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CAST and the Upward Bound Program

 

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UPWARD BOUND ACADEMY

The overall objectives of the Upward Bound summer research experience include: 1) developing an understanding of and participating in the process of scientific inquiry; 2) learning how to accurately measure and document empirical data; 3) learning how to gather, organize, and present data in a systematic way; and 4) becoming aware of the characteristics and preparation necessary to become a professional scientist.

CAST collaborated with the University's Upward Bound Academy for Mathematics and Sciences to host high school students  for an intensive hands-on research experience in 2005. During this project junior high school student Luis Malfavon participated for the third summer in the Upward Bound project. He demonstrated strong interest and capability in computing and geomatics-related fields.  Luis worked with Dr. Jason Tullis on a remote sensing project looking at Mars depressions.  He gained experience with GIS and image processing software and worked with Mars Orbital Camera (MOC) imagery which is collected using the Mars Global Surveyor satellite.

 3D Fayetteville model
 

In 2006 high school and college students in the CRATE and CADIS program teamed up with the Upward Bound Math/Science Program and created a 3D interactive map of the City of Fayetteville's master plan area. The project involved the creation of 1,500 sugar cube buildings with 100 of the buildings textured and with some architectural detail. A team of 10 students under the direction of CAST staff was recognized by Google TM and several articles were published about the project in local and national media.

Through summer research experiences students gain significant perspective on the skills, education, and discipline necessary to become successful in planetary remote-sensing work includint project management skills.  CAST looks forward to hosting more Upward Bound students with geomatics-related interests in coming years.