NASA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today
announced six institutions were awarded grants to conduct
geospatial extension projects.
These unique projects are based on a NASA/USDA Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) signed in 2003. The MOU encourages USDA
to use NASA’s Earth science research results to enhance
decision support for agricultural production and resource
management. NASA and USDA provide the funding for the grant
awards.
Three institutions will receive funds to hire new geospatial
extension specialists, and three will receive funds to
continue projects to improve decision-support education and
work force development in geospatial technologies. A
geospatial extension specialist is skilled in using Earth
science observations and predictions to enhance profitability
and to efficiently manage natural resources.
“We are pleased to be a part of this worthwhile effort, which
will benefit all Americans,” said NASA Administrator Sean
O’Keefe. “NASA’s unique resources to view the Earth from
space will enhance our ability to predict climate, weather
and natural hazards, as well as to mitigate and assess the
effects of natural and human-induced disasters. The
information we provide will allow our partners to make
critical, accurate and timely decisions,” he said.
“Education in the use of geographic information systems and
other advanced technologies is critical in today’s
agricultural economy if we are to remain competitive and
protect our natural resources for future generations,” said
Agriculture Secretary Anne Veneman.
NASA’s Science Mission Directorate; the USDA Cooperative
State Research, Education, and Extension Service; and the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration worked
together to develop the projects, and manage the application
and selection process.
The six grants were awarded to:
The University of Missouri (Columbia, Mo.) for The Missouri
Geospatial Extension Specialist Program, to improve and
extend decision-support tools for water management,
agricultural efficiency and ecological forecasting, in
cooperation with a variety of state partners.
The University of Nebraska at Omaha for Nebraska NativeGEM
(Geospatial Extension Model), to improve the decision-support
systems, education and work force development of local users,
with a focus on Native American tribes in Nebraska.
The University of New Hampshire (Durham, N.H.) for MapCorps,
to implement a geospatial technology training and resources
center to enhance the geospatial technology capability in the
community, specifically targeting youth groups.
The University of Rhode Island (Kingston, R.I.) for
Geospatial Information in Rhode Island: Making a Difference
in Sustainable Resource Management, focusing on education and
work force development for resource and land management.
Texas A&M University (College Station, Texas) for The Texas
Geospatial Extension Program, to increase geospatial literacy
in elementary schools, and improve decision support tools for
invasive species and land fragmentation, among other critical
issues, across Texas.
Utah State University (Logan, Utah) for On-Target Fellowship
Program: Empowering Agents of Change, for training of county
extension agents and educators in use of geographic
information and existing decision-support tools sponsored by
USDA and NASA, and injecting that expertise into state and
local programs.
For information about the awards on the Internet, visit:
For information about NASA on the Internet, visit:
