HU-CARE: Center for Atmospheric Research and Education
The Atmospheric and Planetary Science (APS) Department at Hampton University (HU) has established the Center for Atmospheric Research and Education (CARE) in collaboration with NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) and partners at the University of Wisconsin and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). Supported by NASA’s MUREP Institutional Research Opportunity (MIRO) Program, CARE will broaden and deepen Hampton’s program of research opportunities through a more thorough integration with our neighboring NASA center and by partnership with two established university research programs in atmospheric sciences. The overarching goal of CARE is to create a series of connected research opportunities that will take under-represented students from high school and undergraduate internships to graduate research and finally to employment opportunities at agencies such as NASA. CARE will accomplish this goal by extending existing efforts and developing new research thrusts that will make Hampton University a national leader in atmospheric science research and education. By developing partnerships with existing research centers at the University of Wisconsin and the University of Maryland Baltimore County, CARE will leverage their expertise, mentorship and relationships with NASA LaRC to accelerate our research and education programs. Through the support of student research assistantships as well as summer internships, our faculty and students will be able to engage with a range of NASA projects at LaRC. By providing for new research infrastructure, we will enable new research capabilities unavailable in the past. Expanding our educational partnership with the Virginia Space Grant Consortium (VSGC) will create new opportunities for our students as well as new career development pathways for center employees. Engagement with the public will be accomplished through partnership with the National Institute of Aerospace, developers of award-winning outreach materials.