NASA Co-ops with National Science Foundation on STEM Initiative NASA signed a memorandum of understanding this week with the National Science Foundation (NSF) “to collaborate on an initiative to open new avenues to engineering careers for communities underserved and underrepresented in STEM [science technology, engineering, and math].” The collaboration will tap Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) in recruiting and educating the engineers it cites as “essential to America’s goals to send humans back to the Moon and, eventually, on to Mars.” The effort is named “Building MSI-led Coalitions to Strengthen Broadening Participation in Engineering.” With a specific focus on diversifying engineering ranks, the two agencies will work together to develop activities that engage potential engineering students and also create funding opportunities for institutions and organizations to build coalitions.