NASA’s Minority Innovation Challenges Institute is hosting an academic year kick-off virtual conference at 2 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, Sept. 8. The session will feature a message from NASA Administrator Charles Bolden that includes an inspirational account of his career path from an undergraduate student majoring in electrical engineering to becoming NASA Administrator.

The MICI sessions focus on NASA technical challenges and competitions, teaching students how to apply and participate in various competitions, such as the agency’s Centennial Challenges Program, the NASA University Student Launch Initiative, and the Great Moonbuggy Race. The program is designed to inspire minority undergraduate students to pursue advance degrees and careers in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, disciplines critical to NASA’s future missions.

MICI is managed for NASA by Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in Tallahassee, Fla., through the agency’s Minority University Research and Education Programs Small Programs project.

For more information and to register for event, visit:
http://www.NASAMICI.com

For information about NASA’s education programs visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/education