NASA Astronaut To Inspire Local Students

Area high school seniors who want to reach the stars have the chance to be inspired by a real astronaut at Science Career Day, hosted at ’s Center for Learning and Technology.

On Friday, July 20, NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps will join five other scientists and share her career journey with 60 Prince George’s County students enrolled in the Pre-College Science Scholars Academy (PCSSA), according to a press release issued by the university.

PCSSA is a six-week summer residential program at BSU, funded by a National Science Foundation Grant. Some students from are enrolled in the program.

“It is an opportunity to inspire students with the beauty, challenge, and excitement of science and to influence them to consider and then choose a scientist's life,” stated Anisha Campbell, principal investigator for the university’s Math Science Partnership.

The program is intended to increase the participation of underrepresented groups in scientific careers.

“Students say the PCSSA program has given them a lot more confidence in moving forward in their classes,” said Campbell in the press release.

According the press release, other speakers include:

• Dr. James West, engineering research professor, Johns Hopkins University
• Dr. Robert Grumbine, climate scientist, National Oceanographic Atmospheric Administration
• Dr. David Jett, neuropharmacologist and toxicologist, National Institute of Health
• Dr. Briana Pobiner, human evolutionary biologist, Smithsonian Institution
• Joshua Parker, 2011 Maryland Teacher of the Year, Windsor Mill Middle School, Baltimore

The PCSSA program is highly competitive. Selected rising 10th-graders participated in a three-year academy, where they attend five classes a day taught by BSU professors and high school teachers. Upon completion of the program, students will have earned eight college credits in chemistry and biology.

The above information was gathered from a BSU press release.