NASA, Carnegie Mellon to team on new IT

NASA's Ames Research Center has signed an agreement to work with Carnegie Mellon University to tap the school's computer science expertise as it develops new information technologies at Ames' NASA Research Park in Silicon Valley.

Under the agreement signed Tuesday, Ames and Carnegie Mellon will work together to plan future IT research and development and education partnerships at the research park, according to a NASA statement.

Carnegie Mellon's computer science research will strengthen NASA's capability to address its long-term needs for smart robots and spacecraft, improved software development methods and large database analysis, the NASA release said.

Carnegie Mellon's Software Engineering Institute and university representatives involved with software engineering and computer security will participate in developments at the NASA Research Park, said Jim Morris, dean of Carnegie Mellon's School of Computer Science.

In addition, Carnegie Mellon plans to develop a graduate professional development program in information technology that could help alleviate the shortage of skilled IT workers experienced by NASA and industry in the Silicon Valley. The university offers a master's program in information technology and a master's of electronic commerce and plans to transfer portions to the research park, Morris said.

"Carnegie Mellon has more different and diverse computer technology education programs than any other university in the world," Morris said. "The goal is to have pieces of those in Silicon Valley."

The memorandum of understanding, signed by Ames director Henry McDonald and Carnegie Mellon president Jared Cohon, comes a few weeks after Ames signed an agreement with Lockheed Martin Space Operations to collaborate on work at the research park.

Ames' Research Center is NASA's Center of Excellence for Information Sciences and Technology. The center also has agreements with the University of California at Santa Cruz, Stanford University, San Jose State University and Foothill-DeAnza Community College.