Kevin Hayakawa. Courtesy photo.
CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) students majoring in a STEM (science, technology, engineering or mathematics) field have a chance to shadow NASA planetary scientists, thanks to a $375,000 grant procured by Assistant Professor of Physics Kevin Hayakawa.
All CSUCI undergraduates are eligible to apply, but should submit their application by Aug. 30 at tinyurl.com/H2O-App. Students can be STEM majors or planning to pursue a STEM major.
“The grant is specifically for a minority-serving institution, which we are,” Hayakawa said. “It’s meant to increase the visibility and opportunities for minorities – to increase the number of STEM majors in historically marginalized groups. They’ll get a chance to see what a day in the life of a planetary scientist is like.”
Hayakawa can accept 10 to 12 students, who will enjoy nine monthly visits to NASA Near-Earth Object Surveyor space telescope sites, alternating between the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena and UCLA. There will also be an all-expenses paid astronomy trip to the Santa Rosa Island Research Station (SRIRS) from Nov. 1-3.
Students chosen for the project will also attend (all expenses paid) the 245thMeeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) from Jan. 12-17, 2025, in National Harbor, Maryland.
“It’s called an H2O grant, or “Here to Observe” grant,” Hayakawa said. “We especially want freshmen and sophomores to apply because they have the most attrition during those first couple of years with calculus and freshman writing composition courses. By having them go to visit NASA centers and shadow planetary scientists, we hope it will motivate them to get through those tough first couple of years.”
Shadowing NASA scientists will also give STEM students a chance to network and explore the possibility of summer internships, Hayakawa said, adding he also hopes to get some of the students into PhD programs later, and maybe identify some possible thesis advisors. The November visit to Santa Rosa Island, he said, should be a rich experience.
“At night, light pollution goes to zero and we’ll be able to see so many stars,” Hayakawa said. “During the daytime, we’ll have wellness hikes and study halls and meditation. We’ll cook together in the kitchen of the ranch house and develop a deep sense of community.”
The grant will allow Hayakawa to offer this opportunity for the next five years, during which time Hayakawa hopes his students come to see the universe and nature differently than they did before.
“I hope they learn that, even if there are no humans around, the world still operates in a predictable and mechanical way. And we can use mathematics to get powerful predictions. Most of all, I hope students come to learn how beautiful and vast the universe is.”
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY CHANNEL ISLANDS — California State University Channel Islands?(CSUCI) is Ventura County’s only public university and opened in 2002 as the 23rd campus in the?CSU system. CSUCI is located between Camarillo and the Oxnard Plain, midway between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles.
The campus is nestled against the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains and is a 10-minute drive from the Pacific Ocean. With more than 5,100 students, 27,500 alumni, and 1,000 employees, CSUCI is poised to grow in size and distinction, while maintaining one of the most student-focused learning environments in public higher education with more than 90 academic degrees, teaching credentials, certificates, and professional and community programs.
Connect with and learn more by visiting www.csuci.edu or CSUCI’s Social Media.
The University encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs, events and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation, or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact the respective area below as soon as possible, but no later than seven (7) business days prior to the event/activity:
CSUCI Students: accommodations@csuci.edu
CSUCI Employee and members of the public: angela.portillo@csuci.edu