VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia (HUNS) — Hampton University’s achievements include having the first NASA satellite mission led by an HBCU, the first dedicated global study of noctilucent clouds and long-term records on mesosphere/lower thermosphere temperature and composition.
Hampton is also conducting ground and satellite observations of aerosol/trace gases and meteorological variables along with the coupling of chemistry and physics in air quality, meteorology and wind energy. These studies are vital in understanding how the composition of gases in the atmosphere has changed over time, and how this affects weather, climate and air quality.
The Network for Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change celebrated 35 years of atmospheric research at a recent symposium hosted by Hampton University at the Sheraton Virginia Beach Oceanfront Hotel. The international conference consisted of three days of digital and poster presentations from members of the science community, including NDACC partners and graduate students.
The city of Hampton makes this research especially interesting, said Taviare Hawkins, Ph.D., dean of the School of Science at Hampton University, considering the campus is located right along the coast of the Hampton River. “I think it’s really interesting because of the amount of coastal land that you have,” Hawkins said, “but also in terms of where we’re situated in proximity to national labs.”
“But also, you’ve got a living lab space — the air space but also the coastal area,” she added. “So, it makes for an interesting research project but also great groups to collaborate with, so many institutions and many government offices in the area that are also doing this research.”
Hawkins, a biophysicist, has been working closely with Ruben Delgado, Ph.D., associate professor and director of Atmospheric Sciences at Hampton. Delgado had been instrumental in connecting Hampton with the Network for Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change and NASA to collaborate with research and be involved with the atmospheric sciences community.
“A little bit over a year ago, colleagues at NASA Langley Research Center historically have been involved with network detection of atmospheric composition change,” Delgado said. “So, they reached out because they were looking for potential locations. That’s when Hampton University comes to mind and it’s because there has been this kind of effort, close to over 30 years in the atmospheric sciences.”
Hampton’s long history of research in atmospheric sciences made these new relationships monumental in furthering that research. The Network for Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change 2025 symposium was another step for Hampton making its mark in the science community and beyond.
Destiny Pierce is a student in the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications, a partner of HUNewsService.com.
