AFRL, NASA Glenn Research Center team on key technology education symposium in Dayton

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WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  The Air Force Research Laboratory and NASA Glenn Research Center will co-sponsor a Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Institutions Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics Collaboration Symposium July 7 - 9. The event will take place at Holiday Inn, 2800 Presidential Drive, Fairborn, Ohio.

Organizers said the purpose of the symposium is to promote a long-term strategic partnership with minority serving institutions and businesses, furthering technical innovation, and developing possible student employment opportunities.

This three-day HBCU/MI STEM Collaboration Symposium event is designed to: increase the awareness of the laboratories' science and technology capabilities; provide information on research opportunities for students and the institutions; and establish and enhance an enduring relationship between the government laboratories and HBCUs/MIs.

The conference is geared toward deans, professors, researchers, and students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities/Minority Institutions interested in the science and technology areas of air, weapons, space, and cyberspace. More than 300 attendees are expected.

With more than 45 core technical competencies used to solve critical Air Force and national security problems, AFRL and NASA GRC responsibilities span the domain of basic research, applied research, advanced technology development, and aerospace medical training. These core competencies represent capabilities that include world-class research in areas such as beam control; cyber operations; electro-optical sensing; explosives and energetic materials; high-fidelity computational simulation; hypersonics; material surfaces and interfaces; mathematics, information, and life sciences; multidisciplinary structure design; radio frequency sensing; and space situational awareness.

Minority serving institutions are a critical resource to the future of research and development, Air Force officials said. The symposium is designed to inform and strengthen the partnership between government laboratories and minority serving institutions.

Guest speakers include:
- Mr. Joe Sciabica, Executive Director, Air Force Research Laboratory
- Dr. Steve Butler, Executive Director, Air Force Materiel Command
- Dr. Thomas J. Lasley II, Professor, School of Education and Allied
Professions at the University of Dayton and Executive Director of EDvention at the Dayton Foundation
- Dr. Clark Beck, Sr., Founder, Wright State University's Science, Technology, and Engineering Preparatory Program (Wright STEPP)
- Eric Fingerhut, Chancellor, Ohio Board of Regents

"Our nation is at a critical cross-roads and we truly need to invest in STEM education to create interest in the science and engineering jobs that are the foundation of our technological leadership," said Ms. Gail Forest, Associate Director for Air Platforms with AFRL. "Diversity of our future technological workforce is also key."

Ms. Forest said the symposium is part of AFRL and NASA's outreach in recognition of the important role historically black colleges and minority institutions provide to maintaining science and technology leadership.

AFRL is the Air Force's only organization wholly dedicated to leading the discovery, development, and integration of warfighting technologies for our air, space and cyberspace forces.

NASA's Glenn Research Center partners with U.S. industry, universities, and other government institutions, on world-class research, technology, and capability development efforts to advancing exploration of our solar system and beyond while maintaining global leadership in aeronautics.

Registration for the conference closes Friday, July 2. For more information, visit http://registration.istdayton.com/HBCU/home.html