Rust college in collaboration with mid-south community college will develop and engage in activities that will promote stem research, enhance faculty expertise and increase the number of faculty and…

Rust college in collaboration with mid-south community college will develop and engage in activities that will promote stem research, enhance faculty expertise and increase the number of faculty and students participating in NASA related research. Two research thrust areas are focused upon in this project ## exobiology and water quality/reclamation respectively. The exobiology research will be done at NASA ames while the water quality/reclamation research will be done at NASA msfc. Other students will participate in a cipair summer academy program at rust college. The program includes hands-on research in atmospheric science and a trip to a planetarium. These activities should result in the development of new courses and curricula update of designated existing courses. The activities will also establish a pipeline of mid-south students, through a 2-2 articulation program, to transition to rust college for baccalaureate degrees. Rust college and mid-south community college are located in counties that face most critical education needs. While the commitment to provide the broad-based educational opportunities remains unshaken, a new vision however calls for finding a niche for the development of strong core expertise to enable the college compete nationally for research funding. Such niche opportunity has been identified in chemistry and biology. A NASA cipair project will help jumpstart the development of academic strength and expertise in this projected niche area. Project PI, CO-PI and participating faculty members have significant experiences and are strongly committed to successfully implement the project. At the end of a successfully implemented cipair project, IT is anticipated that rust college and mid-south community college will: 1. Develop significant strength and expertise in the chemistry and biology fields to compete nationally for further research grants 2. Develop new courses and or update existing course with NASA related stem materials. This should result in better prepared student 3. Expand the pipeline of students transitioning from mscc to rust college 4. Establish a culture of students excited and pro-active in hand-on research activities with support and guidance from external evaluators, appropriate evaluation processes will be instituted to ensure that stated project goals and objectives are measurable and results used as feedback to enhance successful implementation of the project.