Grand Valley State University was recently awarded a total of $56,470 in ten grants from the Michigan Space Grant Consortium. Established by Congress in 1988 and implemented by NASA, the National Space Grant program provides funding for research, education and public service projects. The Michigan Consortium supports the national program and fosters an awareness of education research on space-related science and technology in our state.
Two seed grants and two undergraduate fellowships were awarded a total of $8,000, with the remaining grants devoted to Higher Education, Pre-College, Public Outreach, Special Initiative Augmentation and Teacher Training.
Summer Space Science Adventure Camps for students in 4th-8th grades and Research Partnership for high school students, teachers and mentors, each received $5,000 grants. The Science, Technology and Engineering Preview Summer (STEPS) camp for girls ages 11-13, received an $8,000 grant.
A $9,000 grant was awarded to Grand Valley's World Year of Physics program, a year-long series of events designed to engage the community, teachers and students. A wide range of activities focus on understanding the diverse phenomena of pure physics, applying physics principles in other science disciplines and the real world, and exploring career opportunities. Upcoming new programs include Celebrate the Sky on April 16, and a major event, Super Science Saturday: Celebrating Phenomenal Physics on October 29.
The World Year of Physics program also received the Inside Einstein's Universe Grant of $2,000 through the Harvard-Smithsonian Institution for Astrophysics. From a pool of 75 national applications, Grand Valley is one of eleven institutions awarded this grant and the only university.
The Regional Math and Science Center administers the Michigan Space Grants and is sponsoring the World Year of Physics program in cooperation with Grand Valley's Physics department and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Mary Ann Sheline, Grand Valley's representative to the Michigan Space Consortium said, "Although the amount of funding provided by the Michigan Space Grants is limited, it allows Grand Valley students, faculty and AP staff to engage in creative, beneficial, and wide-ranging projects."
