Third time’s the charm. Indeed it is!
We are thrilled to announce that MNA has been awarded a significant evaluation project with Howard University, a premier HBCU in Washington DC, funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The National Center for Atmospheric Science and Meteorology (NCAS M II) project is a $30 million grant that spans five years awarded to two major institutions: Howard University and SUNY at Albany, and we are honored to have been selected to work alongside Howard University in this important endeavor.
According to recent data from the NOAA, underrepresented minorities make up only a small percentage of degree recipients in atmospheric and related sciences, with Black or African American students earning just 3.6% of bachelor’s degrees, 3.3% of master’s degrees, and 1.8% of doctorate degrees in the field. Similarly, Hispanic or Latino students earn just 6.4% of bachelor’s degrees, 4.7% of master’s degrees, and 2.6% of doctorate degrees in the field.
The NCAS M II project will focus on intensive recruiting, focused training, mentorship and support to engage and enhance the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s educational and research programs in the areas of weather, climate, and air quality. Our team is excited to bring our expertise in STEM education, evaluation, and research to this project, and we look forward to collaborating with Howard University and its partners: Jackson State University (JSU), the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez (UPRM), and the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP); and two (2) majority universities: University of Maryland College Park (UMCP), and the State University of New York at Albany (SUNYA). The four MSI partners possess the highest concentrations of African American and Hispanic students in the physical sciences, engineering, and atmospheric-related disciplines, including meteorology, at the undergraduate and graduate levels to achieve the shared goals.
We are deeply committed to advancing research in these critical areas and we are proud to be part of a project that will have such a significant impact on the field. Our team is eager to get to work and to make a meaningful contribution to this important initiative. We will provide regular updates on our progress as the project unfolds.
Thank you to Howard University and NOAA for entrusting us with this important work. We look forward to a successful collaboration and to making a difference in the lives of people around the world.
Websites: http://ncas.howard.edu/
https://coascenters.howard.edu/research-centers/noaa-center-atmospheric-science-and-meteorology-ncas
