Stay up to date with what we’ve been up to. New posts made every month!
West Virginia Space Grant Consortium and Trinity Christian School Selected as part of the NASA Mission
December 5, 2022
The Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Project (NEBP), led by Montana Space Grant Consortium (MSGC) at Montana State University, has selected West Virginia University (WVU) and Trinity Christian School (TCS) in Morgantown WV to participate in a Nationwide mission that will conduct atmospheric studies during the 2023 and 2024 solar eclipses. The…
Read moreCall for Abstracts: 2023 Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol
November 3, 2022
Kevin Walden | Thursday, September 22, 2022 The 19th annual West Virginia Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol (URDC) will be held February 10, 2023. URDC’s purpose is to familiarize state legislators with research and creative activities involving undergraduate students that occur on campuses across the state. This is a unique opportunity that we believe…
Read moreMay Highlights
June 1, 2022
Eastwood Elementary School students got hands-on learning about nature’s resources during their STEM Fair. Over several weeks, science teachers designed fun activities for all grades during “Remake Learning Days.” Student pumping air into the bottle rocket (WBOY Image) In one of the activities, the students built water rockets out of soda…
Read more2022 NC Space Symposium
April 5, 2022
The 2022 NC Space Symposium is taking place April 8 from 1 to 5 p.m. (eastern) on Zoom, and I invite you and your students/colleagues to participate! The theme of the 2022 NC Space Symposium is “Where the Artemis Generation gathers together to build for the future,” and will feature presentations…
Read moreMarch Highlights
March 29, 2022
Aerial Drone Signature Event The Education Resource Center (ERC) at NASA’s Katherine Johnson Independent Verification and Validation Facility (NASA IV&V) hosted a middle and high school aerial drone competition for teams of students from West Virginia and Ohio at Fairmont State. According to Dr. Todd Ensign, program manager for the…
Read moreFebruary Highlights
February 10, 2022
An Extension and Public Outreach Grant lead by Shepherd University faculty member Dr. Kay Dartt, was named a recipient of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine’s 2021 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award. Seeding Your Future Initiative (SYFI) seeks to address issues of inequity in science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) career…
Read moreDecember 2021 highlights.
December 30, 2021
Whatever you plan to do, and wherever you plan to be, we wish each one of you a happy and safe holiday season. Thank you for your hard work and dedication this year. We look forward to collaborating with you in the New Year 2022. Happy Holidays!
Read moreNASA GLEE Workshop at Marshall University
November 10, 2021
Students participate in Great Lunar Expedition for Everyone workshop – Members of Marshall University’s chapter of the Society of Physics Students (SPS) participated in the Great Lunar Expedition for Everyone (GLEE) workshop Oct. 21-24 in Boulder, Colorado. Students A.J. Messinger and Peter Burbery, led by Assistant Professor Dr. Sean P….
Read moreBrooke Owens Fellowship Applications Live!
August 31, 2021
From WVU alumni, Emily Calandrelli: Hey there! Interested in a career in aerospace? The Brooke Owens Fellowship provides paid internships (in engineering, policy, business, journalism, communications, and more) and executive mentorship to women and gender minorities in the aerospace industry. The application is currently live until October 8th. Why apply? Fellows have interned at over 30 host companies such…
Read moreMeet the Director
August 9, 2021
I’m delighted to announce the appointment of Melanie Page, Ph.D., as the new Director of the NASA WV Space Grant Consortium, effective August 1, 2021. Dr. Page succeeds Dr. Majid Jaridi, who recently retired. I want to extend my deep appreciation to Dr. Majid Jaridi. I cannot thank him enough…
Read moreWVU Alumnus talks about his career at NASA
July 2, 2021
From the time he was six years old, Matt Underwood’s family knew he was going to be an engineer. “They bought me a K’nex set, a big Ferris wheel, and weren’t sure I was quite old enough for it. When they came downstairs the next day, I had it built…
Read moreExtension and Public Outreach Award: South Middle students get interactive look at history of James Herman Banning
June 14, 2021
Above: A chance to learn history in an engaging way, South Middle students spent a portion of Wednesday morning interacting with the actors of “The Flying Hobos,” a show on the history of the first Black aviator to fly across the continental United States. The show was adapted to a…
Read moreMarshall University Society of Physics Students mentoring Cabell Midland High School students for Science Olympiad
March 19, 2021
The NASA WVSGC will sponsor ten Marshall University undergraduate students, who will take on the role of virtual undergraduate coaches and directly work with 15 students (and their teacher) who are on the 2021 West Virginia State Championship Science Olympiad team (WVSO team) from Cabell Midland High School. WV has…
Read moreJanuary Highlights
January 25, 2021
