HU-CARE Interns Connect with NASA Communications Specialist, Denise Lineberry

NIA-CARE journalism interns Brittani Bailey and Ania Cotton and NIA program specialist, Victoria O’Leary, met with science communications specialist and technical writer Denise Lineberry on September 26th, 2016 at the NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA. Ms. Lineberry introduced the rest of the scientific communications team to the NIA visitors and explained their job roles and current NASA projects. Ms. Lineberry gave helpful tips to the young scientific communicators about scientific interviewing ,conducting background research, and writing briefly and clearly for clarity. Denise Lineberry also works closely with the Education and Outreach Department at NASA Langley and advised the NIA-CARE interns to be interactive during outreach and online. She gave advice for current NIA projects and provided encouraging words. She also insisted all NIA workers to take a grant writing course in their futures as well as being active and positive on social media.

Denise received a B.A. in Communications from Christopher Newport University and a Master’s degree in Professional Writing from Chatham University. She is a currently a Team Lead and Science and Technical Writer at Science Systems Applications Inc. at the NASA Langley Research Center.

The National Institute of Aerospace paired with the Center for Atmospheric Research and Education to provide opportunities for underrepresented minorities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Ania and Brittani received an unique opportunity under HU-CARE to visit the LaRC base and speak to current scientific communicators about their projects, daily activities, and ways to improve their assignments at NIA and their future careers. The session was a vital component of the internship program and created an opportunity for these students to engage with science communications professionals who can mentor them to advance public scientific literacy.

NIA Interns Conduct Educational Outreach at Booker T. Washington High School

On Wednesday, October 26th, 2016, Hampton University senior Brittani Bailey and junior Ania Cotton visited Booker T. Washington High School in Norfolk to encourage underrepresented STEM students to apply to the Virginia Earth Science Scholars program (VESSS). Six juniors and seniors were selected to attend the presentation by their science teachers based on their academic performance. All of the attending students were eager about the program and had the opportunity to register for VESSS after the presentation.

VESSS is a NASA funded program created for scholars interested in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. To be considered, applicants must complete 7 online modules and conduct a final project in which 3 college credits from Thomas Nelson Community College can be earned. Once completed, selected students are invited to a seven-day residential summer academy at the NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton. During the academy, students conduct creative scientific research with NASA scientists, engineers, and technologists. Students must be a high school junior or senior, a Virginia resident, and at least a 2.7 GPA  to be considered. The VESSS application deadline was October 30th, 2016.  

Brittani and Ania hope to continue providing educational outreach for more STEM programs in the future. For more information about VESSS, please visit: http://vsgc.odu.edu/VESSS/about.html. 

Hampton University Installs NASA funded Weather Antenna

On September 26th, 2016, the Hampton University Center for Atmospheric Research and Education (HU-CARE) program installed a 5 million dollar weather antenna on top of the Hampton Harbour Center in downtown Hampton, VA. Funded by NASA, this 3 piece antenna enables scientists to instantly predict severe weather within a 2,000 mile radius of Hampton Roads, as well as provide HU student researchers access to advanced satellite data.

The purpose of the antenna is to generate an early warning signal to the Hampton Roads area and to better prepare the community for hurricanes, tornadoes, and other severe weather situations. The preparations for a hurricane can cost up to one million dollars per mile, making the antenna vital for saving both lives and money for the area. Dr. Pat  McCormick , a Hampton University co-director for the Center of Atmospheric Sciences, mentions the destruction of severe weather and how the new antenna can decrease weather related chaos in Hampton Roads.  “It’s quite a new thing for us to have, and we are happy to have (the antenna) right on the coast where we do see the severe storms creep in… this is going to be super for  Hampton Roads, Hampton University students, and faculty.”

Dr. McCormick attended the antenna installation along with other scientists and HU-CARE interns who watched in awe as a power crane lifted the three-piece satellite to the roof of the building. Each piece of the satellite was meticulously installed by a small contracted team. The first piece, a stand, was placed and bolted to support the second piece, a “Direct Broadcast Antenna.” The antenna is elevated at 180 degrees and can track flying satellites at a full 360 degrees from sunrise to sundown and communicate information instantly to the scientists and researchers on Earth. Finally, an iconic four-hundred pound fiber-glass mega dome was installed over the antenna as a source of protection from high gusting winds and severe weather.

“The purpose of the dome is to prevent the wind from wagging the dish around and turning it into a frisbee during a hurricane…something that we have to worry about here,” said Dr. William Moore, a planetary scientist and Principal Investigator for the HU-CARE project award.

Student research involvement is also a goal for NASA and the HU-CARE program. Up to a month’s worth of the information tracked by the weather antenna will be accessible to students involved in severe weather research at Hampton University at any given time.

Dr. James M. Russell III, a co-director for HU’s Center for Atmospheric Sciences, works with STEM graduate students. Currently, the center has student researchers at NASA and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), but aims to offer even more courses and opportunities involving the atmospheric research in the near future. The HU-CARE program is collaborating with the National Weather Service in Whitfield, Virginia and the University of Wisconsin-Madison to share information received from the antenna and to contribute to more accurate research.

“We want to know how many people we can get involved (with the research)”, said Dr. Jim Russell, who believes the information collected could be used for Master’s or even PHD dissertation work.

Anyone interested in using the weather data for a research project is encouraged to contact Dr. Bill Moore at william.moore@hamptonu.edu. This data is meant to be used, and students are encouraged to take advantage of the unique opportunity this antenna provides to the Hampton Roads Community.