Computer network access to scientific information systems for minority universities
Valerie L. Thomas, Nagi T. Wakim · AIP conference proceedings · 1993
The evolution of computer networking technology has lead to the establishment of a massive networking infrastructure which interconnects various types of computing resources at many government, academic, and corporate institutions. A large segment of this infrastructure has been developed to facilitate information exchange and resource sharing within the scientific community. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) supports both the development and the application of computer networks which provide its community with access to many valuable multi‐disciplinary scientific information systems and on‐line databases. Recognizing the need to extend the benefits of this advanced networking technology to the under‐represented community, the National Space Science Data Center (NSSDC) in the Space Data and Computing Division at the Goddard Space Flight Center has developed the Minority University‐Space Interdisciplinary Network (MU‐SPIN) Program: a major networking and education initiative for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Minority Universities (MUs). In this paper, we will briefly explain the various components of the MU‐SPIN Program while highlighting how, by providing access to scientific information systems and on‐line data, it promotes a higher level of collaboration among faculty and students and NASA scientists.