. The ISGC encourages all undergraduate students with an interest in STEM, hands-on research experience, engineering experience and a passion for NASA’s mission to apply. Please go to https://intern.nasa.gov/ for more details on NASA internship opportunities.

Your guide to applying:

Check out our page on previously ISGC funded internships experiences with NASA.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Office of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Engagement (OSTEM) invites the NASA Space Grant community, academia, and industry to consider the newly released Phase 2 of the Space Robotics Challenge.

Interested teams that wish to compete may now register on the official Challenge site.   Registration will close at 5:00pm Central Time on December 20, 2019.

NASA Centennial Challenges is a program of prize competitions to stimulate innovation in technologies of interest and value to NASA and the nation.  NASA is providing the prize purse, and the Manned Space Flight Education Foundation, Inc. (i.e., Space Center Houston) will be conducting the Challenge on behalf of NASA.

The focus of SRC Phase 2 is on the ability of virtual robotic systems to perform a long-term fully-autonomous ISRU mission for the Moon. This challenge will require competitors to develop software that allows a team of virtual robots (i.e., virtual robotic team) to operate fully autonomously for a specified length of time. The Competition Rounds will be carried out in a robotic simulation format, using Open Robotics’ Gazebo and Robot Operating System (ROS) platforms.

The challenge will consist of a Qualification Round and a Competition Round. Both rounds will require fully autonomous operations, such that competitors will not be able to interact with their virtual robotic teams during a challenge run.  Each round will be scored and prizes will be awarded form a prize purse of up to $1,000,000 USD per the criteria in the Official Challenge Rules.  Official documentation related to this Challenge can be found here.

NASA welcomes applications from individuals, teams, and organization or entities that meet the eligibility requirements as stated in the Official Challenge Rules.

This email is being sent on behalf of the Centennial Challenges program and is intended as an informational announcement to the science and research communities.

Thank you for your continued interest in NASA. Please refer to the Challenge Website for contact information.

 

2019 Iowa Space Grant Consortium Partner Schools 

Seven educators from two Iowa K-12 schools and one university attended the 25th annual Space Exploration Educator’s Conference (SEEC) at Space Center Houston and NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The conference was held on February 7-9, 2019. Two participants are public school teachers; one is a University of Northern Iowa (UNI) faculty member and two are students.

• Brenda Drake, STEM teacher – AGSWR Community School
• Beth Janssen, STEM teacher – AGSWR Community School
• Kylee Boettcher, STEM teacher – Panorama Middle/High School
• Robyn Ploeger, STEM teacher – Panorama Middle/High School
• Ron Rinehart, faculty – University of Northern Iowa
• Tyler Brown, preservice educator – University of Northern Iowa
• Tori Wells, preservice educator – University of Northern Iowa

Iowa Locations

AMES, IA – Brandon Vance, an Iowa Space Grant Consortium (ISGC) undergraduate research fellow and Iowa State University student, recently presented his research at the Posters on the Hill event in Washington, D.C. The event is meant for members of Congress and their staff to learn more about the importance of undergraduate research by speaking directly with student researchers. Vance’s research focuses on the design of catalysts used to convert Mars’ natural resources into rocket fuel.

“I honestly loved presenting my research to the people I interacted with at the event. Practically everyone I talked to was excited and blown away by the work I had done. I felt absolutely joyous during the entire event because traditionally nontechnical individuals were actually investing their time and interest into my research and work,” said Vance.

Vance’s research is incredibly innovative. As space travel advances towards manned missions to Mars, a variety of challenges need to be addressed. One challenge being that it is unrealistic to send enough fuel aboard a spacecraft for a return trip. So, there needs to be a way to replenish the supply by creating fuel. This happens through a process called carbon dioxide methanation where catalysts are used to convert carbon dioxide and hydrogen gas into methane fuel. Vance’s research dives into designing catalysts built to withstand Mars’ temperatures and improve their efficiency.

“The primary source of inspiration for my research is my belief that it is everyone’s duty to leave this world in a better state than when they entered it. I believe that I will have the greatest influence and broadest impact through my endeavors as a catalytic scientist and by communicating those results to a broad audience,” said Vance.

The ISGC has been the primary source of funding for Vance’s undergraduate research. Additionally, through ISGC funding he was able to attend several conferences across the United States to share his research with a variety of audiences.

“In short, I don’t think I would be as successful as I am if it wasn’t for the support from the ISGC,” said Vance.

Vance is one of many students the ISGC is proud to fund and encourage in their STEM education and career pursuits.

The Iowa Space Grant Consortium is a part of NASA’s National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program. The ISGC supports aerospace research, education and outreach activities for all Iowans through five program categories: internships/fellowships/scholarships; higher education; research infrastructure; precollege; and informal education. The ISGC carries out its goals with the help of six universities across the state of Iowa, as well as a number of private industry, education and government organizations, and science museums.