NASA starts U.S-Arab student program

WASHINGTON, Dec. 7 (UPI) -- NASA and the Arab Youth Venture Foundation in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, say they've formed a program to allow some UAE students to work on NASA missions.

The program will provide three to 12 UAE engineering students each year the opportunity to work with U.S. students, scientists, and engineers on NASA projects. Officials said the program's goal is to engage outstanding college students from the UAE in fields of science, technology, engineering and aerospace.

"The space program has a unique ability to inspire students to pursue excellence in disciplines that drive science and technology innovation," said Joyce Winterton, NASA's assistant administrator for education. "With this Space Act Agreement, NASA will engage outstanding students in the UAE to continue their development in the critical skills of science, technology, engineering and mathematics."

UAE students will join U.S. students in a research project administered by the Education Associates Program at NASA's Ames Research Center in Mountain View, Calif. Officials said the UAE student involvement will provide U.S. student participants with valuable experience and knowledge about working together with representatives from other countries.

Officials said they expect the first group of UAE Education Research Fellows in January. Corporations and government entities in the UAE will sponsor the foundation's activities in full, including costs related to student lodging, housing and transportation.