The South Dakota Space Grant Consortium will receive an additional $177,000 to support a new research and education partnership involving the School of Mines, Oglala Lakota College and Dakota State University. NASA's Consortium Development Competition was open to the 17 Non-Designated Consortia, representing states that currently receive the lowest levels of NASA research and development funding. NASA selected five proposals for funding including the SDSGC project. The SDSGC project is "A Proposal to Increase Minority Participation in Higher Education in STEM Disciplines Responsive to NASA needs - A Multi-Institution Effort." The program will directly coordinate with programs currently conducted at the School of Mines that provide research and educational experiences to American Indian high school and college students in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) disciplines and with programs at Dakota State University (DSU) that promote increased participation of women in STEM disciplines.
The four main components of the program are:
1. Build on Partnerships and Feeder Programs (women and minority). Connect with existing state programs that promote participation of women and minorities in STEM.
2. Senior Research or Independent Study (DSU, OLC, School of Mines). Targeted mentoring and research experiences to engage and educate undergraduate women and minorities in STEM.
3. Focused Summer Research Experience (Badlands "Mars" Rover Mission). A collaborative, interdisciplinary and hands-on mission-based experience centered on Pine Ridge Reservation.
4. Entrance into M.S. Programs at the School of Mines. At least two graduates of steps 1-3 will enter into STEM M.S. degree programs at the School of Mines.
Funding begins May 15, 2008 and continues through May 14, 2009.
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