Young Scientists Apply NASA Earth Observations to Environmental Issues

DEVELOP students and staff with NASA Administrator Charles Bolden at the 49th Robert H. Goddard Memorial Symposium on March 30th in Greenbelt, MD. Photo credit: Pat Izzo.

The DEVELOP Mission: Uniting NASA Earth observations with society to foster future innovation and cultivate the professionals of tomorrow by addressing diverse environmental issues today.

The DEVELOP National Program mentors today's young professionals in preparation for careers as tomorrow's scientists and leaders. DEVELOP is a NASA Applied Sciences training and development program that provides students and young professionals with experience in utilizing and integrating satellite remote sensing data into real world applications while extending NASA Earth science research and technology to society. The program fosters a high-quality corps of researchers learning about NASA Earth science and the applications of remote sensing. Students (high school through graduate school) conduct projects under the guidance of advisors from NASA and partner organizations that focus on practical applications of NASA's Earth science for policy analysis and decision support. Challenged to think "outside the box", take initiative, and employ innovative ideas, DEVELOP students are better prepared to handle environmental science challenges that face our society and future generations.

Cultivating a diverse and dynamic group of students from high schools and universities across the nation, the program conducts applied science research projects during three terms each year (spring, summer, and fall). During the 2011 spring term, 48 students and four young professionals investigated topics including monitoring of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, water quality measurements in the Cahaba River Watershed, and invasive species monitoring in Maryland and the Great Lakes. The ten research projects explored issues like monitoring marine debris and poor air quality, and experimented with new visualization technologies. Students are challenged to form partnerships with local, regional, and national organizations interested in using NASA research results for policy analysis and decision support. Now, their findings are available to the general public.

For more information about DEVELOP, including applications, please visit the DEVELOP website at: http://develop.larc.nasa.gov

Download the DEVELOP Program Brochure here.