FTPP Outreach Report, Year 4

Image collage of outreach events featuring students and community members; in year four, the program hosted over 16 events, including five for K–12 students, seven for college audiences, and four for the general public.

For Year 4 (March 1, 2025 to February 29, 2026), FTPP has held over 16 exciting outreach events, including five for K–12 students, seven for college audiences, and four for the general public.

Explore outreach…

K–12

College

general public

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Communication

K–12 events

College of Agriculture (Poultry Science) cold-plasma demos – Auburn University. Dr. Amit Morey demonstrating cold-plasma research in a Poultry Science laboratory at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama.

College of Agriculture (Poultry Science) cold-plasma demos – Auburn University
Led by Dr. Amit Morey, Associate Professor of Poultry Science at Auburn University and FTPP member, the event showcased cold-plasma technology to approximately 80 middle and high school students from rural Alabama across four sessions.
Spring 2025

Contestant standing beside her project poster titled “Musical Memory,” presenting her work at a science fair.

Alabama Science and Engineering Fair 2025 – Auburn University
Auburn University hosted 230 middle and high school students for the 2025 Alabama Science and Engineering Fair (ASEF).
April 5, 2025

A group of Tech Trek campers listens as graduate students explain a NASA IMAP-related activity at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

Tech Trek Camp – The University of Alabama in Huntsville
FTPP returned to Tech Trek for a second year with the IMAP team, leading an interactive STEM session for 64 seventh-grade girls with support from seven graduate students.
June 11, 2025

Students participate in an interactive engineering creativity activity during a career day event.

AKA YLI Career Day – Huntsville, AL
FTPP hosted a STEM career table at the Alpha Kappa Alpha Youth Leadership Institute (AKA YLI), engaging middle school students with hands-on IMAP activities and showcasing STEM career paths.
January 17, 2026

College events

Photo from Research Horizons Day at The University of Alabama in Huntsville showing an FTPP booth with demonstrations on space plasma science and the IMAP mission, engaging attendees; approximately 150 people participated.

Research Horizons Day – The University of Alabama in Huntsville
FTPP partnered with CSPAR and the IMAP mission at UAH’s Research Horizons Day Expo, engaging about 150 attendees with demonstrations on space plasma science and the IMAP mission.
March 3, 2025

Rocket Booster Summer Bridge Program – The University of Alabama in Huntsville
FTPP and CSPAR participated for the third year in the Rocket Booster Summer Bridge Program, welcoming up to 30 incoming UAH students interested in engineering or science.
July 16, 2025

UAH WOW (Week Of Welcome) – The University of Alabama in Huntsville
FTPP participated in UAH’s Week of Welcome, promoting student opportunities and the FTPP program to about 200 students and parents. Graduate students and faculty from Space Science supported the event.
August 18, 2025

A display table at UAH’s International Week features “Passport to Space” materials, posters, and international flag-themed decorations. The setup highlights FTPP’s co-hosted event celebrating international students, faculty, and staff, where graduate students shared posters about their cultural backgrounds and research.

I-Week (Passport to Space) – The University of Alabama in Huntsville
FTPP co-hosted an event for UAH’s International Week (I-Week), celebrating the contributions of international students, faculty, and staff at the Center for Space Plasma and Aeronomic Research. FTPP organized a “Passport to Space” activity, where graduate students shared posters highlighting their cultural backgrounds and research.
September 10, 2025

UAH Mascot "Charger Blue" participating in table activity

UAH Study Abroad Fair – The University of Alabama in Huntsville
FTPP participated in UAH’s Study Abroad Fair, promoting the International Space Weather Camp (ISWC), a hands-on Plasma Science and Engineering training program for undergraduate and graduate students. About 80 people attended.
September 12, 2025

A digital display screen featuring FTPP branding and partner logos is shown at UAH Career Services’ Industry Day event. The display represents FTPP’s booth promoting summer internship opportunities and industry partnerships supporting workforce development in Alabama’s low-temperature plasma sector.

