
Agenda
Hear from researchers and celebrate student research at the 2025 NC Space Symposium!
7:30 am – Registration Opens
7:30 – 8:30 am – Student Poster Set Up
7:30 – 8:30 am – Continental Breakfast and Networking
8:30 – 8:35 am – Welcome & Opening Remarks
Susan White, Director, North Carolina Space Grant
8:35 – 9:05 am – Plenary Presentation
Kimberly Brush, Chief of Staff, NASA Langley Research Center
9:05 – 10:05 am – INDUSTRY CONNECTIONS
NC Industry Contributions to the Space Economy
NC Industry Contributions to the Space Economy
Speakers:
- James Ainsworth, VP Engineering Services – Collier Aerospace
- Jamie Coker, Director of Programs – Sierra Space
- Bridget Simmons, Human Resources Manager – Machine Specialists, Inc.
10:05 – 10:15 am – Networking Break
Refreshments and beverages available in the general session room.
10:15 – 11:00 am – Student Poster Session 1 and Student Team Showcase
Odd-numbered posters presented
11:00 – 11:15 am – Networking Break
Transition back to the general session room. Refreshments and beverages available in the general session room.
11:15 – 11:45 am – Student Lightning Talks Session 1
Moderated by Aurora Toennisson (NC Space Grant Alumni), PhD Candidate, NC State University and member of the NC Space Grant Advisory Board
Speakers:
- Alden Contreras, NC Space Grant Graduate Research Fellow – NC A&T State University
- Duncan Maclean, NC Space Grant Graduate Research Fellow – UNC Chapel Hill
- Megan Geesin, NC Sea/Space Grant Graduate Research Fellow – East Carolina University
- L. Brooke Turner, NASA Internship Awardee at Goddard Space Flight Center (2023 & 2024) – NC State University
- Morgan Heckman, NC Space Grant Graduate Research Fellow – Duke University
11:45 am – 1:00 pm – Luncheon and Research Presentation
Introduction by Rachel Smith, Head, Astronomy & Astrophysics Research Lab; Curator, Meteorites – North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
Eileen Stansbery, Chief Scientist and Chief of the Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science Division – NASA Johnson Space Center
1:10 – 1:55 pm – Student Poster Session 2 and Student Team Showcase
Even-numbered posters presented
1:55 – 2:05 pm – Networking Break
Transition back to the general session room. Refreshments and beverages available in the general session room.
2:05 – 2:35 pm – Student Lightning Talks Session 2
Moderated by Olivia Scott (NC Space Grant Alumni), Aerospace Structural Engineer at Collier Aerospace and member of the NC Space Grant Advisory Board
Speakers:
- Patrick Haughey, NC Space Grant Graduate Research Fellow – NC State University
- Brian Cook, NC Space Grant Graduate Research Fellow – UNC Chapel Hill
- Caleb Knight, NASA Internship Award at Kennedy Space Center (2024) – Lenoir-Rhyne University & The University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Samantha Holmes, NC Space Grant Graduate Research Fellow – Duke University
- Peggy Mullin, NC Sea/Space Graduate Research Fellow – UNC Chapel Hill
2:35 – 2:55 pm – MENTORSHIP SPOTLIGHT
Growing Through Shared Discovery: The Importance of Undergraduate Research in Space Biology
Growing Through Shared Discovery: The Importance of Undergraduate Research in Space Biology
Speakers:
- Rafael Loureiro, Associate Professor, Botany and Plant Physiology – Winston-Salem State University
- A’nya Buckner, NC Space Grant Undergraduate Research Scholar (2024-2025) and STEM Bridge Scholar (2023-2024) – Winston-Salem State University
- Sarah Lang, NC Space Grant Undergraduate Research Scholar (2023-2024) an STEM Bridge Scholar (2022-2023) – Winston-Salem State University
2:55 pm – Closing Remarks
Susan White, Director, North Carolina Space Grant
3:15 – 4:00 pm – Afternoon Student Workshop: Effective Communication in the STEM Workforce
Speakers:
- Michael Rice, Senior Science Writer – KBR International
- Rebecca Jones, Communications Director – NC Sea Grant/NC Space Grant/ NC Water Resources Research Institute