UM and NASA-Goddard Create Space Science Institute and Sign Broad Agreement

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Officials from the University of Maryland, College Park and NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. recently solidified and extended the 50-year history of collaborations between the two institutions by signing two new agreements: one creating a new Joint Space Sciences Institute and a second overarching agreement providing a comprehensive framework for managing and expanding collaborations between the two organizations.

The Joint Space-Science Institute agreement lays a blueprint for the two institutions to share resources and expertise in building a world-leading institute for space science. This new institute will build on the many existing research partnerships in high energy and particle astrophysics, space and black hole physics, cosmology, and planetary and solar system astronomy.

Astronomy Professor Christopher Reynolds will be director of the new institute, which will expand research and educational interactions between Goddard researchers and university astronomers and physicists. Among the cited benefits of the increased collaboration fostered by the new institute are an enhanced ability through shared expertise and scientific resources to find answers to questions in cosmology, black hole physics and other areas of space science and "to be highly competitive for federal funds and for participation in future space missions."

The establishment of the Joint Space-Science Institute also will provide the possibility of unique undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral and career employment opportunities in space science. The new joint institute's ability to provide Maryland students 'hands on' experience both on campus and in NASA Goddard labs is expected to be "an extremely attractive tool for recruiting the best and brightest" graduate and undergraduate students to the University of Maryland, according to officials.

UM, Goddard Umbrella Agreement
The broad guiding agreement will enhance both institutions' abilities to collaborate by providing greater access to the personnel and the facilities of the other and allow easier identification, development, and implementation of future partnerships. The pre-eminent joint activities that will come from this joint venture include space-based science; engineering research and development; bio-sciences; earth sciences, and education.

"The new direction that the space agency has undertaken requires promoting and implementing revolutionary initiatives in science and engineering," said Goddard Space Flight Center Director Rob Strain. "Developing cutting-edge technologies will require interdisciplinary participation of the highest caliber of personnel. Our partnership with the University of Maryland will help Goddard attract and retain scientific and engineering talent, including graduate students, post-doctoral research associates as well as full-time scientists and engineers."

University of Maryland President Dan Mote added, "By combining our efforts, we will be able to develop new scientific and exploration missions, research partnerships, laboratories, along with computational, visualization and data facilities. Our joint activities will foster curricula and degrees that meet the mutual interests of both institutions. It will also increase participation of Goddard employees in research and education at UMCP, and UMCP faculty and students in Goddard projects."

Major areas in which interactions and collaborations have been and continue to be beneficial include Earth Science, Space Science and Astronomy, Engineering and associated technology development, information science and technology, and education. Ongoing and near-term specific opportunities include:

• The Joint Space Science Institute
• The Center for Research and Exploration in Space Science & Technology
• The Earth Systems Science Interdisciplinary Center
• Numerical weather and coupled climate modeling
• Remote sensing
• Nanotechnologies and nanobiologies
• Observational and modeling studies of global Carbon and water cycles
• Micro-electro mechanical systems
• Biophysics and bioengineering related to the search for life in the universe and advancing Earth system science
• Information visualization and synthesis
• Computing/software engineering for data storage
• Science coordination in "Living with a Star"
• Information-based engineering and development of "virtual" national models for the Earth and Space Sciences cycles.
• Faculty collaboration on Spacecraft Thermal Analysis and Control

For more information about University of Maryland programs, visit:
http://www.umd.edu/

MEDIA CONTACT:

NASA GODDARD:
Mark Hess / Ed Campion
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
301-286-8955 / 0697
mark.s.hess@nasa.gov / edward.s.campion@nasa.gov

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND:
Millree Williams / Lee Tune
University of Maryland College Park
Phone: 301-405-4618 / 4679
millree@umd.edu / ltune@umd.edu

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