PCCC Receives Over $1.1 Million Grant From NASA

Over the three-year project period, PCCC expects to build its enrollment in the A.S. Degree in Environmental Sustainability; to revamp five courses to incorporate hands-on learning activities supported by NASA subject matter experts; and to engage students in undergraduate research and internship opportunities with project partners. In particular, NASA’s Langley Research Center is home to TEMPO, the recently launched space-based satellite that has the capability of monitoring air quality at a resolution of four square miles. Using NASA data from TEMPO, PCCC faculty and students will be able to monitor air quality in urban neighborhoods, better understand the impacts of rush-hour traffic on local air quality, and to correlate air quality data with community health indicators in targeted neighborhoods and communities.

We are excited about this opportunity from NASA to partner with PCCC on engaging students in hands-on learning and research with Montclair State University faculty. This will expand our ability to prepare a diverse workforce that is ready to work on issues related to climate change and sustainability, two critical issues facing our society today.

Through its partnership with NASA, PCCC students will receive paid internships that will allow them—many of whom must work due to personal circumstances—to devote more time to their studies and remain competitive with other STEM students; have access to NASA resources for elite learning tools such as atmospheric sampling equipment and sensors; meet with NASA scientists through videoconferencing; and participate in the Environmental Science Club, to be co-sponsored by PCCC and MSU, where they can experience field trips, guest speakers, and STEM competitions.

I am looking forward to working with faculty from both institutions to incorporate climate change into PCCC courses and help prepare PCCC students for future STEM careers.

Read the full Article on the PCCC website