Kiera Charley’s educational path began with a ceremonial blessing held at her home on the Navajo reservation. Four years later, it will culminate in a graduation ceremony at a 53,000-seat stadium in Tempe.

Her journey has led her around the globe as she evolved from being a shy teenager venturing out to college into a confident young woman ready to move on to the next chapter. She is committed to pursuing her childhood aspiration of becoming a space scientist after she collects her diploma in May.

“I don’t see myself going into academia and becoming a professor,” said Charley, who is a Flinn Scholar and a member of Barrett, The Honors College, and about to obtain her bachelor’s degree in astrobiology. “I want to be more involved in research as a scientist whether that’s working for NASA or a private company. I’ve also been looking into a position as a full-time researcher at an observatory.”

Getting to this launchpad for a new life has taken a lot of effort.

Charley, a resident of Many Farms, Arizona, located approximately 15 miles north of Chinle, said her interest in the solar system was sparked early in her life during a visit to the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff. She noted that Many Farms offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the night sky, allowing for an exceptional stargazing experience.

“My ancestors were always discussing the constellation, their creation and also their significance of how they can guide you,” Charley said.

Read the full article on ASU.edu

Author Credit:  Marshall Terrill 

Image Credit: Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News

Original Post Date: 5.1.25

Arizona State University student Samantha Beauchaine will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in geological sciences from the School of Earth and Space Exploration this May. It is just one step toward her ultimate goal: a career investigating complex geological processes and their real-world implications.

Her decision to pursue a degree and career in geology was not always the plan. In fact, it completely changed her life.

“I spent much of my life after high school working,” Beauchaine says. “I wasn’t ready for college and spent years trying new things in the ‘real world.’ I learned how to get a job, manage employees and grow in a company, but something was still missing.”

It wasn’t until she was offered a promotion to upper management that she finally realized what that was. She wanted to return to school full-time as a nontraditional student and pursue her childhood passion: geology.

So, Beauchaine turned down the promotion and left her hometown of St. Louis and all her loved ones to move to Arizona and follow her dream.

“As a geology major, I wanted to be surrounded by mountains, and ASU was one of the best places to be for that. I also heard great things about the geology program and the professors,” Beauchaine says.

Once she arrived at ASU, she immersed herself in her classes. Professor Steven Semken first met Beauchaine in his first-year Earth and planetary sciences majors course in 2023.

“From the start I found Sam to be an enthusiastic and very hardworking student, always posing thoughtful questions in class and just soaking up and thinking about everything we discussed and did,” Semken says. “There was no doubt of her strong passion for the geosciences.”

Full article available on: ASU.edu

Author Credit: By Gabrielle Sangervasi

Image Credit: Photo courtesy of Samantha Beauchaine

Original Post Date: 5.9.25

STEM-ology, a monthly series of themed science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) events for all ages, concludes in May at the University of Wyoming, with events including Toddler Tuesdays, Senior Science Fridays and fun-filled family Science Saturdays.

Next month’s events will have a space-ology theme and will take place in the STEM Sandbox on the fourth floor of the Science Initiative Building, located on the corner of Ninth and Bradley streets.

“We are bringing STEM to life with engaging, hands-on experiences for all ages. Programs are designed to spark curiosity, inspire creativity and make science, technology, engineering and math fun and interactive,” says Ashleigh Pilkerton, community engagement and undergraduate research programming coordinator for UW Science Initiative programs. “STEM-ology activities are a collaborative effort among many groups on the University of Wyoming campus, including the Wyoming NASA Space Grant Consortium Science Kitchen and Science Initiative Roadshow.”

Read the full article on: www.uwyo.edu

Author Credit: University of Wyoming | Institutional Communications

Original Post Date: 4.28.25

Jocelyn Schechter, a BS/MS student in aerospace engineering, was selected for the Ohio Space Grant Consortium Master’s Fellowship, which is administered by NASA. Awards to master’s students for the academic year are $23,400 in addition to tuition waivers.

Fellows complete a STEM-related research project that is in alignment with at least one of NASA’s five directorates.

Read the full article on thedaily.case.edu

Author Credit: The Daily | Case Western Reserve University

Original Post Date: April 4, 2025

University of Hartford Hosts NASA and Its Prime Contractors

More than 100 Connecticut manufacturers and processors converged on the University of Hartford to learn more about how to work with NASA and its prime contractors.

“Doing Business with NASA and Their Primes” was presented by CONNSTEP, Aerospace Component Manufacturers, Connecticut Office of Manufacturing, Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology, and the U.S. Commercial Service.

“We are incredibly excited to welcome NASA, their prime contractors, and CT industry partners to campus for this event,” said Hisham Alnajjar, the dean of UHart’s College of Engineering, Technology, and Architecture and interim director of the NASA CT Space Grant Consortium.

Alnajjar delivered the day’s opening remarks in Wilde Auditorium. He was joined by Connecticut Chief Manufacturing Officer Paul Lavoie, who served as event emcee.

“Since 1991, the University of Hartford has been proud to be the lead institution for the NASA Connecticut Space Grant Consortium, whose office is located on our campus,” said Alnajjar. “This fruitful partnership has led to hands-on learning opportunities that position our students and faculty to be leaders in the aerospace technologies of the future.”

Read the full article on NewsWise.com

Original Post Date: April 15, 2025

Author Credit: University of Hartford

Image Credit: University of Hartford

Chemistry assistant professor Yongick Kim receives funding from NASA WV Space Grant Consortium

Congratulations, Dr. Yongick Kim! Dr. Kim’s proposed project entitled “Circadian Clock-Controlled Nitrogen Fixation for Fertilizer Production in
Space” has been funded by NASA West Virginia Space Grant Consortium through their Research Initiation Grant program in the amount of $37,500 (NASA WVSGC: $25,000; Cost Share: $12,500).

Read the full story on Marshall.edu

Original Post Date: April 11, 2025

Author Credit: Marshall University