Minority Students Change the World with NASA Technology

NASA is calling on the bright minds of tomorrow to join its groundbreaking competition, the Minority University Research and Education Project (MUREP) Innovation and Tech Transfer Idea Competition (MITTIC). Aimed at fostering innovation and creativity, MITTIC invites students from all academic backgrounds to apply their knowledge and skills in a unique way—by using NASA's intellectual property to solve real-world problems. 

The “Space to Pitch” competition is held at Johnson Space Center every spring and fall and serves as an opportunity for students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Serving Institutions to showcase their innovative ideas and entrepreneurial spirit, all while changing the world for the better by developing game-changing technology. 

“MITTIC is designed to provide an opportunity for the brightest students and faculty from the nation’s Minority Serving Institutions to use their diverse skill set and perspective to solve real world problems,” said Misti Moore, the NASA MITTIC Manager. 

“It is a very competitive venture, but it's a beneficial experience for everyone whether they win or not,” said Dustin Kinnison, the MITTIC education project manager who coordinates and implements competition activities. 

The winners of the competition receive not only a monetary prize of up to $20,000 to fund their business idea but also a chance to intern at NASA. All participants receive professional coaching, a private tour of the agency’s facilities, and the opportunity to network with industry experts. Once contenders are onsite at Johnson, subject matter experts speak with students about the Artemis missions and how they, as part of the Artemis Generation, can get involved in the agency’s exciting work.  

In addition to monetary awards, the winner of each competition also earns a visit to NASA’s Ames Research Center for an immersion experience that includes networking and company tours in California’s Silicon Valley.  

“MITTIC provides the opportunity for NASA to recruit the best minds outside of STEM by engaging different majors who are now seeing a place for themselves at NASA that they didn’t even know existed before,” said Moore. “The excitement for NASA is there; we just need to let students know that NASA is for everyone.”  

In fall 2023, a panel of NASA and industry business experts declared University of Houston-Clear Lake the winners of the “Space to Pitch” competition. Their prototype, GalvaniGauze, was pitched as a medical fabric that heals wounds faster, improving the quality of life of all citizens. Using polyvinylidene fluoride and NASA’s Electrospinning Apparatus, the fabric will address wound care for post-op surgeries, military servicemembers, astronaut space exploration, and the public. 

Participants in MITTIC have described the competition as life-changing, offering them not just the tools to turn an idea into a solution but also the confidence to believe in their ability to start successful businesses and make meaningful contributions to society. 

“You can just tell the thought and effort the students put into their ideas,” Olivia Stiver, a MITTIC project coordinator who recruits at universities to get students involved with MITTIC. “The teams also cheer each other on during the competition. It was so inspiring to see that camaraderie that the students built themselves.”  

NASA collaborates with industry leaders and innovators to support as MITTIC judges. Those who volunteer to be a panelist for MITTIC all have a unique perspective from their related fields to provide a full picture of a proposed product’s viability. “Participating as a judge is an amazing experience to gain insights about the business side of projects and learn alongside the students,” said Jason Foster, a technology transfer engineer and licensing specialist at Jacobs who served as a MITTIC judge in fall 2023.   

The competition is a testament to the agency’s commitment to inclusivity, breaking the mold by encouraging participation from students of all backgrounds with majors across the board from law, business, communications, graphic design to psychology. The message is clear: the future of space exploration begins with the diverse talents and creative minds of today's students. 

MITTIC is now accepting proposals for the Spring 2024 competition until March 13, 2024. Stay tuned for the release of future MITTIC competitions in Fall 2024 and Spring 2025!

Check out the MITTIC website for more information.