NASA WV Space Grant Consortium – January Highlights Project Title: Impact of In Utero Thyroid-Related Mechanisms on Development of Craniosynostosis Evaluated by Avian Skull Morphogenesis The NASA WVSGC Research Initiation Grant program lead by Dr. Holly Racine, Assistant Professor of Biology in the Department of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, began…
Read moreWVU Robotics Team Moves on to Final Round of NASA Space Robotics Challenge
January 25, 2021
Congratulations to WVU for being one of twenty-two teams to move on to the final stage of the NASA Space Robotics Challenge, while also successfully completing enough tasks to be awarded the maximum monetary award of $15,000! For more information on the competition and WVU’s performance, see both the NASA…
Read moreSpace Grant Impact on WV in Action: “Radioactive Robotics: An After School Robotics Program for Pocahontas County High School Students”
November 17, 2020
Radioactive Robotics: An After School Robotics Program for Pocahontas County High School Students October 2020 Progress Report Work Completed to Date: During the summer, before the re-start of the school year, the Radioactive Robotics First Tech Challenge team came together to accomplish two goals – to help the younger county…
Read moreSatMagazine Article: The Story of West Virginia’s First Spacecraft
November 11, 2020
In an article released in SatMagazine, several NASA engineers along with the Director of the NASA West Virginia Space Grant Consortium, Dr. Majid Jaridi, discuss the origins of the budding spacecraft industry in West Virginia. ““Marcus Fisher was one of the earliest proponents of developing West Virginia’s first spacecraft,” STF-1…
Read moreDr. Holly Racine, West Liberty University, Continuing Research on the “Impact of In Utero Thyroid-Related Mechanisms on Development of Craniosynostosis Evaluated by Avian Skull Morphogenesis”
October 19, 2020
Dr. Holly Racine, West Liberty University, continues to expand her professional development and focus on a new area of research under the NASA Research Initiation Grant project entitled “Impact of In Utero Thyroid-Related Mechanisms on Development of Craniosynostosis Evaluated by Avian Skull Morphogenesis”. The overall purpose of this project was…
Read moreStudent Accomplishment
October 2, 2020
Congratulations to Emily Certain, WVU Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering undergraduate student, on being selected for a yearlong internship this year at NASA’s Independent Verification and Validation Facility in Fairmont, WV. Emily will be working with the Model Based Mission Assurance (MBMA) internship program. The MBMA program utilizes System Model Language…
Read moreStudents at West Virginia State University Persevere Through Challenging COVID-19 Conditions
September 24, 2020
Students at WV State University are diligently researching and innovating, despite the unprecedented situation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. While this semester may look different, our students are working hard moving forward with the WV Space Flight Design Challenge (RockSat X) project. Keep up the good work ! William Miller (left)…
Read moreSummer 2020 Student Experience
September 23, 2020
Zachary Preston, a Marshall University Mechanical Engineering undergraduate student, interned with the 2020 NASA Academy at Langley Research Center. Quote from the student: “This internship has solidified my goals and aspirations of being involved in the aerospace and mechanical engineering industry. Previous experience has allowed me to learn various technical…
Read moreSummer 2020 Student Experience
September 23, 2020
Carson Stebbins, WVU Aerospace Engineering undergraduate student, interned with the 2020 NASA Academy at Langley Research Center. “This internship was a life-changing experience, where I worked with some of the smartest people I’ve ever met, and made connections that will last a lifetime. I will be continuing this internship through…
Read moreWV Space Flight Design Challenge – Innovation in Action at WVSU
September 23, 2020
West Virginia State University student, Taylor Jones-Martin, shown below, working on the components of the experiment for the WV Space Flight Design Challenge (WVSFDC) as part of the RockSat-X Program. The WV SFDC uses four independent experiments to provide access to space for WV students. (Photograph by Jon Musselwhite,…
Read moreNASA Calls on College Students to Aid in Lunar Excavation Ideas
September 9, 2020
Registration is now open for teams of undergraduate and graduate students from throughout the nation to participate in NASA’s Robotic Mining Competition: Lunabotics 2021. The competition is a part of the Artemis Student Challenges, designed to engage and retain students in STEM fields by expanding opportunities for student research and…
Read more2021 RASC-AL Special Edition: Moon to Mars Ice and Prospecting Challenge
August 13, 2020
Audience: Full-time Undergraduate and Graduate Students Notice of Intent Deadline: Oct. 1 Project Plan Submission Deadline: Nov. 24 Contact: rascal@nianet.org The 2021 RASC-AL Special Edition: Moon to Mars Ice and Prospecting Challenge is an engineering design and technology demonstration contest for eligible college students. Teams have the opportunity to design…
Read moreNASA Psyche Inspired
August 6, 2020
