The SPRC consists of the primary technical conference, with workshops on January 16 and 17.
Accepting Workshop Applications until December 18, 2008
Energy & Petroleum SIG Workshops:
Why Alternative Energy?
Global warming, energy independence, oil shortages . . . these are topics that concern many today. Fortunately, more and more we are looking to alternative energy sources to solve many of the worldwide problems brought upon by our increased reliance on petroleum based products. Even though there are limitless sources of energy that surround us, the toughest challenge for humankind will be to change traditional ideology and habit in order to focus on finding ways to harness this power. The end goal will be technological advances as well as more stable economic growth and prosperity.
This presentation will focus on understanding the natural, social and political issues that have resulted in a recent increased interest in alternative energy. It will discuss promising alternatives that include renewable energies (hydroelectric, solar, wind) as well as clean coal, bio-fuels, and nuclear power. Also, the rationale behind creating economic and technological infrastructure that supports this new industry in our society as well the current reaction from some major oil companies will be discussed.
Lockheed Martin Workshops:
Engineering in Action
This presentation will cover the Lockheed Martin lines of business, product evolution, overall operations, and will also touch on current Lockheed Martin research related activities.
Lockheed Martin: F35 Joint Strike Fighter: High Performance SW Development
The F35 Joint Strike Fighter is the next generation multi-role fighter aircraft. In the development of this complex and dynamic aircraft, there exists an overall emphasis on the team, process, customer, and resolution of technical challenges.
NSBE-Preneur Workshops
Business Incubators
Trisha Frederick
Bring your business plan (complete document or work in progress) and a notebook. This workshop will include business professionals who will conduct one-on-one counseling sessions with individuals who are looking to overcome any obstacles to starting/growing their business.
Elements of Entrepreneurship & Small Business Operation
Rodney Derbigny, The Derbigny Group
What does it take to become a successful entrepreneur / business owner? How do you start a business? What are the different forms of businesses and the concerns associated with each? Why are proper financial planning and personal credit essential to starting and operating a successful business? How do you attract and retain the proper clients? This seminar will provide an overview and direction to those seeking to fulfill their dreams of owning a business.
Secrets to Developing a Minority-Owned Business
Rodney Derbigny, Francisco Ramirez, Pete Jordan, Herbert Johnson, Helen Callier
Owning a business is an obtainable goal for today's young African-American professional. It has been proven that with the right planning and resources, you can reach your goals of running a successful business. Minority owned businesses in the areas of finance, law, and engineering are greatly underrepresented. NSBE-Preneur presents this panel of successful minority business owners to show you how you can use your skills for the greater good of society. Come and participate in this discussion about what it would really take for you to own your professional business firm.
Strategies for Effectively Marketing Your Business
Francisco Ramirez, Houston Business Minority Council
Every business begins with a sale. Being able to effectively communicate about your business can greatly effect your bottom line! This workshop will teach you the following: 1) How to develop your brand, 2) Effective networking strategies, 3) How to surpass the needs of your client, 4) Marketing and selling to government entities, 5) How to obtain federal, state, and local certifications...and more...
Blue Ocean Strategies
Bernard Hurtault
New business owners typically do not approach their businesses as strategically as they should. There is not enough thought given to, “what will make me successful in this business vs. all others in the same industry? What makes me a unique value proposition to customers?”
The customary approach is simply to join the fray and hope that by competing on price or other typical attributes somehow the business will be able to carve out a niche and survive. What this leads to however, is a “red ocean” created by the “blood spilled by many businesses competing in the same way to win the same customers. Price pressure eventually reduces viability for all industry players.
It does not have to be that way however. New business owners must be able to identify/ and create “blue ocean” of new uncontested market space. By looking critically at what the industry simply accepts as its normal constraints and “market”, innovative business owners will realize that new value can be created by breaking with industry norms and redefining how to create value for customers. By looking across time, across substitutable products, across risk levels, across delivery mediums, etc new businesses can achieve significant success in the newly created blue oceans of opportunity. This workshop aims to discuss the concept and techniques of blue ocean strategies.
