Other articles by Susan Bonicillo:

UA team perfecting new microcircuitry UA mineral-ID device bound for space UA-developed synthetic hormones speed a tan UA astronomer ties a star's death to strong sound wave UA students give disabled artists new painting tool UA part of scientific team fostering new way to explore Mars Many Arizonans don't need flood insurance

Health Care
Neurological Associates of Tucson
Operations Manager Trades/Construction
Sundt Construction
Small Business Owners Legal
Munger Chadwick P.L.C
Associat For Commercial & Corporate Transactions & litigation Trades/Construction
.
Welders, Fabricators for structural steel General
TECHNICIANS Office and Clerical
Dr. Wayne Goodner, DDS
Front Office PT Office and Clerical
Manheims Tucson Auto Auction
Vehicle Title Clerk

Student researchers got a chance to showcase their work at the 15th Annual Arizona/ NASA Space Grant Undergraduate Research Internship Symposium held over the weekend at the University of Arizona.

Student scientists and engineers from Arizona State University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona got 10 minutes to explain their work and field questions from the audience.

The NASA Space Grant College and Fellowship Program was created by Congress in 1989 and provides funding for student research through the Space Grant Program to students across the country. The UA is the lead institution for Arizona's consortium of participating universities.

At a private banquet on Friday, keynote speaker Christopher Lewicki — who completed his bachelor's and master's degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering at the UA and now serves as flight systems engineer for the Phoenix Mars Scout Mission — said his stint as a space-grant intern gave him a hands-on experience he couldn't get in a lecture hall setting.

"My experience is that you work much better when you're doing the activity for yourself," Lewicki said. "In a lab setting you have to make something work and the answer and solution are not always next to each other."

In a similar vein, current space-grant intern Matthew Foster of the UA said the internship gave him a means to translate his theoretical knowledge to real-world applications. "I thought it was a great experience," Foster said. "It definitely challenged the boundaries of my work in college so far, being more in the physics background."

An engineering mathematics junior, Foster had no astronomy background. His research work was done under the mentorship of UA astronomy research associate Serena Kim, whose work deals with the formation of stars within diverse environments.

Foster used his analytical skills to determine what effect external forces have on star birth and development.

Though the program deals with the sciences, students don't need to have a specific background to qualify, said Barron Orr, associate director for the UA/NASA Space Grant Program.

"Space grant is for all students, not only science students," he said.

Specific majors don't necessarily get you into the program. GPA helps but what really counts is how the student answers three thought-provoking questions that ask about the students' aspirations and goals and why they would fit into this program, Orr said.

UA wildlife sciences senior Jennifer Davison had worked to be thoroughly prepared for the symposium presentation.

"I'm not nervous, I've probably done it about 50 times at home already," Davison said.

She presented the results of her work in remote sensing of revegetation efforts within the state of Arizona. Satellites provided by NASA allowed Davison to monitor areas with the best potential in terms of farming and cattle raising. The data she analyzed also surveyed efforts to revegetate areas around power plants.

She had made the presentation weeks earlier at an Academy of Sciences meeting.

"I presented in front of my mentor about three or four times and in front of people who know more about the subject than I do," Davison said. "They asked me questions and showed me when my slides were wrong. I'm prepared now."

The student researchers' efforts have not gone unnoticed said Orr and Michael Drake, director for the UA/NASA Space Grant Consortium.

"I thought they were terrific," Drake said. "I was impressed with how mature the students were."

Orr said he was impressed by a "level of rigor and complexity," approaching that of a thesis. "I'm not going to say that they've gotten that far because it's only been two semesters, but they've taken a chunk out of science at that level," he said.

"Space Grant is all about opportunities: We provide it and the students grab it."