Dr. Gregory Kriehn (Electrical and Computer Engineering) worked with engineering faculty from California community colleges to build drones and rockets as part of a NASA Minority University Research and Education Project grant program at Lyles College of Engineering.

“We came together to develop STEM educational materials for the new Rising Data curriculum to help increase the pipeline of students transitioning from community colleges into four-year institutions,” said Dr. Kriehn.

Four educational institutions across the nation, including Fresno State, were selected by NASA to receive up to $250,000 per year over a three year period to expand science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in community colleges.

The completed drones were tested in a field at Clovis Community College and the model rockets capable of flying about 1,000 feet above ground level were launched at Tripoli Central California in Helm. Each drone and rocket carried scientific payloads that analyzed data taken during flight. While some had minor glitches, they all had successful flights.

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