NASA DEVELOP’s Approach to Co-Production and Collaborative STEM Engagement

The NASA DEVELOP Program conducts 50-60 projects each year with the goal of bringing the benefits of NASA Earth science to local decision-making challenges. DEVELOP, part of NASA’s Applied Sciences’ Capacity Building Program, connects end users with students, recent graduates, and early and transitioning career professionals through 10-week rapid feasibility studies. These projects are a collaboration between NASA, DEVELOP office host locations (universities and other federal installations), project partners (federal agencies, state and local governments, non-profit and for-profit organizations, and international organizations), and the project teams who conduct them. The projects take place under the guidance of science advisors from NASA, academia, and partner organizations, and introduces communities to new applications of NASA Earth observations data with the desired outcome of informed decision-making. This presentation will highlight the DEVELOP model of co-production and programmatic collaboration, lessons learned in partnering, and evaluation activities that look at the impact of the program’s efforts.