This student research conference gave students an opportunity to present their past and current research projects to other student researchers, faculty and professionals. After each student presenter, there was time allotted to ask the student about their future goals and how their research was relevant to NASA’s mission. This informal session gave the students an opportunity to tell the audience how their research was important in non-technical terms. As a result of those question and answer periods, it was deemed necessary to input into next year’s conference student breakout sessions to discuss graduate schools, job opportunities, and internships.

Mr. James Harrington, of the Goddard Space Flight Center, was the keynote speaker for the luncheon on Thursday, April 10, 2003. He spoke to the group about ‘Advancing Minority Scholastic Programs to Benefit NASA’s Mission’. He explained the importance of student research coinciding with NASA’s mission in hopes to continue to get NASA funding. Dr. Rhonda Jones, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, was the keynote speaker for the luncheon on Friday, April 11, 2003. She spoke about job and summer opportunities at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.