Massachusetts Congressional Delegation Helps Secure $1 million in federal funding to create a virtual simulation lab at Framingham State University’s Christa McAuliffe Center – Framingham Source
FRAMINGHAM – Last week, the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation helped secure $1 million in federal funding to create a state-of-the-art simulation lab in the newly renovated Christa McAuliffe Center for Integrated Science Learning at Framingham State University.
The McAuliffe Simulation Lab (MSL) will feature high-resolution visualizations and virtual reality simulations that put STEM learning into real-world contexts. Its programming will complement learning experiences in the Center’s upgraded Challenger Learning Center and refurbished digital planetarium, and further establish the McAuliffe Center as a unique STEM learning hub in the Commonwealth.
The appeal of NASA’s space and earth science missions combined with the power of shared VR simulations provide a sound platform for students to deepen their STEM engagement.
“Learning becomes meaningful when STEM concepts are put into real-world contexts,” says McAuliffe Center Director Dr. Irene Porro. “VR simulations will allow students to experience high-risk work scenarios in a risk-free way, from exploring an off-shore wind farm to piloting a space shuttle, opening possibilities unimaginable to them before.”
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The McAuliffe Center held a grand reopening ceremony in January following a nearly $8 million renovation and revitalization project. The new simulation lab will further enhance what is already a one-of-its-kind interactive learning facility in Massachusetts, says FSU President Nancy S. Niemi.
“I invite anyone who has a passion for exploration and experiential learning to plan a visit to our campus and see this unique center, which continues to honor the legacy of our beloved alumna Christa McAuliffe, the first teacher in space,” says President Niemi. “On behalf of the entire FSU community, I wish to thank Senator Markey, Senator Warren, Congresswoman Clark and the entire Massachusetts Congressional Delegation for securing this important funding.”
The type of enhanced visualizations and simulations the McAuliffe Simulation Lab will offer increase STEM engagement, retention, and aspirations for all students, but especially for those traditionally underrepresented and those most underserved, according to Porro.
To fully engage Massachusetts’ culturally diverse audiences with NASA-unique STEM resources, the McAuliffe Center will apply cultural translation, transdisciplinary learning, and contextualization strategies to the design of learning experiences that feature digital resources produced, for example, by NASA’s Science Visualization Studio and Conceptual Image Laboratory.
The engagement tools and simulation capabilities made available through the MSL will also promote collaboration among Framingham State University, industry, K-16 education, workforce and economic development
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The McAuliffe Center funding was part of a $175 million packaged secured by the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation last week.
“Community and civic leaders across Massachusetts are dedicated to making the state a healthier, cleaner, safer, and more just place to live. I am proud, with my Congressional delegation partners, to bring important investments directly to municipalities and neighborhoods across Massachusetts,” said Senator Edward J. Markey. “These investments will improve our essential infrastructure, expand public transportation access, support the development of affordable housing, invest in clean drinking water, promote climate resiliency, and help build a more livable future.”
“I fought for these federal investments to help make a real difference in local communities across the Commonwealth,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren. “A new fire station in Quincy. Cleaner water in Gloucester. Better protection against climate change in New Bedford. This is important work alongside local leaders to improve basic infrastructure and lower costs for working families.”
“These investments will touch so many lives in our community,” said Congresswoman Katherine Clark, whose district includes FSU. “This federal funding will help clean our air and water, enable the construction of new community gathering spaces, and advance our work of building climate readiness and resiliency. I want to thank my partners in local and state government for helping me identify these critical priorities. This is how our elected leaders should operate: partnering together to deliver for families back home.”
To learn more about Framingham State University’s McAuliffe Center, visit https://cm-center.org/.
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FSU Flight Simulator Interns at the McAuliffe Center
Massachusetts families are stuck in the Middle East amid the war in Iran, and Democratic Sen. Ed Markey says the State Department needs to do more to get them home.
The Trump administration is telling Americans to leave the region, and families would love to, but they haven’t been able to get out.
Stacey Schuhwerk of Hingham has been sheltering in place in a Doha hotel since Saturday.
“We hear the missiles outside,” she said. “We can see them.”
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The Hingham mother and her son are among nearly 1,600 Americans trapped in the Middle East with no way to get home.
“Airspace is shut down. There’s no planes,” said Schuhwerk. “There’s no way to leave.”
Flights between Boston and the Middle East are canceled or delayed as travelers express anxiety over the conflict.
At first, U.S. officials told people to shelter in place and register with the State Department — something Schuhwerk did days ago.
“There’s no help there. The last time we called was 20 minutes ago, and they continue to say that ‘We don’t know anything about any plans for government help to get people out,’” she said.
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Embassies and consulates across the region — including the U.S. Embassy in Israel — have now suspended services, saying they simply can’t get Americans out.
“They did not have a plan to conduct this war, and they clearly did not have a plan as to how to evacuate innocent families,” Markey said.
The senator says his office is hearing from Massachusetts families, and he’s pressuring the Trump administration to come up with an evacuation plan fast.
“We are going to apply that pressure on the State Department until every American who wants to leave that region is out,” he said.
Back in Doha, Schuhwerk keeps watching the war outside her window.
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“The talk here is ‘How much defensive ammunition’s left?’ Good question, you know, because the missiles aren’t stopping,” she said. “So how long are we going to be safe here?”
With no clear end to this conflict, she’s worried she could be stuck there for weeks.
Happy Tuesday! While today started off dry, we’re already looking at snow out there across the area. While this event will primarily stay as rain on the Cape and islands, it will be an icy mix of snow, ice and rain for the rest of us.
The rain/snow line will continue to advance from the south to the north as the evening progresses. Before the changeover, there will be a quick coating to 2 inches for most of our area.
The threshold between the snow and rain will feature sleet and freezing rain, leading to that icing.
For the rest of the night, there will primarily be rain with continued pockets of freezing rain, leading to increasing spotty ice accretion. Be extremely careful on roads, especially since switching between rain and freezing rain can wash off any road salt.
The rain and freezing rain will exit by 6 a.m. Wednesday, but temperatures will still be close to freezing during the morning commute, so watch out for some spotty black ice.
The rest of Wednesday will be really nice! Highs will warm up to the mid 50s with the help of ample sun.
Thursday we start off in the mid 20s and top off in the mid 40s. We’ll be partly sunny with another chance for some wintry weather Thursday night. This primarily looks like some rain and freezing rain, rather than the triple threat with snow too. We’ll keep an eye on that for you.
That will continue into Friday morning. The rest of Friday: cloudy with a chance for a spot shower and highs cooler again in the upper 30s. Saturday will be dry, breezy and cloudy but gorgeous near 50 degrees! There’s a chance for some rain showers Saturday night. Don’t forget to set your clocks forward an hour before you to go bed!
Sunday we start the day mild in the 40s and make it all the way into the upper 50s with more sun. Monday and Tuesday both look bright and in the 60s! Stay tuned.
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