Chance for European student to join the NASA Academy 2008

What is the NASA Academy?

The NASA Academy is a ten-week intensive summer research programme conducted in four of the NASA centres: Ames Research Centre, Glenn Research Centre, Goddard Space Flight Centre and Marshall Space Flight Centre. Designed for undergraduate and graduate students interested in aerospace engineering and space sciences, it allows them to participate in NASA research projects.

Founded in 1993, the NASA Academy offers a unique, powerful combination of research, leadership skills development and networking opportunities. The NASA Academy experience stimulates young minds at a critical decision-making point in their careers.

This programme provides cutting-edge research opportunities alongside NASA scientists, engineers, and educators for students who have a proven interest in aerospace. It also provides opportunities for leadership development, teamwork and relationship building among participants and alumni.

The programme is built around the following activities:

• Group projects: these allow the students to gain experience in terms of teamwork and leadership.
• Guided Laboratory research: under the supervision of a principle investigator, each student will be assigned to one of the research projects conducted in one NASA centre.
• Seminars and colloquia: students have the opportunity to meet top experts in their field of interest.
• Site visits: participants have a chance to visit NASA and American Universities facilities.
• Presentation: each student will present the result of her/his work, with the opportunity to receive useful feedback and advice.
• Meetings with professionals: the academy represents a great opportunity to make contacts with experts and like-minded students.

More information about the programme is available on the NASA Academy website.

ESA is sponsoring two students to attend this programme in 2008. The application is open to students of ESA Member and Cooperating States, from now on until the 15th of January 2008. If you are interested, please refer to the NASA Academy Application Website.

Students who meet the eligibility criteria will automatically be considered for selection by the ESA and NASA group of experts.

Eligibility Criteria:

The applicant should refer to the NASA criteria, available on the application website. Moreover, for European students, the following criteria also apply:

• the student must be aged between 18 and 28 at the time of the academy.
• the student must hold the nationality of an ESA Member State or Cooperating State.*
• at the time of application, the student must be enrolled as a full-time graduate or PhD student in a University located in an ESA Member State or Cooperating State.
• the student must have obtained high grades throughout her/his diploma with a major in engineering, science (physics, chemistry, biology, earth sciences, etc.), math, computer science or other areas of interest to the aerospace sector.

* The 17 ESA Member States in 2008 are: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom. Canada, Hungary, Poland, Romania and the Czech Republic participate in some ESA projects under cooperation agreements.