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Program Overview |
Established in 1923, the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) serves the Department of the Navy and the nation through its ongoing scientific research, technology, and advanced development. NRL's Mississippi detachment at Stennis Space Center (NRL-SSC) focuses research in three primary areas: oceanography, marine geosciences, and acoustics. NRL-SSC promotes science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education through MathCounts, FIRST Robotics, FIRST LEGO League, National Ocean Sciences Bowl, classroom presentations, local and regional science fairs and other community involvement. |
Research Physicist
Dr. Joe Calantoni
joec@nrlssc.navy.mil
| Public Affairs
Shannon Breland
sbreland@nrlssc.navy.mil |
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Community Snapshot |
Stennis Space Center (SSC) was established in the 1960s to test rocket engines for NASA. Because the engines were so loud, thousands of acres of land were acquired by the government to buffer the sound from local residents. NASA still tests rocket engines at SSC, but over the years more agencies have established their centers at the unique federal city. The Navy has become SSC's largest employer, overseeing approximately 2,000 civilian and military personnel. More oceanographers work at SSC than any other place in the world. NRL-SSC supports public and private schools in the surrounding parishes and counties, including St. Tammany and Jefferson parishes in Louisiana and Hancock, Harrison, and Pearl River counties in Mississippi.
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Outreach Activities |
A NASA series of summer sessions held at Stennis Space Center for ages 7-15 that showcase government science, technology, and engineering through hands-on learning.
AstroCamp/NASA-SSC
A free state-of-the-art science center highlighting science and technology developed and explored by Navy, NASA, and others at Stennis Space Center.
INFINITY Science Center
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Photos |
View images
from our most recent event held. (Click thumbnails to view)
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Employee Accolades |
Division Wins Navy Award for Educational Outreach
NUWC Division Newport has been selected as the Navy’s Mid-Atlantic Region winner of the Navy Community Service Award in the Personal Excellence Partnership Flagship, Large Shore category for its Educational Outreach Program. Navy Region Mid-Atlantic is the parent command for all Navy installations from North Carolina to Maine (less Naval District Washington).
Personal Excellence Partnership (PEP) is one of five “Flagships” that comprise the Navy’s Community Service program. PEP recognizes the best educational partnership program between a Navy command and school or youth service organization. As the Mid-Atlantic award winner, Division Newport will represent the region in the Navy-wide competition.
On Oct. 16, 2009, Capt. Michael Byman and Division Technical Director Dr. Paul Lefebvre held a ceremony to recognize and thank volunteers from the division who have supported the division’s educational outreach programs.
“This award marks the second time in three years that NUWC Division Newport’s Educational Outreach Program has garnered this prestigious Navy honor,” said Byman. “In the past year, Division Newport’s innovative Mathematics and Science Educational Outreach Program reached over 4,000 students in the local community. Hopefully, 10 to 20 years from now it will pay real dividends as we get more youngsters into science and engineering to keep our country competitive.”
The division currently partners with four local school districts in Newport, South Kingstown, and Providence, R.I.; and New Bedford, Mass. A variety of technical presentations, interactive demonstrations, and hands-on activities appropriate to the age group (elementary through high school) are offered by employee volunteers in these districts.
“Reaching children early is the core goal of the outreach plan, demonstrating real-world applications of math and science,” said Lefebvre. “Ultimately, it helps them visualize a technical or scientific career.”
“This award selection honors the efforts of nearly 200 people—a wonderful group of dedicated volunteers who have made our program successful,” said Candie Desjardins, educational outreach program coordinator. “In fact, in Newport elementary schools the word is out about how great our program is and we now have had to quadruple the size of it.”
Lefebvre commented that he receives a lot of positive feedback from the schools that reflects on the great job Desjardins and the volunteers have done. The number of students applying to these programs is increasing significantly.
“I encourage our current volunteers to talk to their coworkers about volunteering,” said Lefebvre.
—John Woodhouse, Public Affairs Office, with Jane Tracy
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