SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA CO. — The University of Scranton has received a grant of nearly $5.5 million from NASA to spearhead a nationwide initiative aimed at enhancing public understanding of space science. The funding, totaling $5,495,781, is part of NASA’s Science Activation program and will support the project for the next five years, concluding in 2031.
Nathaniel Frissell, an associate professor of physics and engineering at the university, will lead the initiative titled “Discovering the SPARC: Space Physics Through Amateur Radio Connections.” Frissell emphasized the competitive nature of the grant, describing it as a significant recognition of the university’s role in the field of space weather. “SciAct is a premier program in which NASA gives its science back to the very people who fund this work — the American people,” he stated.
A central feature of the project will include the establishment of interactive “Discovery Stations” at various public locations across the country. These stations will provide visitors with access to real-time space weather data and insights into how solar activity impacts terrestrial radio communications.
Space weather encompasses conditions in space influenced by solar activity, such as solar flares and disturbances that can disrupt radio signals, GPS, and satellite communications. The grant will also facilitate the deployment of approximately 85 Citizen Science Space Weather Monitors throughout the United States. These monitors will be utilized to track radio signals and atmospheric conditions in Earth’s ionosphere, a key area for long-distance radio communications.
The data collected from these monitors will not only contribute to scientific research but also afford students and amateur radio enthusiasts the chance to engage in real-world scientific discovery. Additionally, teachers will receive educational resources developed in collaboration with the American Radio Relay League’s Teachers Institute, linking classroom instruction with live NASA data.
The University of Scranton plans to collaborate with multiple notable institutions, including MIT Haystack Observatory, the Space Science Institute, the University of Alabama, and the New Jersey Institute of Technology. Frissell believes the project positions the university as a national leader in making space science more accessible.
“This award gives us a unique opportunity to partner with NASA and other SciAct grantees in a way that will magnify our ability to have a meaningful impact,” Frissell said. Organizers aim to create a sustainable network of educators, amateur radio operators, and citizen scientists to explore space weather beyond the duration of the NASA funding.
