Augustana University Awarded Grant to Fund Student Research, STEM Education

Pictured Above: John Babineau '24 interning at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, in Summer 2023, thanks to the support of the South Dakota Space Grant Consortium.

Augustana University has been awarded approximately $45,000 per year through 2028 to support key initiatives designed to inspire youth education in STEM-related fields in South Dakota.

As part of NASA's National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, the South Dakota Space Grant Consortium (SDSGC) provides funding to support education, research and workforce development in science, technology, engineering and math fields. The consortium connects colleges and universities across the state to foster collaboration. Leveraging federal funding, the group empowers students and educators with resources to explore innovative research and educational initiatives.

As part of the Augustana subaward, the SDSGC is funding the STEM Pipeline Project, which includes summer research opportunities for Augustana students.

"It plays a pretty important part in providing our students with these kinds of experiences," said Dr. Drew Alton, professor of physics at Augustana.

Summer research opportunities are integral to Augustana's STEM-related departments across campus. The grant through the consortium supports approximately three students annually to pursue research - often culminating in presentations at national conferences. This hands-on experience has become a "hallmark" of Augustana's commitment to student success with 90% of physics graduates having participated in research since 2010.

"This funding provides critical opportunities for students to engage in hands-on learning - providing them with a liveable wage so they can focus on education and research," Alton explained.

More than $10,000 of the grant will support STEM education for middle school students, specifically the state's FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL) Program that holds robotics competitions at Augustana.

FLL - a collaborative effort between Augustana, EmBe and others - introduces students to STEM concepts through robotics competitions where teams design, build and program robots using a programmable LEGO robotics system to perform specific tasks.

"It's not just about the robots. These programs help students explore science beyond technical skills, incorporating liberal arts perspectives to address complex challenges," said Alton. "These programs really mesh well with Augustana's mission."

Started at Augustana by the late Associate Professor of Computer Science Dr. Daniel Swets, the state FLL program has grown exponentially from just a few teams to more than 70 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hosted at Augustana's Elmen Center, the 2024 state championship boasted nearly 30 teams, attracting participants from all across South Dakota.

"When I see students I've worked with come back as mentors or leaders, it's fun to see them helping other students through the program," Alton said. "It really is rewarding."

The partnership has strengthened Augustana's ties to the community. In addition, many of the participants in these programs have considered Augustana as a top choice when searching for universities to attend.

The consortium's funding is also helping to establish the FIRST Tech Challenge for high school students - a robotics program that builds on the foundational skills developed in the FIRST LEGO League.

"With continued support, we hope to grow this initiative statewide," Alton said. "It's about ensuring that every student has access to opportunities that inspire and challenge them."