Posted on 12/21/2010 10:27:38 AM PST by anymouse
NASA has selected the United Negro College Fund Special Programs Corp. of Falls Church, Va., to administer a $1 million career development and educational program designed to address the critical shortage of U.S. minority students in science and engineering fields.
The NASA Astrobiology Institute's (NAI) Minority Institution Research Support (MIRS) program in Moffett Field, Calif., is providing the funding for the four-year effort. The program will provide opportunities for up to four faculty members and eight students from minority-serving institutions to partner with astrobiology investigators. Astrobiology is the study of the origin, evolution, distribution and the future of life on Earth and the potential for life elsewhere.
"Providing new education opportunities for minority students will both enrich lives and answer a critical need for proficiency in science and engineering," NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said. "But just as importantly, the program is an investment to cultivate imaginative thinking about the field of astrobiology."
The United Negro College Fund Special Programs Corp. will use its extensive database of 14,000 registrants to develop an online community to provide webinars, virtual training and videoconferences, and provide outreach and recruitment for program participants. The program's objective is to engage more teachers from under-represented schools in astrobiology research and increase the number of students pursuing careers in astrobiology.
"Our nation's underserved populations are a tremendous resource on which we must draw, not just for science, but for everything we do," said Carl Pilcher, director of NASA's Astrobiology Institute. "We are extremely pleased that the NAI MIRS program will continue contributing under the leadership of such a strong and experienced partner."
Founded in 1998, NAI is a partnership between NASA, 14 U.S. teams of universities and other organizations, and six international consortia. NAI's goals are to promote, conduct, and lead interdisciplinary astrobiology research, train a new generation of astrobiology researchers, and share the excitement of the field.
NAI is part of NASA's Astrobiology Program at the agency's headquarters in Washington. The institute initiated the MIRS program in 2002 as part of its mission to help train a new generation of researchers in astrobiology and increase diversity within the astrobiology community.
More income redistribution. More retributions.
More racist based corruption and stealth “reparations”.
If anyone believed minorities would treat all people as equals once they become the majority, this racist administration should put those notions to rest.
Next will be “The United Muslim Fund”.
Were they fleeing a fire? /Sarc
“More income redistribution. More retributions.”
#####
I know we are well into the trillions. How soon until we reach a cool quadrillion?
I was a crypto-linguist in the U.S.Navy. Pretty much an all-white group.
To become a crypto-linguist you had to demonstrate not only linguistic ability but puzzle solving ability. Cryptanalysis is like solving a crossword puzzle, without any clues, in a foreign language. Just being intelligent doesn’t mean you’re qualified.
As to why there are so few blacks in the crypto-linguist field, I don’t really have an answer.
Qualifying for this work is achieved solely by scores on tests. You don’t get high scores, no entry. Once you’re in, that’s only the beginning. Then you have intensive language and technical schooling to complete before actually going out into the field. Every step of the way is based on merit.
I sure hope that NASA isn’t cutting corners when it comes to merit.
or the new black panthers
Hasn’t judging on merit been proven to be racist? <>
Did you forget the ‘sarc’ tag?
Looks like they've found a fringe, kooky field where affirmative action cannot do any real damage.
The premises in the article are so outlandish/stupid that one could write page upon page in rebuttal. I'll not bother with that.
When it comes down to serious science/engineering (like, making sure the plane you're on doesn't suddenly fall out of the sky), aptitude and merits count, and NOTHING else!
Astrobiology...Hahahahahaha...
Apparently you haven't been paying attention to NASA over the last 20 or so years. Merit is the last thing considered there.
I was wondering how many replies it would take before that old racist video would be posted.
There was a time when the best and brightest fought for a shot to get to work for NASA. Now it’s just another piece of flotsam in the Federal slop trough for the rats to fight over.
I love that video!
I used to have a quote from "Suitcase Jefferson" for a tagline.
...to administer a $1 million career development and educational program designed to address the critical shortage of U.S. minority students in science and engineering fields....y'know, because the line on the color bar is the only thing to consider when thinking about the general shortage of US science and engineering students. Thanks anymouse.
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