Innovative Projects

VSGC supports a number of Innovative Projects every year. These projects cover many disciplines and target both K-12 and Higher Education projects.

The next call for proposals will go out in November 2024.

Oleksandr Kravchenko – Old Dominion University – Hot Powder Bed Compaction using Lunar Regolith for Manufacturing of Space Grade Structures

Rex Kincaid – William & Mary – Summer Collaborative Bridge: Connecting Student Summer Research Experiences Across Academics and Industry

Dr. Matt Grau and Zhang Yuan – Old Dominion University – Summer Research Experience for Undergraduate Students: Exploring NV – Center Quantum Sensing

Jonathan Boreyko – Virginia Tech – Capacitive Fog and Smoke Harvesting

Kim Lester – Virginia Tech – Recognizing Undergraduate Outreach Efforts for K-12 Teacher Development

Catherine Dukes – University of Virginia – Summer 2024 Undergraduate Research Opportunities: the VA Initiative on Cosmic Origins

Jonathan Allen – William & Mary – Summer Undergrad: Using NASA mission data to predict the abundance of keystone predator in Chesapeake Bay

Karen McKenzie – Science Museum of Virginia – Space-Themed Programs in The Mix

Danielle Price – Virginia Air and Space Science Center – Learn, Inspire, Foster, and Teach (LIFT) Internship Project

Sharon Asundi – Old Dominion University – Design and Development of the CubeSat Structure and the Deployable Solar Panels to Support a 3-Tier Communication System for the SeaLion CubeSat Space Mission

Dr. Ruben Delgado – Hampton University – Promoting Interdisciplinary Research in the Atmospheric Tidewater Environment

Bevlee Watford; Megan Moore; Cynthia Hampton – Virginia Tech – Reinventing STEM on Wheels

Dr. Matt Grau; Co-PI: Dr. Charles Sukenik – Old Dominion University  – High School Physics and Mathematics Teacher Professional Development of Integrated STEM through Arduinos at Old Dominion University

Mohamed Sanad Noufal – Hampton University –  Theory and Programmed Design-guided Innovation of PGM-free ORR Electro catalysts for self-powered fuel cells for space applications

Lisa Horth; Collab. PI’s: Kim Bullington; and Orlando Ayala – Old Dominion University – Veteran’s in Biology & Engineering (VIBE) Technical Training: A Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates, inclusive of Service Learning

Gregory Hunt; Rex Kincaid – William & Mary – Summer Collaborative Bridge: Connecting Student Summer Research Experiences across Academics and Industry

Sharan Asundi; Sandeep Kumar, Sandipan Dutta – Old Dominion University – Elucidating the Effect of Moon-like Magnetic Field Exposure in a Regolith Simulant Environment on Microalgae Chlorella vulgaris Growth and Bio Compound Production

Dr. Sampath Jayarathna; Dr. Wie Yusuf; Dr. Tom Allen; Dr. Nirmala Karunarathna; – Old Dominion University Research Foundation – CARE: Coastal Adaptation and Resilience Education

Dr. Gaurav Giri – University of Virginia – Summer Research Experience for Undergraduate Students: Metal-Organic Framework Polymer

Dr. Drew Landman; Shane Berry; Cole Burnette; Rob Stuart; Ryan Sternberg (student members) – Old Dominion University – Renovation and Modernization of FQM-117B RCMAT Testbeds for UAS education

Nathan Lau, PhD; Cindy Watson – Virginia Tech – Experiential Learning in Integrated Health Technology Engineering (ELIHTE)

Click here to view the full proposal.

For the 2022 Innovative Projects program, ten awards were made.

  • Melissa Stange – Laurel Ridge Community College – UAS Projects
  • Kim Lester; Perry Martin – Virginia Tech – Maker Monday (Pathways for Future Engineers)
  • Amrinder S. Nain – Virginia Tech – Summer Undergraduate Research: Cell contractility and migration along fibers in microgravity
  • Shuhai Xiao – Virginia Tech – Nurturing the next generation of astrobiologists and widening the participation of underrepresented groups in space science through summer research experience
  • R. Clay Wright – Virginia Tech – CUREing a sustainable future with chemical biosensors and a diverse, motivated workforce for biomanufacturing
  • Gregory J. Hunt; Rex Kincaid – William & Mary – Summer Collaborative Bridge: Connecting Student Summer Research Experiences across Academics and Industry
  • Victoria Corbin; Kristi DeCourcy – Virginia Tech – Professional Development Workshop at Virginia Tech for High School Teachers of Physics, Chemistry, Data Analytics, Earth Science, and Microbiology
  • Catherine A. Dukes; Jonathan C. Tan; Ilse Cleeves; Robin Garrod; Eric; Zhi-Yun Li; Steve Macko; Jon Ramsey; Xiao Hu; Dr. Duo Xu; Michael Küffmeier; Dr. Adam Woodson – University of Virginia – Virginia Initiative on Cosmic Origins (VICO) Summer Undergraduate Research Positions (2022)
  • Gaurav Giri, Na Ren; Arif Karim – University of Virginia – Summer Research Experience for Undergraduate Students: Metal Organic Framework Thin Films for Advanced Flexible Electronics and Air Filtration Membranes
  • Orlando Ayala; Rafael Landaeta; Tyler Cason; Sydney Fletcher; Ryan Long; Ryan Snoddy – Old Dominion University – Projects for Engineering Student Outreach (PESO)

For the 2021 Innovative Projects program, thirteen awards were made totaling over $112,488. Areas of interest included: programs that include activities related to NASA’s Artemis Mission for Moon and Mars exploration; programs relating to Earth System Science that use data from NASA missions; summer research experiences for undergraduate students; service-learning experiences for undergraduate students, including but not limited to those that involve unmanned autonomous systems; space flight programs; and teacher professional development programs. The winners are listed below:

At Old Dominion University, Orlando Ayala was awarded funding for a project titled “2021 ODU Remote Experience for Young Engineers and Scientists REYES“.

