Media are invited to NASAs 15th annual Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU)/Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) Technology Infusion Road Tour, a virtual event Nov. 18 and 19.
More than 1,200 HBCUs and MSIs are participating in this event with representatives from NASA offices and mission directorates who will discuss the importance of partnerships with historically black colleges and the critical role of small businesses in ensuring the success of NASA's missions.
NASAs Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM), in collaboration with its Office of Procurement, Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) and Space Technology Mission Directorate, will provide an open platform for HBCU and MSI representatives to learn about OSTEM's Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) and opportunities within the agencys Aeronautics Research (ARMD), Science, and Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorates.Sessions will include speakers from key NASA prime contractors and leaders within NASAs Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program.
Attendees will learn about emerging research opportunities involving grants, cooperative agreements, fellowships and small business contracts. Group sessions with various NASA program and technical personnel, in addition to large prime contractors, will enable attendees to gain insight and strategies to pursue procurement and technical opportunities.
Conference workshop topics and speakers:
Finding Opportunities within the NASAs Mission Directorates, with Gregory Robinson, program director for NASAs James Webb Space Telescope; Jose Nunez, manager of the agencys university partnerships and SmallSat Capabilities; and Koushik Datta, university innovation project manager for ARMD.
Connecting with NASA Small Business Specialists, featuring Robert Watts, Christine Munroe and Jennifer Perez.
Overview of OSTEMs Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP), by program director Torry Johnson
Overview of the SBIR and STTR Programs, with Quenton Bonds, NASAs center technology transition lead, and Robert Jones, program manager for NASAs SBIR.
Partnering with NASAs Large Prime Contractors, featuring Jenifer Scoffield, small business liaison officer for Northrop Grumman Corporation; Toni Hall, The Boeing Companys small business liaison officer for the International Space Station; and Debbie Batson, director of large/small business strategic alliances at Teledyne Brown Engineering.
MUREP Funding Opportunities: Engagement Opportunities in NASA STEM, with Roslyn Soto, NASAs EONS solicitation coordinator.
Panel discussions on HBCU/MSI mentor-protg programs will include a representative from NASAs OSBP, NASA contractors Teledyne Brown Engineering, and representatives from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
