UCSB Geography graduate students Forest Cannon and Andrew Thorpe were both tapped for the highly selective NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship (NESSF) Program – 2013. NASA received a total of 330 applications in Earth Science Research and selected just 56 for awards (17%); Forest and Andrew were the only UCSB applicants selected (details and list of awardees here). Mike Beland, an SDSU grad in our joint PhD program, was also selected.
According to the NESSF web site, Earth Science Research, Heliophysics Research, Planetary Science Research, and Astrophysics Research are the four research programs of the Science Mission Directorate (SMD) at NASA Headquarters. These four SMD science divisions make respective selections of applications for the award on a competitive basis. Criteria for evaluation included: (a) the scientific merit of the proposed research; (b) the relevance of the proposed research to NASA’s objectives in Earth or space science; and (c) academic excellence based upon an applicant’s transcripts, the letter of recommendation by the student’s academic advisor, and the degree to which it supported the proposed research.
The purpose of the NESSF is to ensure continued training of a highly qualified workforce in disciplines required to achieve NASA’s scientific goals. Awards resulting from the competitive selection are made in the form of training grants to the respective universities and educational institutions, with the faculty advisor serving as the principal investigator. NESSF awards are made initially for one year and may be renewed for no more than two additional years, contingent upon satisfactory progress, as reflected in academic performance, research progress, and recommendation by the faculty advisor, and the availability of funds. An award is $30,000 per annum, including $24,000 student stipend and an allowance of up to $6,000, consisting of $3,000 for student expenses and $3,000 for university expenses.
Forest’s proposed research is on “Western Himalaya Climate Variability: The Recent Trends In Large-Scale Circulation and Local Precipitation Impacts” (Advisor, Leila Carvalho). Andrew will pursue research related to “Mapping Local Greenhouse Gas Emissions Using Airborne Imaging Spectrometry” (Advisor, Dar Roberts). Mike’s research topic is “Mapping Oil-Impacted Vegetation in Louisiana Salt Marshes: Investigating the Effects of Endmember Spatial, Temporal and Inter-Specific Variability on Vegetation Cover Estimates” (Advisor, Trent Biggs). Kudos and all the best to all of them!
Editor’s comment: Many thanks to Leila Carvalho for the “heads up” regarding these prestigious awards.
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