News

Jul 25, 2023

NC Space Grant Celebrates 2022-2023 Awarded Teams Achievements

North Carolina Space Grant congratulates 11 student teams who competed in 2022-2023 NASA and related STEM competitions. The awarded teams diligently solved STEM challenges, such as launching and sustaining rockets thousands of feet in the air, or efficiently mining through simulated lunar matter.

Jul 18, 2023

NASA and Industry Interns Soar in Summer Internships

Summer interns advance on their summer-long research projects with real-world applications and implications at NASA centers and aerospace companies.

Jun 22, 2023

Graduate Student Funding Available Now for Ghost Forest Research

North Carolina Sea Grant and North Carolina Space Grant are offering a special joint funding opportunity for graduate student research on ghost forests. Full-time graduate students at colleges and universities in North Carolina are eligible to apply for the $10,000 award.

Jun 15, 2023

Catalyst Makes STEM Accessible in NC 

Catalyst, a national award winning program of The Science House at NC State University, offers STEM opportunities for high school students with disabilities. Starting in high school,  students gain experience for a future in STEM through educational opportunities, field trips, internships and more. Recently, Catalyst students embarked on a field trip to the NASA Johnson Space Center where they went on behind the scenes tours with NASA professionals. In addition, students across the state were immersed in all-things STEM at the Reach for the Stars! Be a Star! STEM Fair in April. 

Jun 7, 2023

Community College High-Altitude Ballooning Teams Fly High in Annual Challenge

Teams from across the state gathered at Catawba Valley Community College in late March to compete in the 2023 North Carolina Space Grant Community College High-Altitude Ballooning Challenge (HABC). Teams received various awards ranging from Highest Altitude to Best Photo. Wake Technical Community College’s high-altitude ballooning team won the Best Overall Team award.

May 31, 2023

Statewide Star Party is a Stellar Success: Connecting People to Nature From the Mountains to the Sea

In April, the North Carolina Science Festival hosted the 11th annual Statewide Star Party, an opportunity to stargaze, celebrate and learn about the night sky. Approximately 8,500 people participated in these public skywatching events at 35 different locations from the mountains to the sea. 

May 30, 2023

Accepting Applications: North Carolina Space Education Ambassadors Program

NC Space Grant is pleased to announce the North Carolina Space Education Ambassadors (NCSEA) program application is open now until June 30.

May 18, 2023

Annual NC Space Symposium Returns In-Person to Celebrate Student Research

On April 21, North Carolina Space Grant hosted its annual NC Space Symposium at the McKimmon Center in Raleigh. The Symposium brought together over 200 students and professionals from all over the state of North Carolina to celebrate student research and learn from experts. 

Apr 14, 2023

Meet NASA Langley’s Chief Technologist: A Q&A with Julie Williams-Byrd, Opening Speaker at the NC Space Symposium

Julie Williams-Byrd will open the NC Space Symposium on April 21 with a talk about her extensive career spanning across multiple disciplines at NASA. As chief technologist at the NASA Langley Research Center, she provides leadership for planning, management and evaluation of new technology development. An inspiration and motivator for students, she is also a proponent for STEM education and engagement. NC Space Grant spoke with Williams-Byrd about her role and passion for STEM mentoring.

Apr 7, 2023

Beyond Silicon: The Potential of Nanostructures in Up-and-Coming Materials

Silicon is a valuable material and has many uses, such as in our devices. However, silicon is not ideal for all use cases. Therefore, scientists have been investigating new materials that can surpass silicon in both new and established technologies. NC Space Grant 2022-23 Graduate Research Fellow, Cullen Walsh, researches two up-and-coming classes of materials. This research could architect a whole new world of materials that surpass silicon in many applications.