The third annual Technical Interchange Workshop, a meeting of scientists, engineers and educators from across the country to showcase space technology research and development activities, will be held at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory Jan. 23-25.
This year, the workshop will address the growing shortage of science and engineering graduates and examine issues of minority recruitment in the Earth, physical and engineering sciences.
The workshop will coincide with a Community Education Outreach Exhibition, to be held at the Pasadena Convention Center. The exhibition of booths, displays and demonstrations will feature the work of community service and outreach organizations dedicated to promoting science education.
Among the many special presentations and technical workshops offered by approximately 40 participating scientific and academic institutions, the conference will include the following topics:
* The status of JPL minority science and engineering initiatives.
* Overview and formal signing of a memorandum of understanding with the University of Texas at El Paso to encourage educational excellence for Hispanic Americans.
* Native American culture and the present system of higher education; recommended changes from a Native American perspective.
* New partnerships: NASA's Space Technology and Utilization Program, a consortium of historically black colleges and universities to promote science and engineering research and development activities.
* NASA's role in providing prime contractor and subcontractor support to minority businesses.
* Science is kids' stuff: Science for early educational development.
The Technical Interchange Workshop will be held in JPL's von Krmn Auditorium. The Pasadena Community Outreach Exhibition will take place Jan. 23 on the lower level of the Convention Center, located at 300 E. Green St. Exhibits will open at 5:30 p.m. and presentations will run from 6:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.
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