Pictured Above: John Babineau 鈥24 interning at NASA鈥檚 Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, in Summer 2023, thanks to the support of the South Dakota Space Grant Consortium.
果冻传媒 has been awarded approximately $45,000 per year through 2028 to support key initiatives designed to inspire youth education in STEM-related fields in South Dakota.
As part of , the provides funding to support education, research and workforce development in science, technology, engineering and math fields. The consortium connects colleges and universities across the state to foster collaboration. Leveraging federal funding, the group empowers students and educators with resources to explore innovative research and educational initiatives.
As part of the Augustana subaward, the SDSGC is funding the STEM Pipeline Project, which includes summer research opportunities for Augustana students.
鈥淚t plays a pretty important part in providing our students with these kinds of experiences,鈥 said Dr. Drew Alton, professor of physics at Augustana.
Summer research opportunities are integral to Augustana鈥檚 STEM-related departments across campus. The grant through the consortium supports approximately three students annually to pursue research 鈥 often culminating in presentations at national conferences. This hands-on experience has become a 鈥渉allmark鈥 of Augustana鈥檚 commitment to student success with 90% of physics graduates having participated in research since 2010.
鈥淭his funding provides critical opportunities for students to engage in hands-on learning 鈥 providing them with a liveable wage so they can focus on education and research,鈥 Alton explained.
More than $10,000 of the grant will support STEM education for middle school students, specifically the state鈥檚 that holds robotics competitions at Augustana.
FLL 鈥 a collaborative effort between Augustana, EmBe and others 鈥 introduces students to STEM concepts through robotics competitions where teams design, build and program robots using a programmable LEGO robotics system to perform specific tasks.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not just about the robots. These programs help students explore science beyond technical skills, incorporating liberal arts perspectives to address complex challenges,鈥 said Alton. 鈥淭hese programs really mesh well with Augustana鈥檚 mission.鈥
Started at Augustana by the late Associate Professor of Computer Science Dr. Daniel Swets, the state FLL program has grown exponentially from just a few teams to more than 70 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hosted at Augustana鈥檚 Elmen Center, the 2024 state championship boasted nearly 30 teams, attracting participants from all across South Dakota.
鈥淲hen I see students I鈥檝e worked with come back as mentors or leaders, it鈥檚 fun to see them helping other students through the program,鈥 Alton said. 鈥淚t really is rewarding.鈥
The partnership has strengthened Augustana鈥檚 ties to the community. In addition, many of the participants in these programs have considered Augustana as a top choice when searching for universities to attend.
The consortium鈥檚 funding is also helping to establish the FIRST Tech Challenge for high school students 鈥 a robotics program that builds on the foundational skills developed in the FIRST LEGO League.
鈥淲ith continued support, we hope to grow this initiative statewide,鈥 Alton said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about ensuring that every student has access to opportunities that inspire and challenge them.鈥