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About the Center:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Cooperative Science Center for Earth System Sciences and Remote Sensing Technologies (NOAA-CESSRST ) conducts research, educates, and trains a diverse group of students, early career scientists, and engineers, in NOAA-related science missions. The goal is to help create a diverse STEM workforce for NOAA and its contractors, Academia, Industries and the Private Sector. 

CREST supports NOAA’s mission “to understand and predict changes in Earth's environment and to conserve and manage coastal and marine resources to meet nation's economic, social, and environmental needs" by training a diverse group of successful students in disciplines that will augment NOAA’s future workforce and by leading successful research and development collaborations that will contribute to the improvement of NOAA’s products and services. 

Established in 2016 through a national competition, and funded by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA, “NOAA/EPP Grant # NA16SEC4810008"), NOAA-CREST is led by The City University of New York (CUNY) and brings together Hampton University, VA; University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez, PR; San Diego State University, CA; University of Maryland Baltimore County, MD; and University of Texas at El Paso, TX. CREST also incorporates a number of new industrial partners like STC, AER, Nobilis, SSAI, ERT, and IMSG.

Every CESSRST research and education project aligns with NOAA’s interests of environmental assessment, prediction and environmental stewardship. The research creates a framework to recruit and train undergraduate and graduate students, especially those from underrepresented communities, for professional opportunities. Students and faculty collaborate with the National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS), Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR), and Office of Satellite and Product Operations (OSPO). CREST members also collaborate with the National Weather Service (NWS), Office of Atmospheric Research (OAR), and National Ocean Services (NOS).

CESSRST presents a unique and unparalleled opportunity to educate and train large numbers of students in NOAA mission sciences, with a focus on remote sensing and Earth system science and technology. The consortium is led by CUNY-CCNY in partnership with other MSI/HSI/HBCU Colleges and Universities geographically distributed across the Nation, covering areas with high concentration of Under Represented Minority (URM) students, especially Hispanics, guaranteeing a very rich and diverse pipeline of students to be trained in NOAA related fields. The Consortium brings together world class research capabilities for remote sensing technology consisting of: exemplary faculty and research staff, the most advanced computational facilities, instrumentation for direct readout of satellite data and/or calibration validation, experience in state-of-the-art remote sensing technology development for satellite and surface-based remote sensing and in situ sensor systems. These capabilities drive an ambitious and research agenda for new applications of remote sensing and advancing the understanding of Earth System processes and improving predictions of weather and climate.

CREST MISSION

To educate, train and graduate a diverse and competent cadre of students and create a diverse and skilled workforce in NOAA related STEM disciplines through participation in state-of-the-art research that is aligned with NOAA’s Mission Goals in Climate Mitigation and Adaptation, Weather-Ready Nation, Healthy Oceans and Resilient Coastal Communities, and the recent NOAA’s Strategic Research Guidance Memorandum.

CREST VALUE STATEMENTS

• Create a robust center-wide science, social science and education framework that aligns with NOAA’s education and science strategic missions.
• Create a synergy between CESSRST and the University Strategic mission and core values.
• Create a climate of diversity, inclusion, and positive learning for students and early career scientists.
• Inspire leadership and create innovative and forward thinkers.
• Address attainment gaps and create strategies to address STEM diversity and job skill deficiency gaps.
• Create a world-class cadre of young, NOAA science competent scientists and engineers, especially students from underrepresented minority groups.

CREST GOALS & OBJECTIVES

The Overarching goals and objectives of CREST 2016-2021 are:

Goal: Conduct NOAA mission-aligned collaborative research

Objectives:

• Increase NOAA Collaboration and Engagement with NESDIS and other Line Offices
• Increase and create NERTO opportunities for all NOAA CREST graduate students
• Participate in CSS Cooperative Committee (CCC) Network

Goal: Recruit, train and graduate increased number of students in NOAA related STEM fields

Objectives:

• Create and implement Center-Wide Recruitment Plan
• Create and institutionalize Center-wide Core-Competency (CWCC) Framework
• Create and implement Center-Wide Social Science Framework
• Create and implement Professional Advancement and Career Engagement (PACE)
• Create summer Bridge Program to increase number of applications for NOAA UG scholarship opportunities

Goal: Increase/attain institutional capacity to sustain education and research

Objectives:

• Increase/leverage University and generate extramural resources to sustain CSC capacity to conduct research and education
• Create new Academic Programs and Curriculum in line with NOAA mission science
• Communicate CSC accomplishments and success stories
• Create best practices that are scalable and transferable