IAF Excellence in 3G Diversity Award 2023 recipients (Category B)

L'SPACE NASA Proposal Writing and Evaluation Experience (NPWEE) Project

“For recruiting and preparing a multigenerational and diverse space sector workforce while innovating over 100 new technologies”

The L'SPACE NASA Proposal Writing and Evaluation Experience (NPWEE) started in 2019 as an opportunity for high value engagement between next generation space entrepreneurs, NASA and the larger space sector. The project is a team-based 12-week virtual course that teaches the principles to identify aerospace technology needs and solutions, how to write selectable competitive proposals, and bring awareness of opportunities within the space sector. The course serves as a successful model for both outstanding and sustained contributions to foster “3G” Diversity within the space sector:

Geography: as of 2023, the NPWEE class has reached over 3,000 students from 563 US colleges and universities, including 189 small community colleges and 224 minority serving institutions, large cities, rural areas, and international students representing dozens of nations.

Gender: recognizing a traditional gender gap within the aerospace community, NPWEE has intentionally engaged and brought in female Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) students and introduced them to opportunities within the space sector. The NPWEE project has achieved 44% female participation.

Generation: three generations are engaged in the project; undergraduate students are matched with early career professionals and each team is also required to engage with senior space sector subject matter experts (SME).

In addition, NPWEE has again achieved sustained and unprecedented results of racial representation with thousands of students completing the course, the alumni are 27% Caucasian, 28% Asian and more than 40% Black, African American, Hispanic, Pacific Islander and Indigenous Americans.

Finally, economically diverse participation is granted by the gratuity of the NPWEE classes.