News

NASA Taps Visual Effects & Computer Animation Students - (1/24/2007)  

Miami, FL - When NASA was looking for new creative ideas to attract a younger audience to its space agency, it launched the NASA Means Business Student Competition through its Texas Space Grant Consortium. Computer Animation and Visual Effects & Motion Graphics students at Miami International University of Art & Design (MIU) accepted the challenge and created a story board as an entry into the competition. The handpicked group of students was recently selected one out of seven finalists by representatives from the grant program and NASA's International Space Station Program.

The NASA Means Business Student Competition attracts non-engineering university students to the agency by harnessing the creative talents of art and design students across the country. NASA intends to use its Moon/Mars Exploration program to convince middle and high school students to study math and science.

The ambitious group of Miami International University students will now proceed to the final round of competition where they will spend the next few months producing the actual video and developing an educational promotion plan known as S.T.E.M. (Science Technology Engineering & Mathematics). Prizes include a cash award of $1,000 and an invitation and travel expense award to "behind-the-scenes" visits at both the Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX and the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, FL. In addition, the grand prize recipients will be invited to present their work to senior officials at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The team from MIU consists of: Carlos Lopez, Visual Effects & Motion Graphics student and team leader, Jorge Lega, Alain Lores, and storyboard artist Juan Pablo "PJ" Sans. The students are supervised by instructor Eli Locardi.

"We were truly impressed by the students' desire to succeed in this project," says Tom Joule, Department Chair of Computer Animation, Web Design & Interactive Media, and Visual Effects & Motion Graphics, "They have a lot of work a head, but these guys have really made us proud".