1. Alabama A&M University Space Physics Group Amy Winebarger, Marius Schamschula, Ravi Lal, AAMU Introduction In 2000, Alabama A&M University (AAMU), a historically black university, began a space physics concentration in the physics department. Through the support of NSF CISM and NASA MUCERPI funds, and the collaborative effort of many space physicists, AAMU has developed a B.S. and M.S. course curriculum in space physics, graduated 6 students with Bachelor’s and 2 with Master’s concentration in space science, and hired two tenure track space physics faculty. AAMU is developing into a vibrant center of space physics research as well as a conduit to introduce space physics to underrepresented minority students. We recognize that the success of the space physics group at AAMU depends strongly on the faculty and their ability to attract and support students. The group currently consists of three space physics tenure track faculty and several other faculty, research faculty, and adjunct faculty that provide oversight, guidance, and support. Dr. Amy Winebarger, Assistant Professor, joined the space physics group in January 2006. The focus of her work is to constrain the solar coronal heating mechanism through data analysis and modeling. She also studies CME initiation and solar flares. Dr. T.X. Zhang, Assistant Professor, joined the physics department in Fall 2005. His interests include theoretical model development, data analyses, numerical modeling, and fluid/particle simulations of solar-terrestrial and astrophysical plasma processes. Dr. Arjun Tan, Professor, studies planetary and space physics, specifically satellite fragmentation and orbital debris. Dr. Marius Schamschula, Assistant Professor, has his Ph.D. in optics but contributes his expertise of computational physics and numerical analysis to the space physics group. Dr. Ravi Lal, Professor and University Eminent Scholar, is an integral part in development of the space physics group at AAMU. He is the PI for the NSF/CISM project at AAMU. Other Important Community Members: Dr. Slava Liatsky, AAMU Research Faculty Dr. Vinod Bhatnagar, AAMU Research Faculty Dr. David Hathaway, MSFC, Adjunct Faculty and president of the advisory board Progress on 2006-2007 Institutional Goals Add a Ph.D. concentration in space science. In 2006, Dean of Graduate Studies allowed Physics Department to accept Ph.D. students with a concentration in space science. Course curriculum must still be approved by AAMU faculty and Alabama Committee on Higher Education. Recruit 3 new graduate students In Fall 2006, two new Ph.D. students were admitted to the program. An additional graduate student has been admitted for Fall 2007. ARW and graduate students visited 3 HBCUs and the 2007 NSBP conference to recruit for the space science option. Develop a computer lab specifically for space science research ARW received an NSF Career grant in January 2007 with funds earmarked for space science computer lab. The computer lab will have six workstations and one server and will open in June, 2007. Become a more integral part of the larger solar and space physics community. ARW, TXZ, two graduate students and one undergraduate student attended AAS meeting in May 2007. One Ph.D. student works at the NSSTC in Huntsville with David Hathaway. ARW and Ph.D. student work closely with CISM institution SAIC to improve their MHD model for coronal heating. An undergraduate student will attend a Space Science REU program. Add new courses to attract and inform students on space science Graduate Space Plasma and Astrophysics were offered in 2006-2007 academic year. Undergraduate astrophysics will be offered in Fall 2007. Alabama A&M Faculty AAMU-CISM Activities AAMU research and education incorporates and compliments CISM models. Research interactions between AAMU faculty and students with multiple CISM institutions. AAMU students attend CISM Summer School and form relationships with researchers at CISM institutions. AAMU students and faculty attend CISM seminars and research discussions via Access Grid. AAMU hosts Space Weather Weekend. CISM collegial support for AAMU graduate space science program. Institutional Goals for 2007-2008 Complete adding Ph.D. concentration in space science. Submit paper work to Alabama Committee on Higher Education. Recruit additional graduate students, obtain additional graduate student funding We currently have funding for 1 additional Ph.D. student. We have proposed for funding for 2 more students. Continue becoming a more integral part of the larger solar and space physics community. Continue to collaborate with CISM and other institutions to give students additional research and academic opportunities. Add new courses to attract and inform students of space science We will investigate adding new courses including a graduate computational physics course and an undergraduate non-major astronomy course. B.S.M.S.Ph.D. Enrolled5 (5) (2) 0 (0) (0)2 (0) (2) Conferred6 (5) (2)2 (1) (2) Student Participation Below are the number of students enrolled in our space science concentration and the number of degrees conferred since its conception as of May 2007. The format is: Total Number (Number of African Americans) (Number of Females) All of the students that have earned B.S. degrees have or will attend graduate school in physics. Of the two students that have earned M.S. degrees, one has returned to pursue her Ph.D. and one is working at the Center for Astrophysics in their Solar Physics Group. Undergraduate and graduate students from AAMU have presented the results of their research at local and national conferences. In February, 2007, five space science students attended the National Society of Black Physicists meeting in Boston, MA. Samaiyah Farid gave a talk on her M.S. thesis work. On March 30, 2007, Alabama A&M University hosted a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Day. Three CISM space science students participated: Idatonye (Julius) Allison, a junior, Samaiyah Farid, a M.S. student, and Fana Mulu, a Ph.D. student. Julius Allison's poster, titled "The Importance of Geometry in Impulsively Heated Loops," placed first in the Natural Science - Undergraduate category. Fana Mulu's poster, titled "A Statistical Study of Solar Cycle Effects on the 27-Day Variation of Geomagnetic Activity," and Samaiyah's Farid's poster, titled "Investigating Solar Plumes Observed During the March 2006 Solar Eclipse," tied for second place in the Natural Science - Graduate category. Student Research Julius Allison (junior), Fana Mulu (Ph.D. student), Richard Whetstone (senior), April Broaden (junior), and Samaiyah Farid (M.S. student) prepare to explore Boston during the NSBP meeting. Fana Mulu, Julius Allison, and Samaiyah Farid display their winning certificates in front of their STEM Day posters.