University of Alabama in Huntsville

University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAHuntsville or UAH) is a public university and one of three members of the University of Alabama reporting to the Board of Trustees of the system, along with the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

Established in 1950 in Huntsville, a technology-based economy, UAHuntsville is known for its engineering and science programmes, including astrophysics, atmospheric science and aerospace engineering.

Scientists at UAHuntsville developed the first non-government rocket programmes in the US Consort and Joust, discovered the first high-temperature superconductor, and carried out the first experiment aboard the Soviet Mir space station.

There are about 9,000 students organised into eight colleges: business administration, education, engineering, honours college, arts, humanities and social sciences, nursing, professional and continuing studies, science and graduate studies. Nursing is UAHuntsville’s largest single major, and engineering is the largest college.

The 505-acre campus is responsible for $97 million in research expenditures, housing 16 high-tech research centres and labs, the second largest research park in the US and the National Space Science and Technology Center.

The UAH Propulsion Research Center includes research topics such as air-breathing propulsion, solid, liquid and hybrid propellent combustion, electric propulsion, high temperature materials, and space and terrestrial power systems.

The university maintains strong partnerships with organisations that include NASA’s Marshall Space flight Center, the Missile Defence Agency, and the DIA Missile and Space Intelligence Centre.

Alumni include astronaut Dr Jan Davis and Discovery Channel founder John Hendricks.