The NOAA Center in Atmospheric Sciences (NCAS) at Howard University

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the Department of Commerce established the NOAA Center for Atmospheric Sciences (NCAS), a Cooperative Science Center, in fall 2001 to support the development of quality education to students at minority serving institutions while meeting the prescribed goals of NOAA and the nation. NCAS was established to research some of the critical environmental conditions occurring nationally and globally, and to provide opportunities and programs for students to pursue careers in atmospheric, environmental, and oceanic sciences and remote sensing. A primary goal is to increase the number of highly qualified, well trained graduates in the fields of NOAA related atmospheric sciences. NCAS is led by Howard University, in collaboration with three partners - Jackson State University, the University of Texas at El Paso, and the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez. This presentation will highlight the activities and accomplishments in research, education, and outreach of NCAS over its first two years of existence. The primary benefactor of NCAS has been the Howard University Program in Atmospheric Sciences (HUPAS), a comprehensive graduate program in atmospheric sciences with core focus areas of atmospheric chemistry, atmospheric physics, and geophysical fluid dynamics.