Space SIG:
Lunar Solar Power
The "father of lunar solar power", Dr. Criswell has long advocated the use of solar power from the Moon to meet the energy needs of Earth. He will explain the basis of his theory and show how the Moon provides a more viable solution than other terrestrial or space-based energy sources
Macho Mengi “Many Eyes” Ground Telescope
Macho Mengi (Swahili for "Many Eyes") is an engineering research project that will usher the space telescope project of NSBESAT 1 into it's next phase, NSBESAT 2 (a formation of space telescopes that work together as a single large space telescope). The NSBE Houston Space Chapter will design and build a small ground-based version to be used as a “proof of concept” and training tool. By building and operating our own interferometric telescope, NSBE members will gain the necessary experience and become subject matter experts to contribute with the development of NSBESAT 2
MDRS Teleoperations Workstation Project
The Space SIG is planning a 14-day expedition to the Mars Desert Research Station in Utah, simulating a mission to the planet Mars. In preparation, the SIG is developing a manifest of scientific experiments and engineering upgrades to the simulated Mars habitat. One such activity involves developing and installing a workstation at the habitat that can be used to remotely control a variety of support robots on the Mars surface. This interactive design session will develop content to support a proposal for this MDRS activity
What to Do With the Moon When We’re Done with the Moon
NASA will return to the Moon in 2019 and will build an Outpost capable of supporting four crew for 180 days at a time. A continuous presence of Astronauts on the Moon will enable us to tap into discoveries made in the Apollo program and build expertise living on another world. After that, many assume NASA will set its sights on Mars. But what is to be done with the Moon? What roles might the federal government, other governments, corporations, and private citizens play? How might the Moon play a role in Mars exploration? The NSBE Space SIG believes the Moon is important to the future of humanity. This is the core of NSBE’s Project Arusha, a design project exploring this destiny with a specific vision for the Moon’s future. This presentation will discuss fundamental assumptions of the Space SIG related to Project Arusha’s proposed utilization of the Moon
Why Space Must Be a National Priority
President-Elect Barack Obama has endorsed NASA's plans to return to the Moon, but given that the country is in recession, many are questioning whether there should be a space program at all. However, it may well be that this recession is precisely why space must be a priority for the survival of the United States. This session will examine reasons why a Lunar program is important to the nation and how it can help address current problem areas such as energy, the economy, and national security
Aerospace Systems Conference Meetings I-IV
The 2010 NSBE Aerospace Systems Conference will conduct its first in-person planning meeting as part of the 2009 Strategic Planning and Research Conference.
The opening session of the Aerospace Systems Conference Planning Meeting will include an icebreaker, motivational guest speaker, and status reports from the Events Director, Events Subcommittee members, and Operations Subcommittee members
The second session of the Aerospace Systems Conference Planning Meeting will focus on conference recruiting. Status reports will be provided by the Treasurer and members of the Recruiting Subcommittee. Previews of conference marketing material will also be available at this session. Region 5-AE members are encouraged to join this subcommittee
The third session of the Aerospace Systems Conference Planning Meeting will include status reports from the Chair, Vice Chair, Operations Chair, Recruiting Chair, Technical Program Chair, and members of the Technical Program and Recruiting Subcommittees. Aerospace industry professionals (and other interested parties) are encouraged to attend this session to learn about plans for the 2010 Aerospace Systems Conference
The fourth session of the Aerospace Systems Conference Planning Meeting will focus on lessons learned and forward focus. Planning team members will provide an evaluation of their analogue components of SPRC and personal lessons learned to apply to Aerospace Systems Conference planning. Any attending sponsors, advisory committee members, national board members, or world headquarters staff will also be permitted to provide feedback at this time. An open forum will allow for any inputs not otherwise captured. Aerospace industry professionals (and other interested parties) are encouraged to attend this session to learn about plans for the 2010 Aerospace Systems Conference.
WISE SIG:
Great Women of Science: Women Who Changed the World
This workshop was designed to focus on the intriguing feminine leaders and influencers of the scientific world. You will explore the history of a select group of people, who have helped to form the technological foundation of modern life.
You’ll discover fascinating information lost in time. For example, one of Egypt’s greatest rulers, the female pharaoh Hatshepsut, raised magnificent obelisks at the Temple of Karnak and built what Professor Bob Brier, an Egyptologist and Professor of Philosophy, calls " the most beautiful temple in all of Egypt," Deir el-Bahri. Evidence of Hatshepsut’s existence was systematically erased after her death; Egyptians simply did not want to acknowledge that a woman had been king.
Using an interactive forum, you will learn about the accomplishments of the famous and even some infamous scientists and technologists. At the end of the session you will have a sense that you personally know the women who shaped the world as we know it.
WISE: Who We Are, What We Do
This will be an informative workshop telling membership who WISE is, how WISE intends to impact the organization and community as well as welcome new members to join the SIG.
