Dear Colleagues-
I am writing at this time to see if you (and any students you may know) might be interested in working with a new state-wide program that the Maine Space Grant Consortium is in the process of developing. As an institutional member of the Maine Space Grant Consortium (MSGC) we are being asked to join in the effort to launch a state-wide SEDS program (see below) by first identifying a faculty or staff member and student(s) who might be interested in serving as UNE representatives to this program. Many of you may be aware of our affiliation with MSGC through the MSGC Undergraduate Research Scholarship Program which funnels research support funds to undergraduate students through the CAS SURE program. That is only one of many ongoing (and new!) MSGC programs. Other MSGC programs have funded research here on campus through other grant programs that they administer. Funding for MSGC comes from NASA. Again, MSGC asking for help in order to make the new SEDS initiative a successful one-of-a-kind state-wide program.
MSGC’s State-Wide SEDS program: SEDS stands for “Students for the Exploration and Development of Space.” This is an international student-run program with established chapters at colleges and universities all over the country. The link to the SEDS-USA official website is here: SEDS USA. I have also attached MSGC’s guidelines/requirements for establishing a state-wide program in Maine – the first ever state-wide program!
To make this happen, MSGC needs representation from each of our higher education affiliates (including UNE!). Anyone interested is encouraged to let me (JLM) know and I will provide information about joining the next MSGC affiliate zoom meet-up meeting scheduled for Thursday, April 29 at 1:30 PM.
Currently, the only chapter MSGC is aware of in Maine is one at the University of Maine. Years ago, MSGC worked with the group of students who formed this chapter and one of the founders (now graduated) will join the meet-up to discuss his experience with SEDS.
If you (and one or more students you know!) might be interested in learning more, please let me know at your earliest convenience. I will forward information about joining the April 29 meeting, and please note that it is best if the student(s) you identify can join the meeting too. Short notice for attending the meeting on April 29, I realize, and a crazy busy time for us, but this is a pretty new initiative on the part of MSGC. The April 29 meeting will be an informative, collaborative discussion on the benefits of establishing this program, while working to lay down the groundwork to move forward in the very near future.
UNE Liaison: Jerry Mullin, Ph.D. jmullin@une.edu