Kent State University was recently awarded membership to the Ohio Space Grant Consortium (OSGC), a NASA-sponsored program designed to provide scholarships and research funding to students and faculty who are interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
“This is a major victory for Kent State,” says Gerald Thompkins, Ph.D., director of Kent State’s STEM Research and Education Center. “Kent State’s affiliation with the OSGC will result in research funding opportunities for faculty, particularly for junior faculty, and monies are available for students, both undergraduate and graduate, to pursue research as well. It also means scholarship and fellowship dollars for our STEM students. It really is a win-win for Kent State and for its faculty and students.”
The mission of the OSGC is to advance the nation’s capabilities in science, technology, engineering and math. This will continue the development of a diverse workforce through NASA-related partnerships within Ohio’s network of scientists, researchers, engineers and educators at colleges and universities; the Ohio Aerospace Institute; NASA centers; and other outlets. Another important aspect of the OSGC is to attract and retain STEM students, with emphasis on increasing participation among minorities.
Thompkins will serve as the OSGC representative for Kent State.
The OSGC has granted membership to 18 universities, seven community colleges, the NASA Glenn Research Center, the Air Force Research Laboratories and various education outreach programs.
For more information about the OSGC, visit www.osgc.org.