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If you have not clicked on the “Technology” tab at the NASA Stennis Space Center website lately, you will find a new look there when you do. The Stennis Advanced Technology and Technology Transfer Branch recently unveiled a redesigned web presence designed to be informative, useful and easy to navigate.
The enhanced presence features a series of pages and links that highlight the technologies developed at the center and the work of the branch to share them.
“Our goal was to create a useful site for many types of users,” said Duane Armstrong, who leads the Stennis technology branch. “We believe the result will be of service to the general public who wants to learn more about Stennis, companies who might be interested in the technologies we have or interested in partnering with us on technology projects, leaders who are seeking information to promote Stennis and its value and many others.”
The home page features news, a looping slide show highlighting the branch and tabs to specific pages on technology development, technology transfer, technology-related events and contact information. Once accessed, the pages highlight a variety of areas.
One features a link to electronic copies of NASA’s annual Spinoff publication, which highlights dozens of technologies developed at the agency, then introduced for use into the larger world. For each year, links provide information for the individual Stennis-related technologies included in the annual publication. All Stennis-related technologies in Spinoff issues dating back to 1978, when the publication was introduced, are highlighted on the site.
Another page identifies the six areas of technology development work. A scroll-down menu offers examples of the work, as well as information on current technology projects and cooperative agreement policy. Additional pages provide information on Stennis technologies currently patented, licensing options, NASA’s Technology Transfer University efforts to bring real-world technologies into the classroom, scheduled technology events the Stennis office is attending and electronic links to request information or a copy of the NASA Spinoff publication.
The site also features a pair of maps tracking the reach of Stennis and its technology team. A map of Louisiana and Mississippi shows the areas where the annual NASA Spinoff publication has been distributed. By moving across the map, one can identify the number of distribution points in each parish and county. A second world map shows where Stennis has entered into patent licenses and software usage agreements.
Armstrong particularly emphasized the value of the Louisiana/Mississippi map. Each year, the technology team seeks to distribute copies of the NASA Spinoff publication as widely as possible. Key targets include schools (both public and independent), libraries and universities, sites where the distribution can reach multiple people.
“The map gives us a much better idea of where we’ve been able to reach, as well as where we have opportunities to reach,” Armstrong said. “Our goal is to help inform as many people as possible of the work NASA is doing in general and Stennis in particular. Also, by reaching out to schools, we can help educate students on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) studies and careers they can pursue.”
Although unveiled and active, work continues on the web pages, with new or enhanced features planned. In each instance, the design follows a simple approach to facilitate web visitors using either a full-sized computer or a tablet device.
“We did not want to overwhelm people with a lot of information but let them know what is happening and how they can contact us to learn more,” Armstrong said. “That’s the goal, to make it easy for people to learn about the work here at Stennis and to get whatever additional information they need.”
To access the technology home page, visit:
http://technology.ssc.nasa.gov/
For more information about Stennis Space Center, visit:
www.nasa.gov/centers/stennis/