Industry Day – The University of Alabama in Huntsville
FTPP participated in UAH Career Services’ Industry Day, hosting a booth to promote programs and Summer opportunities. The EO Coordinator also presented on summer programs and industry partnerships supporting workforce development in Alabama’s LTP sector.
January 23, 2026

Two representatives stand at Alabama A&M University’s Spring Career Fair, smiling and holding an FTPP-themed plush mascot while recruiting students for Summer 2026 internship opportunities.

AAMU Career Fair – Alabama A&M University
The EO Coordinator participated in the Alabama A&M University Spring Career Fair, recruiting students for Summer 2026 internships. The booth engaged an estimated 200 students and several faculty members.
February 19, 2026

General public events

A child participates in a hands-on STEM activity at the Alabama Science and Engineering Fair STEM Expo while an event facilitator assists nearby.

STEM Expo at the Alabama Science and Engineering Fair 2025 – Auburn University
After judging, ASEF hosted a STEM Expo featuring 35 exhibitors, engaging over 600 students, families, and community members from across Alabama and neighboring Georgia.
April 5, 2025

Students and attendees gather around activity tables during FTPP’s “Ready for Launch” event at The University of Alabama in Huntsville, participating in hands-on STEM activities focused on space science.

Ready for Launch – The University of Alabama in Huntsville
FTPP hosted a “Ready for Launch” event at UAH celebrating the IMAP launch, featuring six hands-on STEM stations on space science topics. The event engaged 97 adults and 30 K–12 students with support from 11 graduate research assistants.
September 20, 2025

Promotional graphic for a podcast episode featuring Dr. Gary Zank on WLRH 89.3 FM’s Curiosity Squad. The graphic highlights his discussion on Plasma 101, aeronomy, NSF EPSCoR FTPP, and his John Adam Fleming Medal from the American Geophysical Union.

Podcast – The Curiosity Squad, Dr. Gary Zank
Dr. Gary Zank joined WLRH 89.3 FM’s Curiosity Squad, a local science and curiosity-focused radio program based in Huntsville, AL, to discuss Plasma 101, aeronomy, NSF EPSCoR FTPP, and his John Adam Fleming Medal from the American Geophysical Union.
October 17, 2025

Children and attendees gather around an FTPP activity table during STEAMFest in Huntsville, exploring hands-on STEM activities and a plasma demonstration led by UAH graduate students.

STEAMFest – Huntsville, AL
FTPP attended STEAMFest, a North Alabama event drawing many students and community members. FTPP hosted a table with hands-on STEM activities and a plasma demo led by nine UAH graduate students.
October 25, 2025

Four CSPAR representatives stand behind an interactive demonstration table at Rocket City Weather Fest at The University of Alabama in Huntsville. The booth featured hands-on activities and demonstrations focused on solar wind and plasma science, led by graduate students.

Rocket City Weather Fest – The University of Alabama in Huntsville
FTPP participated in the Rocket City Weather Fest, where nine graduate students helped lead an interactive booth featuring solar wind and plasma demonstrations.
February 6, 2026

Broader Impacts

Science & Engineering Fairs

FTPP supported regional science fairs at UAH, UAB, USA, AUM, and Auburn University
Hosted a STEM Expo alongside ASEF at Auburn University
Presented an interactive STEM exhibit at the North Alabama Regional Science and Engineering Fair (NARSEF) at UAH
FTPP graduate students served as judges for projects at NARSEF

Collage of students, faculty, and attendees engaging with hands-on plasma and STEM demonstrations at regional science and engineering fairs. The images highlight FTPP’s support of science fairs across Alabama universities and its interactive exhibits at STEM Expo and the North Alabama Regional Science and Engineering Fair (NARSEF). — Photo from the STEM exhibit at the North Alabama Regional Science and Engineering Fair (NARSEF) at UAH

Communication

Tomorrow’s PSE Leaders

FTPP Featured Webinar Series

Released to date: 5 webinars
Purpose: Highlight young FTPP professionals
Content includes:
- Short research presentation on YouTube
- Website article on career journey and background
- Features on FTPP social media channels

FTPP Newsletter

Quarterly Newsletter

FTPP continues to issue a quarterly newsletter to improve communication and engagement.
Distributed through our website, ensuring easy access for subscribers.
Comprehensive updates.
Highlights major project developments and milestones.
Ensures transparency and keeps participants informed.

