Morgan State University is making out-of-this-world moves in its new NASA-sponsored partnership with the University of Maryland Baltimore County.
The HBCU is joining forces with UMBC to lead a group of 120 researchers for the new Goddard Earth Sciences Technology and Research Center II (GESTAR II). NASA awarded Morgan State and UMBC a combined $72 million to head up the project and is similar to the first GESTAR center which was established to create opportunities for undergraduates and graduates to receive mentorship from NASA scientists and engineers.
The center hopes to make landmark research discoveries in Earth and atmospheric sciences and marks the first major partnership between the Maryland higher education institutions.
“The collaboration between Morgan and UMBC serves as a model for how two high-research university, operating in a highly competitive space, can join in common purpose, pooling intellectual capital, resources and expertise for the greater advancement of science and technology,” Morgan State president Dr. David K. Wilson said.
Morgan will receive $28 million over the next three years as it continues its 10-year plus relationship with NASA.
“Morgan brings more than a decade of experience working with NASA, and we look forward to partnering with UMBC and other collaborators in GESTAR II to produce cutting-edge, world-class Earth science in support of our national space program,” Dr. Willie E. May, vice president for Research and Economic Development at Morgan said.
“We are also excited about what this partnership will mean for our students,” May added, “more exposure, new educational pursuits and access to long-term employment opportunities.”
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