The first week of 2025 is both a celebration and a farewell as we have just wrapped up the final report for the Geoscience Learning Ecosystems (GLE) initiative, a vital part of the NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration-funded SaSa (Student Airborne Science Activation) project.
Our report marks the final destination with the evaluation of the project but doesn’t imply the conclusion of a transformative program that the team has proudly nurtured since 2021. Since then, SaSa’s GLE initiative has positively impacted over 3,000 students across six Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs)—five HBCUs and one HSI.
✅ Fall 2024 Highlights
The 2024 Fall semester of GLE courses showcased the remarkable outcomes of this initiative:
Strong Engagement: 611 students participated in GLE courses, with a 36% survey response rate indicating high engagement.
Diverse Representation: 80% of respondents identified as African, Afro-Caribbean, or African American. 58% of participants were women, underscoring SaSa’s deep commitment to increasing diversity in STEM.
NASA Awareness: 97% of students recognized NASA’s contributions, while 89% understood its role in studying Earth’s systems.
Research Opportunities: 60% of students expressed interest in NASA’s summer research programs.
Participants utilized NASA tools and data, such as Giovanni, to analyze climate data and address real-world challenges.
🚀 Why GLE Matters: The SaSa project has set a benchmark for impactful STEM education by:
Partnering with Minority Serving Institutions (hashtagMSIs): Collaborating with Morgan State University, Howard University, Hampton University, Coppin State University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore (all hashtagHBCUs), and University of Maryland Baltimore County (an hashtagHSI).
Empowering Faculty: Faculty integrated NASA content into their Fall courses, with 67% already leveraging these tools before the project commenced.
Building Skills: Students developed expertise in systems thinking, sustainability, and interdisciplinary collaboration, crucial for addressing global challenges.
💬 What Students Are Saying
“The GLE course helped me understand how NASA monitors climate change and tracks sea-level rise. It’s truly inspiring!”
“I now appreciate how interconnected Earth’s systems are and how NASA’s research impacts our daily lives.”
As we close the evaluation reporting chapter with the SaSa grant, the impact of the GLE initiative will continue to inspire the next generation of geoscientists. We are deeply grateful for the partnerships and progress SaSa has made, and we eagerly await to see how the team will keep building on this foundation in many future endeavors.
