NASA has announced twelve million dollars in research awards for twelve institutions. Each can receive up to one million dollars through a programme called MSTAR. NASA shared the news on October 15. The awards support projects involving teachers, researchers and students. They are grants for institutions, not personal prizes of one million dollars for individual students.
The projects cover topics such as robots, batteries and tools for studying radiation. Students will have opportunities to develop practical skills while working on real research questions. The programme also aims to strengthen the institutions' research experience. That may help them compete for other funding later. NASA hopes the work will prepare more people for future science and technology jobs.