Grant will prepare middle and high school students to become the science-savvy workforce of tomorrow.

BCC was awarded a grant of more than $300,000 by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for a two-year program that will contribute to the training and development of the future workforce of NASA and other high-tech employers. The grant will fund a collaboration with Medgar Evers College to engage middle school and high school students in innovative hands-on science through workshops, field activities and mentoring from STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) scholars and professionals. 

Each summer, Bronx Community College and Medgar Evers College will also train middle school and high school teachers to teach STEM disciplines using NASA Planetary Modeling Platforms and geospatial technology, a fast-growing field that turns data from satellites into information-rich maps useful to government, business and consumers. Geospatial technology is part of our everyday lives: in every automobile with a GPS mapping display, every smartphone, smartwatch or smart television and in every component of the Internet of Things.

The program will be run by Dr. Sunil Bhaskaran, director of our innovative Geospatial Center of the CUNY Crest Institute. Since Dr. Bhaskaran introduced the geospatial courses in 2014, 262 students have enrolled.

We were one of only five community colleges in the nation selected for the award by NASA’s Minority University Research and Education Project. The program also will provide related research opportunities for two Bronx Community College students each year.

“Bronx Community College is gratified by NASA’s confidence in our mission to turn today’s STEM students into tomorrow’s science and engineering professionals,” says BCC President Thomas A. Isekenegbe, “And to create a workforce built on the strength of America’s diversity.”