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    NASA: 71266main 03-033

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    This document summarizes NASA's partnership with the Western Governors' Association to mentor six university students in applying Earth science research to real-world problems through the NASA DEVELOP program over the summer. The students will conduct research at NASA's Ames Research Center in California on topics like monitoring the spread of West Nile Virus and mapping invasive plant species on the Pyramid Lake Paiute tribe's reservation in Nevada. The goal is to provide experience for the students in using NASA technology like remote sensing to address issues in local communities.

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    NASA: 71266main 03-033

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    This document summarizes NASA's partnership with the Western Governors' Association to mentor six university students in applying Earth science research to real-world problems through the NASA DEVELOP program over the summer. The students will conduct research at NASA's Ames Research Center in California on topics like monitoring the spread of West Nile Virus and mapping invasive plant species on the Pyramid Lake Paiute tribe's reservation in Nevada. The goal is to provide experience for the students in using NASA technology like remote sensing to address issues in local communities.

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    This document summarizes NASA's partnership with the Western Governors' Association to mentor six university students in applying Earth science research to real-world problems through the NASA DEVELOP program over the summer. The students will conduct research at NASA's Ames Research Center in California on topics like monitoring the spread of West Nile Virus and mapping invasive plant species on the Pyramid Lake Paiute tribe's reservation in Nevada. The goal is to provide experience for the students in using NASA technology like remote sensing to address issues in local communities.

    Copyright:

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    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    29 views2 pages

    NASA: 71266main 03-033

    Uploaded by

    NASAdocuments
    This document summarizes NASA's partnership with the Western Governors' Association to mentor six university students in applying Earth science research to real-world problems through the NASA DEVELOP program over the summer. The students will conduct research at NASA's Ames Research Center in California on topics like monitoring the spread of West Nile Virus and mapping invasive plant species on the Pyramid Lake Paiute tribe's reservation in Nevada. The goal is to provide experience for the students in using NASA technology like remote sensing to address issues in local communities.

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    NewsRelease

    National Aeronautics and


    Space Administration
    Langley Research Center
    Hampton, Va. 23681-2199

    Marny Skora May 21, 2003


    Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va.
    Phone: 757/864-6121; 757/344-6111

    John Bluck
    Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.
    Phone: 650/604-5026; 650/604-9000

    Chris McKinnon
    Western Governors' Association, Denver
    Phone: 303/623-9378

    RELEASE: 03-033

    NASA TO MENTOR STUDENTS IN EARTH SCIENCE RESEARCH

    Monitoring the West Nile Virus and assessing the danger of wildfire fuel are just two of many
    projects that demonstrate the use of NASA Earth Science research to benefit communities.
    The Western Governors' Association joins NASA in announcing the selection of six
    university students who will explore these and other topics this summer at NASA's Ames
    Research Center in California's Silicon Valley via the NASA DEVELOP Program.

    "DEVELOP provides workforce development, outreach to communities, and enables


    students to apply science to real-world problems," said Mike Ruiz, DEVELOP national
    program manager at NASA's Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va.

    Selected for the Earth Science internships are:


    • Emily Clary, University of New Mexico, who is pursuing a master of science in geography
    • Jeremiah Knoche, Oregon State University, master of science, geography
    • Douglas Gibbons, Utah State University, master of science, bioregional planning
    • Jenna Ames, Utah State University, bachelor's degree, business management
    • Alex Hogel, University of Utah, bachelor of science, geography
    • Elizabeth Baliff, Utah State University, bachelor of science, geography

    The students will begin their research assignments at NASA Ames on June 9 and work for a
    period of 10 weeks.

    -more-
    -2-

    One student study will involve the Pyramid Lake Paiute tribe reservation in Nevada. The
    primary objectives of this project are to use remote sensing and ground-based methods to
    map and monitor invasive and noxious plant species that are rapidly encroaching upon the
    Northern Nevada territory. Remote sensing is the use of satellite and aerial images to
    monitor and investigate environmental, health, agricultural and other issues. The project
    also includes organizing new and existing data to create a database of information on
    wildfire fuel on the reservation.

    "NASA will benefit by getting students to work on our projects, and the program will create
    liaisons between a tribal government in Nevada and local county governments in California,"
    said Jay Skiles, the Ames DEVELOP director.

    Students will also study the habitat in Monterey County, Calif., where West Nile Virus
    disease carriers live. These carriers – called vectors – include some kinds of birds and
    mosquitoes. The virus can cause a version of the sometimes-fatal disease, encephalitis,
    that results in inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.

    The primary objective of this project is to identify potential mosquito habitats and conduct an
    assessment to determine if high-risk human populations (persons more than 55 years of
    age) live near those habitats in Monterey County. The resulting data will be a part of the
    health monitoring and surveillance system of the county and provide critical support to
    community decision makers to prepare them to make swift and effective response to the
    spread of the virus.

    "The selected students will lead the investigations, and they will apply NASA technology to
    local problems," said Cynthia Schmidt, DEVELOP coordinator at NASA Ames. Student
    teams use NASA and other scientific information and technology to research state and local
    issues. Students convert their research into 3-D computer-generated visualizations to help
    the public better understand how NASA technology can be applied to community concerns.

    "Our program will prepare students for positions in science and technology fields," said
    Skiles. "This summer, the students will expand their working knowledge of Earth Science
    research using remote sensing, image interpretation and geographic information systems,"
    he added.

    DEVELOP, headquartered at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., began in


    1998 and supports the Applications Division of NASA's Earth Science Enterprise. This year
    DEVELOP is expanding to NASA's field centers in Mississippi and California.

    The Western Governors' Association is an independent, nonprofit organization representing


    the governors of 18 states, American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. The
    association identifies and addresses key policy and governance issues in natural resources,
    the environment, human services, economic development, international relations and public
    management.

    -end-

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