Audience: Higher Education Students Application Deadline: Aug. 12 NASA’s Psyche mission invites full-time, enrolled undergraduate students majoring in any subject at universities and community colleges in the U.S. and its territories to apply to become part of this year’s cohort of Psyche Inspired interns. Psyche Inspired is a program that brings…
Read moreNew Teachable Moment: Meet NASA’s Next Mars Rover, Perseverance
July 30, 2020
Audience: K-12 Educators, Parents and Caregivers Perseverance is NASA’s most advanced Mars rover yet. Learn more about NASA’s goals for the rover and find out how you can bring the exciting engineering and science of this mission to students with lessons and do-it-yourself projects covering topics like biology, geology, physics, mathematics,…
Read more2021 BIG Idea Challenge: Dust Mitigation Technologies for Lunar Applications
July 23, 2020
Audience: Full-time Undergraduate and Graduate Students and Faculty Notice of Intent Deadline: Sept. 25 Entry Deadline: Dec. 13 Contact: BigIdea@nianet.org NASA’s 2021 Breakthrough, Innovative and Game-changing (BIG) Idea Challenge is an engineering design competition open to teams of five to 25 students from Space Grant-affiliated colleges/universities. Teams are challenged to submit robust…
Read moreLunar Loo Challenge
July 16, 2020
Audience: Innovators of All Ages Deadline: Aug. 17 As NASA prepares to send the first woman and next man to the Moon, engineers and scientists are busy working on the logistics and infrastructure needed to support astronauts for the trip, including a new toilet design. The space toilet used on the…
Read moreReinvent the Rover Wheel Challenge
July 9, 2020
Audience: Educators, Parents and Students in Grades K-12 Deadline: July 26 This summer, the Perseverance rover will launch on a trip to explore Mars. Perseverance has six aluminum wheels with S-shaped treads called grousers that will help the rover drive across the sandy, rocky and hilly Martian terrain. To develop…
Read moreHome on the Moon Project
July 3, 2020
Audience: Students and Families Entry Deadline: Aug. 15 What would it be like to live on the Moon? Would living there be similar to living on Earth? The Aldrin Family Foundation wants you and your family to imagine what it might be like with the Home on the Moon project. Perfect for…
Read moreSally Ride EarthKAM Mission
June 25, 2020
Audience: Parents, Caregivers, K-12 and Informal Educators Mission Dates: July 14-17 Sally Ride EarthKAM is a free STEM educational program managed by the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. EarthKAM allows participants to take images of Earth from space using a camera aboard the International Space Station. Use EarthKAM…
Read moreNASA’s Science Mission Directorate Seeks Ideas From Entrepreneurs
June 18, 2020
Audience: U.S. Citizens Ages 18+ Application Deadline: June 26 NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD) is seeking novel ideas to support the development of new science instruments and related technologies to advance the agency’s science exploration goals in three broadly defined science technology focus areas. Through a three-stage process, SMD will…
Read more2020 RASC-AL Competition—Virtual Forum
June 11, 2020
Audience: Educators, Parents, and Students in Grades 9-College Event Date: June 16-18 The 2020 Revolutionary Aerospace Systems Concepts—Academic Linkage (RASC-AL) engineering design competition has narrowed entries down to 15 university teams, and finalists will present their projects via video during a virtual forum. Educators, students, and the public are invited…
Read more2020 CINESPACE
June 4, 2020
ABOUT CINESPACE CineSpace is a collaboration between NASA and Houston Cinema Arts Society (HCAS) that offers filmmakers around the world a chance to share their works inspired by, and using, actual NASA imagery through “CineSpace”, a short film competition. Winners are announced and screen along with all finalists at the…
Read moreWe have moved!
January 1, 2020
Happy New Year! The NASA West Virginia Space Grant Consortium office has now moved to 341 Mineral Resources Building. Be sure to stop by and visit!
Read moreWomen and Technology Conference
September 10, 2018
The Women and Technology Conference was held at the Embassy Suites in Charleston, WV. This premier event attracts women working in technology fields, those interested in pursuing or migrating to a tech-focused career, education leaders, industry professionals, agency officials, nonprofit leaders, students and more. Anyone interested in exploring ways to bridge…
Read moreRockSat-X Launch!
August 14, 2018
Teams of students across the state of West Virginia participated in the RockSat-X program this past year through our Space Flight Design Challenge (SFDC) program. The SFDC program is a collaboration between The Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, New York, and four colleges in West Virginia — West…
Read moreMath Field Day
August 2, 2018
Dr. Jaridi, Director of NASA West Virginia Space Grant Consortium, spoke at the Math Field day this year at Marshall University. Over 600 students attended the event.
Read moreRocket Girls Camp
July 23, 2018
One of the NASA WVSGC awards in Extension and Public Outreach known as Rocket Girls held a day-camp over the summer for 23 girls. The camp was held at West Virginia State University and led by Hannah Payne with curriculum created by MIT. Mrs. Payne took pre and post…
Read moreISS Downlink with Alexander Gerst!
