NASA and producer and recording artist Pharrell Williams hosted an education event, Saturday, at Williams Farms Park in Virginia Beach. The event was designed to encourage students to pursue science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) studies and careers. NASA’s Associate Administrator for Education Leland Melvin who is a former astronaut and Williams, a Hampton Roads native, delivered remarks. Williams’ charitable organization, “From One Hand to Another”, is supporting the development of the Pharrell Williams Resource Center, which is scheduled to open in 2013 in the park.
The center will run academic enrichment programs and engage youth in STEM activities. Saturday’s program also featured NASA exhibits and showcased the accomplishments of students from Hampton Roads who participated last year in NASA’s inaugural Summer of Innovation camps. More than 500 students who participated in the camps sponsored by NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton were in attendance.