USRA Welcomes Two New Members: Howard University and The Chinese University of Hong Kong

The Universities Space Research Association (USRA) is extremely proud to welcome two new members - Howard University and The Chinese University of Hong Kong - to its distinguished group of member universities. The addition of these outstanding institutions, which brings the number of USRA member universities to 104, expands USRA's already significant reach into the space science university and research communities and enhances the association's ability to not only carry its 40-year tradition of excellence in space and earth sciences into the future but also to build on that tradition and expand its abilities to meet future challenges

Founded in 1963, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) is a research-based, comprehensive university with eight Faculties - Arts, Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Law, Medicine, Science and Social Science. Established with a mission to "combine tradition with modernity and to bring together China and the West", the university today has more than 5,800 staff members and more than 20,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students from over 40 countries and regions. CUHK's vibrant research centers work in close collaboration with universities and research institutions both inside and outside of China and have an impressive track record of bringing research products to market for practical use through technology transfer and spin-off companies. Earth science is one of five CUHK major strategic thrusts.

Founded in 1866, Howard University (Howard) is one of only 48 US private, Doctoral/Research-Extensive universities and one of the nation's premier Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Howard comprises 12 schools and colleges with 10,500 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees in more than 120 areas of study. The University attracts the nation's top students and produces more on-campus African-American Ph.D.s than any other university in the world. Howard supports numerous space science research projects and the involvement of science and engineering faculty in space science research programs has led to numerous well-cited publications and informative presentations at national forums and international gatherings. The university also has several well-funded research centers of excellence that perform cutting-edge research in science, technology, engineering and mathematics - including atmospheric and space-related sciences.

'We are very pleased to welcome these two distinguished universities to membership in USRA,' said USRA President and CEO, Dr. Frederick A. Tarantino. 'As USRA moves forward we recognize that it is vital to the future of space science research and exploration that we forge bonds with the best and brightest not only in our own nation but in the international science community as well. The addition of Howard University and The Chinese University of Hong Kong to the USRA family is a strong step in that forward direction.'

The Universities Space Research Association, established in 1969 by the National Academy of Sciences, is a private, nonprofit consortium of 104 universities offering advanced degrees in space- and aeronautics-related disciplines. USRA's mission is to conduct leading-edge research, develop innovative technologies, promote education and policy across the breadth of space science, and operate premier science and technology facilities by involving universities, private industry and government.