November 27, 1995
Dr. Gerald Soffen
NASA University Affairs Officer
Mail Code 160
Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, MD 20771
Dear Jerry:
Enclosed is a copy of the most recent issue of "Discovery," Montana State University's research newsletter. On the third page, you will find a photograph and caption relating to the NASA Administrator's recent visit to Montana. There are two NASA Academy connections I would like to point out.
(1) The graduate student (Greg Switzer) explaining the experiment to Mr. Goldin spent last summer working at GSFC with Pam Millar. The invitation to GSFC came about as a result of one of our undergraduate physics majors (Heather Thomas (SAI)) having spent the previous two summers at GSFC working in Pam's lab. Heather's appointment for the first summer was with the NASA Academy; she was then invited back for a 2nd summer by Pam, and that was followed up with Greg working there in the summer of Ô95.
(2) The student barely visible behind Greg is Neil Beaudry, a junior undergraduate physics major, a Montana Space Grant Scholar, and a participant last summer in NASA Academy at GSFC.
It is interesting that the NASA Academy program is having a very positive effect on Montana in terms of our research enhancement efforts through Space Grant and NASA EPSCoR. One of the EPSCoR challenges is to educate NASA about the existing world class researchers in our state. The very positive impression our NASA Academy students have made with the scientists and engineers at GSFC has led to increased respect for our faculty, and interest in expanded collaborations.
Best wishes,
William A. Hiscock
Director