About NCAS Challenges
Connecting community colleges to NASA’s mission through competitive STEM engagement programs.
About NCAS
NASA’s Community College Aerospace Scholars (NCAS) Challenges are administered by the Institute of Competition Sciences in partnership with NASA. The program creates competitive pathways that connect community college students and institutions with NASA’s aerospace mission.
Through two distinct challenge tracks — the Student Challenge and the Partner Institute Challenge — NCAS provides opportunities for students to explore aerospace careers and for institutions to develop innovative STEM programs aligned with NASA’s workforce needs.
NCAS Challenges are a part of NASA’s broader commitment to preparing tomorrow’s aerospace workforce. By focusing on community colleges, NCAS reaches students who might not otherwise have access to NASA-related opportunities.
STEM Engagement at NASA
NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) prepares students for aerospace careers through investments and experiences that strengthen research capacity, build technical expertise, and expand reach in alignment with NASA missions and needs. OSTEM seeks to establish an ecosystem across education, industry, and government with a well-prepared talent pool equipped with skills and experiences that enable future NASA missions and strengthen the nation’s aerospace workforce.
Through hands-on experiences, mentorship, and competitions, NCAS empowers the next generation of explorers to contribute to NASA’s mission. Whether you’re studying engineering, science, or technology, NCAS provides a launchpad for your future in aerospace.
Minority University Research & Education Project (MUREP)
The Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) is a NASA initiative that strengthens the capacity of Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) to perform NASA-related research, engage students in STEM, and develop a diverse aerospace workforce.
MUREP provides competitive awards to institutions that demonstrate innovative approaches to engaging underrepresented students in STEM fields aligned with NASA’s mission areas. The NCAS Partner Institute Challenge is connected to MUREP’s broader goals of expanding access to aerospace education and career pathways for students at community colleges and minority-serving institutions.
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