The first group of students from the UAE to Nasa's Education Associates Program (EAP) recently began a 10-week internship at the Ames Research Center, Columbia in the US state of Maryland.

Managed by the Universities Space Research Association (USRA), which is devoted to space exploration and technology, the EAP is a unique workforce development program that offers students, post-docs, and faculty the opportunity for hands-on work with Nasa scientists and engineers.

Under a 3-year agreement between Nasa and the non-profit Arab Youth Venture Foundation (AYVF), up to 12 UAE students per year will be participating in the EAP.

The first group of three students will be working on a variety of projects including the space shuttle and International Space Station, deep space missions, solar system exploration and aeronautics research.

Shamma Al Qassim, a computer engineering major at the American University of Sharjah, will work with a team analyzing thermal infrared (TIR) data retrieved from Nasa satellite sensor Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (Modis) to determine if it can be used to predict earthquakes.

Hazza Bani Malek, a major in mechatronics at the Higher Colleges of Technology in Ras Al Khaimah, will work with a group updating facility automation in the Electric Arc Shock Tube facility, which simulates the high enthalpy (heat) environment encountered by spacecraft entering planetary atmospheres.

Hamad Rajab, an electrical engineering student, will intern with a team working to re-purpose a cutting-edge water recycling system, designed for long-term duration space missions, for the new Ames 'Green Building' Sustainability Base.

"The goodwill generated by students working side by side with our Nasa scientists and researchers will serve as a bridge between the USA and UAE, opening the doors for future collaboration in scientific research,” said Nasa Ames director S Pete Worden.

“I can only imagine what discoveries might be achieved through such cooperation."

USRA's EAP project administrator, Coral Clark, added: "Our Nasa educational opportunities enable and empower young minds throughout the world to reach their full potential, a key to an innovative and prosperous future.”

“Goodwill spreads virally, and this life-changing experience for our UAE student participants will have significant, positive impact on future collaborations in our world scientific community,” she concluded. – TradeArabia News Service