Discussion on Education Discussion on Education

Thomas ZurbuchenThomas ZurbuchenUniversity of MichiganUniversity of Michigan

thomasz@umich.eduthomasz@umich.edu

““every scientist, every engineer, every technician, every scientist, every engineer, every technician, contractor, and civil servant must give his contractor, and civil servant must give his personal pledge that this nation will move personal pledge that this nation will move forward, with the full speed of freedom, in the forward, with the full speed of freedom, in the exciting adventure of spaceexciting adventure of space”. ”.

““to observe geophysical phenomena and to secure to observe geophysical phenomena and to secure data from all parts of the world; to conduct this data from all parts of the world; to conduct this effort on a coordinated basis by fields, and in effort on a coordinated basis by fields, and in space and time, so that results could be collated space and time, so that results could be collated in a meaningful manner.”in a meaningful manner.”

Status assessmentStatus assessment

Queried 6 Universities, 2 Supporting Queried 6 Universities, 2 Supporting organizationsorganizations Air force Academy, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Penn Air force Academy, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Penn

State, StanfordState, Stanford Air force Research Lab, American Aerospace Air force Research Lab, American Aerospace

Advisors.Advisors.

Bias towards Research Universities. There are Bias towards Research Universities. There are counter-examples, mostly associated with counter-examples, mostly associated with exceptional leaders: Taylor U (Voss)exceptional leaders: Taylor U (Voss)

Engineering or Science?Engineering or Science?

Most programs originate in engineering Most programs originate in engineering departments but most of them include departments but most of them include science components.science components.

Exceptions: Exceptions: Colorado effort is in LASPColorado effort is in LASPMichigan effort is in AOSSMichigan effort is in AOSS

Educational OpportunitiesEducational Opportunities

System EngineeringSystem EngineeringCollaborationsCollaborations InterdisciplinaryInterdisciplinaryHigh-quality work High-quality work

Stanford: Outreach program K-UStanford: Outreach program K-U

Inclusion in CurriculumInclusion in Curriculum

Most classes are not directly included in Most classes are not directly included in curriculum, and/or are not part of ABET curriculum, and/or are not part of ABET assessment. assessment.

ExamplesExamples Penn State: Sequence of courses, project course, Penn State: Sequence of courses, project course,

capstone courses, certificate programcapstone courses, certificate program Michigan: Building concentration program in thisMichigan: Building concentration program in this Air force Academy: Advanced Physics experimental Air force Academy: Advanced Physics experimental

course.course.

Pros and Cons for such programsPros and Cons for such programs

Experience of working Experience of working on systemon system

CollaborationsCollaborations Interdisciplinary workInterdisciplinary work

New technologyNew technology InnovationInnovation

Output very variableOutput very variable Complexity drives Complexity drives

schedule – cannot to schedule – cannot to all.all.

Costly Costly

Not much benefits to Not much benefits to profsprofs

SustainabilitySustainability

University needs to commit – cannot be single University needs to commit – cannot be single professor to be sustainableprofessor to be sustainable

Need synergies between platformsNeed synergies between platforms Balloons, rockets, small sats, space hardwareBalloons, rockets, small sats, space hardware

Need inclusion in curriculumNeed inclusion in curriculum Need infrastructure – cannot start over every Need infrastructure – cannot start over every

time…time… Need Grads and U-grads, perhaps in sequence Need Grads and U-grads, perhaps in sequence

or simultaneouslyor simultaneously Need launch opportunitiesNeed launch opportunities

Academia vs Small SatsAcademia vs Small Sats

Solutions run counter to traditional Solutions run counter to traditional academic structureacademic structure

Need to cross department boundaries, Need to cross department boundaries, college boundariescollege boundaries

Seek partnerships with government and Seek partnerships with government and industry to enhance realism of industry to enhance realism of project/approachesproject/approaches

Discussion QuestionsDiscussion Questions

How do we balance science, engineering How do we balance science, engineering and educational issues?and educational issues?

How do we include these efforts into a How do we include these efforts into a curriculum?curriculum?

How do small sat efforts become How do small sat efforts become sustainable?sustainable?

What are models for cost-effective What are models for cost-effective collaborations?collaborations?