Goal 1

Attracting minority students to the field of astrobiology

Developing astrobiology course work

•  South Carolina State University (SCSU) funded talks by MIAC partner Arthur Bowman from Hampton University.   Dr. Bowman traveled to the SCSU campus (November 2003) and spoke with students and faculty about the field of astrobiology.

•  Benedict College and MIAC partner Arthur Bowman of Hampton University consulted on curriculum improvements in science education on the campus of Benedict College. during the 2002/2003 academic year.

Educational outreach

•  TSU conducted nine astrobiology workshops for K-12 teachers reaching 26 minority teachers out of the 216 participants.

•  MIAC is partnering with Goddard Space Flight Center to develop a middle and high school curriculum in astrochemistry.

•  Bennett College sponsored a Space Week Conference (2003 and 2004) providing an opportunity for MIAC faculty members and students along with speakers from the NASA Astrobiology Institute Lead Teams to speak to the students.

•  TSU students chartered an astrobiology society with the assistance of the UCLA Astrobiology Society.

Lewis Myles and Todd Gary from the Biology Department at TSU developed and presented a weeklong science institute for Bennett College students (2003).