San Jose State University will open two new technology centers in
NASA Research Park on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2004.

Designed to facilitate educational and research collaborations
between NASA and university scientists, the Metropolitan Technology
Center and the Space Technology Center will both be located in
Building 583C where they will share classroom, laboratory and office
space. A reception will be held that morning to celebrate the signing
of a Space Act Agreement establishing the two technology centers and
setting forth the goals of the partnership.

"With the signing of this agreement, we are taking major strides in
developing NASA Research Park into a world-class, shared-use research
and development campus in association with academia, industry and
non-profit organizations," said G. Scott Hubbard, director of NASA
Ames Research Center.

"By working together, the Metropolitan Technology Center and the
Space Technology Center will enhance NASA’s educational programs and
foster future collaboration with our friends in the academic
community. We look forward to working with San Jose State University
in the development of both of these exciting ventures," he added.

The Space Technology Center is comprised of a consortium of
universities, aerospace, industry and government partners led by San
Jose State University. The consortium also includes Stanford
University, Santa Clara University and the Aerospace Corp., Los
Angeles.

Under the terms of the agreement, consortium participants will work
closely with the university’s Metropolitan Technology Center to
develop new science and engineering technologies designed to enhance
educational programs for NASA and the consortium.

"The Metropolitan Technology Center will provide exciting new
research and education opportunities," said San Jose State University
Provost Marshall Goodman. "A closer association with NASA scientists
will allow for the development of new research projects in fields
like Earth science, biotechnology, human factors and information
technology. The co-location of other universities within NASA
Research Park will also enable our faculty to work cooperatively with
colleagues from the University of California at Santa Cruz, Stanford
University, Santa Clara University, Carnegie Mellon West and the
community colleges."

San Jose State University officials signed an agreement with NASA in
November 2001 to develop the Metropolitan Technology Center to
promote research collaborations between NASA Ames and the California
State University (CSU) system, including its campuses, organized
research units, and affiliates. NASA officials hailed the partnership
with San Jose State University as an opportunity to "conduct joint
research in cutting-edge technologies and to develop new ideas to
improve the region’s education infrastructure."

Working with the Metropolitan Technology Center and the university’s
newly formed Collaborative for Higher Education and the Institute for
Teaching in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, the new
consortium will offer programs focused on education and workforce
development, research and technology transfer of fields such as
biotechnology, energy, sensors and wireless communication, disaster
mitigation, human factors research and information technology.

Among the first educational programs to be offered by the new Space
Technology Center is Stanford University’s renowned graduate
engineering course series, "Spacecraft Design."
Students in the course develop a space mission using a small
satellite, followed by hands-on laboratories where teams design,
build, test and launch a real satellite.

"Since its inception 45 years ago, NASA has pushed the boundaries of
exploration and science, a philosophy Stanford shares in its academic
pursuits. We’re looking forward to playing a role in NASA’s storied
tradition by providing world-class engineering programs
to the Space Technology Center," said Jim Plummer, School of
Engineering dean, Stanford University.

Consortium partners hope the new collaborations will result in the
development of new technologies for future space missions. The
consortium also will develop a new Web-based design center, called
the Integrated Design Network. Utah State University (USU) has
recently joined the Space Technology Center and plans are being
developed for USU to be the first remote user of the Integrated
Design Network.

For more information about NASA Research Park on the Internet, visit:

http://researchpark.arc.nasa.gov

NOTE TO EDITORS AND NEWS DIRECTORS: News media representatives are
invited to attend a reception Feb. 5, 2004 for San Jose State
University’s Metropolitan Technology Center and the newly formed
Space Technology Center. The reception will be held from 10 a.m. to
12 p.m. PST in Bldg. 583C at NASA Research Park. Guest speakers will
include NASA Ames Research Center Director G. Scott Hubbard; Dr.
Joseph Crowley, interim president, San Jose State University; Dr.
Brian Cantwell, School of Engineering, Stanford University; Dr.
Marshall Goodman, provost, San Jose State University; Dr. Daniel
Pitt, School of Engineering, Santa Clara University; and Gregory
Schmidt, associate director, NASA Ames Astrobiology and Space
Research Directorate. Rep. Anna Eshoo of the 14th Congressional
District, also has been invited. News media representatives must
present photo ID at the Moffett Field main gate to gain entry. To
reach Building 583C, drive through the main gate and merge into the
right lane. At the "S" curve in Shenandoah Plaza, turn right onto
Westcoat Road and continue to the first stop sign at McCord Avenue.
Turn right and continue to the stop sign at Edquiba Road. Proceed
across the intersection to a parking lot. Building 583C is the
octagon-shaped building on the south end of the lot.