NASA AWARDS GRANTS TO MINORITY UNIVERSITIES

WASHINGTON -- NASA has selected six universities that serve large 
numbers of minority and underrepresented students to receive research 
grants totaling nearly $30 million. The funding will help the 
universities establish significant, multi-disciplinary scientific, 
engineering and commercial research centers that contribute 
substantially to NASA programs. 

The six universities selected are: 

- California State University in Long Beach for the Center for Human 
Factors in Advanced Aeronautics Technologies 
- Delaware State University in Dover for the establishment of a NASA 
Optical Sciences Center for Applied Research 
- North Carolina A & T State University in Greensboro for the Center 
for Aviation Safety 
- North Carolina Central University in Durham for the NASA Center for 
Aerospace Device Research and Education 
- University of Texas in Brownsville for the Center for Gravitational 
Wave Astronomy 
- University of Texas in El Paso for the Center for Space Exploration 
Technology Research 

Each university will receive up to $1 million per year for up to five 
years based on performance and availability of funds. 

These awards provide funding that continues NASA's commitment of 
achieving a broad based, competitive aerospace research and 
technology development capability among the nation's Historically 
Black Colleges and Universities and other minority schools. 

Through the NASA Group 5 University Research Center awards program, 
NASA seeks to foster new aerospace science and technology concepts 
and expand the nation's base for aerospace research and development. 
The program also aims to develop mechanisms for increased 
participation in NASA's research by faculty and students from 
Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other minority 
universities. The goal is to increase the number of underrepresented 
minorities who obtain advanced degrees in science, technology, 
engineering and mathematics. 

NASA's Office of Education funded the awards. The six institutions 
were selected from among 35 that submitted proposals. Selections were 
based on proposal reviews by scientists and educators from the 
academic community, private industry and NASA. 

Through this and the agency's other college and university programs, 
NASA continues to invest in the nation's education with a focus on 
developing a future workforce trained in critical science, 
technology, engineering and mathematics skills. 

For more information about NASA's education programs, visit: 



http://www.nasa.gov/education