The Minority Institution Astrobiology Collaborative (MIAC) is a virtual collaboration of faculty and students from minority institutions and organizations focused on achieving common educational and research goals in astrobiology.
Last Update: September 12, 2014
Purpose
The purpose of MIAC is to bring together individuals who share an interest in making significant contributions to the field of Astrobiology in both research and education. The importance of astrobiology as an interdisciplinary science is in its focus on some of the most important questions in the history of science. The multidisciplinary nature of this important field of science is the ideal climate for developing a collaborative group that would encourage national and international partnerships with minority institutions.
General Goals
- Building a successful model for collaborations among scientists and educators at minority institutions (MIs) that will result in funded astrobiology research, peer-reviewed publications, and shared resources that benefit minority students.
- Developing astrobiology course work and educational outreach that will attract significant numbers of minority students into the field of astrobiology.
- Creating research opportunities in astrobiology for minority students at minority institutions that result in student presentations and publications in astrobiology.
- Developing an infrastructure that will lead to inclusion of members on NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI) Teams.
Current Activities
Resources
MIAC Publications and Presentations
NASA MIRS Fellows
One of the activities of MIAC is to help identify and connect candidates for the NASA MIRS Program. Below is a list of all previous NASA MIRS Fellows. NASA is looking for new candidates for the Summer 2015 session.
Year |
Name |
Home Institution |
Host |
Host Institution |
2014 |
Peter Azah Abanda |
Mid-South Community College |
Lee Bebout |
ARC |
|
Marcus Alfred |
Howard University |
Paul Butler |
CIW |
|
Jean-Marie (John) Dimandja |
Spelman College |
George Cooper |
ARC |
|
James Wachira |
Morgan State University |
George Fox |
U Houston |
2013 |
Alan Anderson |
Bowie State U |
Ram Krishnamurthy |
Scripps |
|
Tiffany Oliver |
Spelman College |
George Fox |
U Houston |
|
Joseph Onyilagha |
U Arkansas, Pine Bluff |
Steve Freeland |
U MD, Baltimore |
|
Anne Osano |
Bowie State |
Alfonso Davila |
SETI Institute |
|
Pablo Suarez |
Delaware State |
Wayne Roberge |
RPI |
2012 |
Prabhakar Misra |
Howard U |
Paul Mahaffy |
GSFC |
|
Hany Sobhi |
Coppin State U |
Natasha Johnson |
GSFC |
2011 |
Mamta Rawat |
Cal State, Fresno |
Kasthuri J. Venkateswaran |
JPL |
|
Yousef Hijji |
Morgan State |
Paul Mahaffy |
GSFC |
|
Genet Duke |
NE Illinois U |
John Valley |
U Wisc |
2010 |
Tina Salmassi |
Cal State, LA |
Kasthuri J. Venkateswaran |
JPL |
|
Don Benn |
U Montana/Navajo Tech College |
Martin Lawrence |
Montana State |
2009 |
Aaron Cavosie |
U Puerto Rico, Mayaguez |
John W. Valley |
U Wisc |
|
Rakesh Mogul |
Cal State Pomona |
Kasthuri J. Venkateswaran |
JPL |
2008 |
Prabhakar Misra |
Howard U |
Paul Mahaffy |
GSFC |
|
Erik Melchiorre |
Cal State San Bernardino |
Karen Meech |
U Hawaii |
|
Lee Anne Martinez (1/2) |
Colorado State, Pueblo |
Jim Lake |
UCLA |
2007 |
Donald Walter |
S. Carolina State |
Mike Mumma |
GSFC |
|
Abel Mendez |
U Puerto Rico Arecibo |
Chris McKay |
ARC |
|
Lee Anne Martinez (1/2) |
Colorado State, Pueblo |
Jim Lake |
UCLA |
2006 |
Michael Ceballos |
Salish Kootenai College |
Ken Stedman |
Portland State U |
2003 |
Lewis Myles |
TSU |
Jack Farmer |
ASU |
2002 |
Todd Gary |
Tennessee State U |
Jim Lake |
UCLA |
|
Lekan Latinwo |
Florida A&M |
Michael Thomashow |
Michigan State U |
|
Muhammad Mahmood |
Howard U |
Andrew Steele |
CIW |
Contact MIAC
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