Coe College has received a grant from NASA to purchase advanced computing technology for STEM research, including modeling a region of Mars’ ionosphere. (Photo by NASA; ESA; the Hubble Heritage Team, STScI/AURA; J. Bell. ASU; and M. Wolff, Space Science Institute on background via Canva)
Coe College will use a $225,000 grant from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or NASA, to advance its computing technology for research in astrophysics and other sciences.
According to a news release, the Cedar Rapids college will purchase a “high-performance computing cluster” that will allow researchers across different disciplines, including plasma physics and computational therapy, to conduct complicated simulations and analyze data.
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One project the new system will aid in is modeling a certain region of Mars’ atmosphere, called its ionosphere, in order to create the best glass for spacecraft heading to the planet.
“This NASA grant is a testament to Coe’s commitment to cutting-edge education and research,” said grant co-lead and physics professor Mario Affatigato in the release. “The new computing resources will significantly enhance our capabilities in physics, data analytics and engineering, providing our students and faculty with tools to excel.”