NASA Releases University Student Research Challenge (USRC)
Amendment 1 to the NASA ARMD Research Opportunities in Aeronautics (ROA–2020) NRA has been posted on the NSPIRES web site at https://nspires.nasaprs.com.
University Student Research Challenge (solicitation NNH20ZEA001N-USRC) seeks to challenge students to propose new aeronautics ideas/concepts that are relevant to NASA Aeronautics. USRC will provide students, from accredited U.S. colleges or universities, with grants for their projects and it includes the challenge of raising a modest amount of cost share funds through crowdfunding platform. The process of creating and preparing a crowdfunding campaign acts as a teaching accelerator – requiring students to act like entrepreneurs and taking action. Crowdfunding also raises awareness about students’ research among the public.
The solicitation goal can be accomplished through project ideas such as advancing the design, developing technology or capabilities in support of aviation, by demonstrating a novel concept, or enabling advancement of aeronautics-related technologies.
Notices of Intent (NOIs) are not required for this solicitation. Three-page proposals for the next USRC cycle are due November 12, 2020. Proposals can also be submitted later and will be evaluated in two additional cycles with due dates: February 25, 2021 and June 24, 2021.