July 10, 2018
The NASA WVSGC collaborated with the Langley region (Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia) to have a joint ISS Downlink with the International Space Station. The live feed, held at Virginia Air and Space Center, was watched across the region. Youth from all 5 states submitted questions to be asked…
Read moreSTEM Fair in Morgantown, WV!
July 1, 2018
Emily Calandrelli, author of the Ada Lace series, hosted a STEM fair in her hometown of Morgantown, WV. The event was held before her book signing at Barnes & Noble. She invited many outreach programs from West Virginia University and the community. Some of the groups included: NASA West Virginia…
Read moreWVU Experimental Rocketry finishes 2nd at 2018 Spaceport America Cup!
June 22, 2018
The WVU Experimental Rocketry team was finally able to launch their 12-foot long fiber glass rocket, Wild & Wonderful II, in the 2018 Spaceport America Cup competition. There were multiple categories to compete in ranging from retrieving data and reaching various heights. The competition was held near Las Cruces, New…
Read moreRASC-AL: Mars Ice Challenge
June 5, 2018
The Mars Ice Challenge is one of several RASC-AL collegiate design competitions sponsored by NASA and administered by the National Institute of Aerospace in Hampton, Virginia. In its second year, Mars Ice Challenge judges 10 competitively selected teams to travel to NASA’s Langley Research Center from June 5-7 to demonstrate unique…
Read moreNASA-SPACE Day at Wheeling Jesuit University
April 27, 2018
The WVSGC office held their annual NASA-SPACE Day at Wheeling Jesuit University on Friday, April 27, 2018. The event included multiple activities ran by the Challenger Learning Center, NASA IV&V Facility, the SMART Centre, and West Virginia Unversity’s 4-H! Around 150 students were bussed to the event from the Wheeling…
Read moreSpring 2018 National Space Grant Meeting
March 2, 2018
The National Space Grant Meeting convened in Crystal City, VA for two days where NASA HQ gave an overview of the program’s direction. Various states also shared ongoing projects that they are proudly sponsoring. Some examples of these include: – West Virginia: Microgravity Research on the Zero-G plane aka “the…
Read moreWVU TEDx: Emily Calandrelli
March 2, 2018
West Virginia University held its first TED talk called TEDxWVU on campus. The ‘x’ in the name denotes that it was self-organized by a local team of individuals. Inspired by TED’s motto of, “Ideas worth spreading”, they invited speakers to share their ideas at the Media Innovation Center. Emily Calandrelli,…
Read moreWest Virginia State Science Bowl
February 10, 2018
The 27th WV State Science Bowl was hosted at West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV on Friday, February 9, until Saturday, February 10. Teams from across the state competed in quiz bowl like tournament rounds. On Saturday, info sessions about various colleges and science-related companies spoke with members of the…
Read moreWVSGC Winter 2017-2018 Newsletter
January 8, 2018
NASA West Virginia Space Grant Consortium is pleased to announce the release of its Winter 2017-2018 Newsletter. To view the newsletter, please go to News & Events -> Newsletters or click the image above.
Read moreFLL Championship Tournament at the Falcon Center
December 2, 2017
On December 2, 2017, Fairmont State University hosted the WV FIRST Lego League (FLL) Championship Tournament on their campus. Over 60 teams participated in what was one of the largest tournaments held this year. The tournament drew in over 1,500 students, coaches, and parents. Todd Ensign, the Program Manager for…
Read moreWest Virginia Science Teacher’s Association
November 2, 2017
Educators and professionals from across the state came together for a three day conference wherein they shared best practices in science education to return to their place of work and promote scientific literacy. WVSTA awarded multiple conference scholarships which convened at Oglebay Resort in Wheeling, WV from November 2nd-4th.
Read moreSeeding Your Future Conference
October 14, 2017
Shepherd University will invite 5th through 8th grade girls out for a full day of hands-on workshops and interactions with STEM professionals in the hopes of increasing their interest in STEM areas at the fourth annual Seeding Your Future (SYF) conference. A picture of the SYD team with leaders Dr….
Read moreFall Board of Directors Meeting
October 7, 2017
The WVSGC Board of Directors met at Embassy Suites in Charleston, WV. Presentations given by various speakers can be found under Resources -> Informational Downloads.
Read moreUndergraduate Affiliate Fellowship Program
September 25, 2017
The Undergraduate Affiliate Fellowship Program is taking submissions until Monday, September 25, 2017. WVSGC offers fellowships for undergraduate students who desire a career in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) related programs and are interested in working on a research project under the supervision of a faculty member who will…
Read moreThe Great American Solar Eclipse
August 21, 2017
Organized by NASA Montana Space Grant Consortium, students across the country participated in a high altitude balloon flight on August 21st. The event was an opportunity to send live video and images from near space of the eclipse. Streams of the event were captured and made available online, allowing for…
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