Smith President to Answer Student Questions in NASA-Sponsored Internet "Chat"

Students around the world will get the opportunity to "chat" over the Internet with Smith College President Ruth Simmons and NASA's African-American scientists, engineers and others during February, Black History Month. In the course of these chats, students with access to computers can type their questions and receive answers from the experts.

Simmons--whose session is scheduled from 1 to 2 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 24--will be joining African-American professionals from a wide range of careers, including a NASA nutritionist, an aerospace engineer and an operations specials from mission control at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

NASA "chat" series organizer Oran Cox says, "These [sessions] will enable students to meet mentors via the Internet in a very personal way."

First-come, first-served pre-registration via the Internet is required in order for students to participate. Others can observe the conversations without registering. The Black History Month chats are sponsored by NASA's Quest Project.

President Simmons' chat will be the sixth of eight web chats during February.

The Black History Month chat sessions can be accessed at URL: http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/ltc/special/mlk99/.

For more information about the NASA chat series, call John Bluck, Ames Research Center, NASA, at (650) 604-5026.