Biography of Michael J. Wiskerchen

Dr. Michael J. Wiskerchen is the Director of the California Space Grant Consortium (NASA sponsored K-12, undergraduate, and graduate educational program). Dr. Wiskerchen received his Ph.D. degree in Physics from the University of Denver. From 1971 to the present, Dr. Wiskerchen has had a diverse academic and research career in space related science and engineering at the University of Arizona, NASA, Stanford University and the University of California at San Diego. His recent efforts at UCSD have been focused on the development, application, and operations of space related projects involving an alliance between industry, university, and government partners. These projects range from natural hazards and remote sensing (free flyers, shuttle, and Space Station) to deep space asteroid missions.

In 1990, he joined the California Space Institute (CalSpace) at the University of California at San Diego. His responsibilities include Directorship of the California Space Grant Consortium (space related K-12, undergraduate, and graduate education and training program), coordination of space related science and engineering research for the campuses within the University of California system, academic administrator for the CalSpace mini-grant research program, and coordinator for the CalSpace Industrial Affiliates program. He is recognized as a national leader in hands-on career training programs at the high school, university, and industry levels. These programs emphasize the effective use of state-of-the-art web-assisted learning (World Wide Web, multimedia curriculum) techniques in a collaborative environment involving academic, industry and government participants.