Old Dominion University’s Sampath Jayarathna was awarded funding for a student flight project titled “STARS: Secondary Teachers as Researchers with Satellites“.

Old Dominion University’s Sharan Asundi was awarded funding for a student flight project titled “Development of a Novel Remote Sensing Receiver (DiBAR), and Impedance Probe, and a Visual+NIR Sensor for a 3U CubeSat Technology Demonstration of In-Situ Space Measurement and Earth Remote Sensing“.

Also at Old Dominion University, Dimirie Popescu was awarded funding for a student flight project titled “STEM Outreach Activities Using the ODU Satellite Ground Station“.

At Southwest Virginia Community College, Kevin Stilwell and Ryan Dorkoski were awarded funding for a project titled “Utilization of Remote Sensing in Undergraduate Biodiversity Research”

At the University of Virginia, Giri Gaurav was awarded funding for a project titled “Summer Research Experience for Undergraduate Students: Metal Organic Framework Thin Films for Electronic, Filtration and Sensing Applications“.

At Virginia Tech, Pinar Acar, was awarded funds for a project titled “Data-Driven Design of Composite Materials for Aerospace Components“.

Virginia Tech’s Carl Dietrich was awarded Funds for a project titled “Enhancement of Remotely-accessible, Low-cost, Portable Antenna Range for Outreach and Instruction“.

Also at Virginia Tech, F. Marc Michel was awarded funds for a project titled “Nanoscience Professional Development Workshop for High School Teachers in STEM“.

Virginia Tech’s Bevlee Watford and Kim Lester were awarded funds for a project titled “Project Water Works“.

Virginia Tech’s final recipients, Eric Wiseman, John McGee, Daniel Cross, and Randy Wynne were awarded funds for a project titled “UAV’s and Urban Forestry: A Student Service Learning Project to Identify Invasive Species“.

At William & Mary, Gregory Hunt was awarded funding for a project titled “Summer Collaborative Bridge: Connecting Student Summer Research Experience across Academics and Industry“.

Also at William & Mary, Margaret Saha was awarded funding for a project titled “Broadening Participation in Artemis-Related Research: Inclusiveness and Sustainability“.

VSGC supports a number of Innovative Projects every year. These projects cover many disciplines and target both K-12 and Higher Education projects. This year, twelve awards were made totaling over $80,000. Areas of interest included programs that supported the Apollo 50th anniversary, summer research experiences for undergraduate students and teacher professional development programs. The winners are listed below:

College of William and Mary Biology professor Randy Chambers was awarded funds for two undergraduates to research greenhouse gas flux from stormwater retention ponds in order to identify ways to decrease global warming caused by methane emissions.

Old Dominion University’s Gon Namkoong will use funds for a research project titled “Thermal stability of perovskite solar cells using nanoparticles/polymer composites.”

Also at Old Dominion University, Joanna Garner’s project “Voyages and Discoveries: Cross-Generational Reflections on the Significance of Space Exploration” will bridge the divide between the Apollo and digital generations with a regional competition. Winning entries will be shown at Slover Library in Norfolk.

At Virginia Tech, Bevlee Watford and Kim Lester proposed another summer of Imagination Summer Camp sessions for rising seventh and eighth graders.

Virginia Tech will also hold a professional development workshop for high school biology, chemistry, earth science and physics teachers. James Heflin proposed this workshop, which will focus on nanoscience and nanotechnology.

At the University of Virginia, Gaurev Giri proposed a summer Research Experience for undergraduate students to study “Metal Organic Framework Thin Film for Electronic and Sensing Applications.”

Also at the University of Virginia, Max C.N. Castorani and Scott C. Doney proposed a Research Experience for one undergraduate to study “Understanding the patterns and drivers of water quality in coastal Virginia using Landsat.”

At the University of Virginia, Jonathan Tan will offer an undergraduate research position for the Virginia Initiative on Cosmic Origins (VICO).

At Southside Virginia Community College, Brent Richey will hold a camp titled “This IS Rocket Science: Remembering and Modeling Mankind’s Giant Leap.” Fifteen students will construct a rocket and launch it on July 20.

This summer, Thomas Nelson Community College will hold a week-long advanced robotics camp for rising third through eighth graders. Patrick Tompkins and Terry Wagner proposed this camp for area students.

The Virginia Air and Space Center will use funds toward designing an interactive Apollo 12 exhibition.

The Science Museum of Virginia will offer day camps to the “Teen Astronomer Program.” Day campers will learn about astronomy and space travel.

  • Imagination Summer Camp at Virginia Tech
  • Imagination Summer Camp at Virginia Tech

Photographs of the 2018 Imagination Summer Camps courtesy of Peter Means/Virginia Tech.