Website analytics

alabamaphysics.com

Website traffic reached 6.8K visitors in the last 90 days (Nov 2025–Feb 2026)
Traffic increased ~92% compared to the previous 90 days
Year-over-year growth shows traffic more than doubled (+113%) (6.8K vs. 3.2K)
Noticeable traffic spike in mid-January, indicating a high-interest in internship applications
Direct traffic dominates (59%), suggesting strong brand recognition or repeat visitors
Organic search contributes 21.3%, showing solid discoverability via search engines
Smaller shares from unassigned (7.5%), referrals (7.2%), and other sources (5%)
Audience is primarily U.S.-based (68.3%), with additional reach in China (16.2%) and other countries
Overall trend indicates growing visibility, engagement, and global reach

Dashboard-style analytics image showing website performance over a 90-day period: approximately 6.8K total visitors with a strong upward trend and a noticeable spike in mid-January. Traffic sources are led by direct visits (about 59%), followed by organic search (21.3%), with smaller shares from referrals, unassigned, and other channels. A map indicates most users are based in the United States (around 68%), with additional traffic from China and other countries. — FTPP website analytics, from November 2025 to February 2026

Social Media

Over 883 Social Media followers across all platforms
FTPP social media audience has increased by 30% over the past year, growing from 680 to 883 followers.
Click on the social media icons below to follow us!

FTPP Groups

4 FTPP Working Groups:

Plasma Diagnostics Working Group – chaired by Eleanor Williamson, Postdoc at Auburn
Plasma Modeling Working Group – chaired by Dr. Alexey Volkov, Faculty at UA
Graduate Student Working Group (GSWG) – chaired by Nibuna Subashchandar and Katherine Sierra Melendrez, Graduate Students at UAH and Auburn
Plasma Agriculture Working Group – Chaired by Amit Morey, Faculty at Auburn

Advertisement of a GSWG session on how to write a grant proposal

Internal Communication

Centralized email communication via nsfepscor@uah.edu for program-wide updates and coordination
Monthly team management meetings to align on progress, priorities, and collaboration
FTPP Community Portal (launched January 2024) serves as a dedicated internal communication hub
- Portal includes forums such as Announcements, General Discussions, and Meetings
- Supports open, organized, and ongoing communication among FTPP Group members

Visit the community and/or request access:

FTPP Community

iswc study

15-Year Impact of the International Space Weather Camp (ISWC)

Poster presented at the American Geophysical Union Annual Meeting (Dec 2025)

Study design:
- Long-term (≈15 years) impact follow-up assessment of ISWC participants
- Survey-based analysis of alumni from U.S., Germany, and South Africa
- Evaluated educational pathways, career outcomes, and program influence
Program context:
- International, hands-on space weather training program combining lectures, research, and collaboration
- Built through partnerships across UAH, The German Aerospace Center (DLR), and the South African Space Agency (SANSA)
Key results:
- Strong continuation of participants into STEM degrees and careers
- Reported gains in:
  - Space weather knowledge
  - Research and technical skills
- Program had a lasting influence on academic and career direction
- Evidence of sustained international professional networks and collaborations
Conclusion:
- ISWC is an effective model for long-term student development in space science
- Demonstrates measurable impact of immersive, international training programs

Check out the poster and data

Image of Plasmina, FTPP mascot, presenting the International Space Weather Camp poster

visit this page:

QR code linking to the FTPP Year 4 report webpage.

Laura Provenzani: lp0020@uah.edu
Indira Richardson: ihr0001@uah.edu

Acknowledgements
National Science Foundation (NSF) EPSCoR RII-Track-1 Cooperative Agreement OIA-2148653

FTPP Outreach Report Year 4

Explore outreach…

Explore Communication

K–12 events

College events

General public events