Google offers reward for landing robot on moon
Internet-search giant Google is offering $30 million in prize money to companies that land robot cameras on the moon and send back data and high-resolution snaps. Google has launched Google Moon, a page on its site with images mapping out stretches of the surface of the moon. The page was compiled from photographs taken by previous missions to the moon. It also includes the historic first landing by the Apollo 11 in 1969. Google is offering a $20 million top prize for a vehicle that can move around automatically and transmit data back to Earth and a second prize of $5 million for a stationary device that sends data.
Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute hires former exec to run venture group
The Maryland Technology Enterprise Institute has hired Jim Chung to head its program to help faculty and students start technology companies. Chung, the former director of new business development for the Corporate Executive Board, will work as director of the University of Maryland’s MTECH VentureAccelerator research program. Chung has also been the vice president of Intervale Capital, where he helped execute the acquisition of Ulterra Drilling Technologies. In his new position, Chung will mentor emerging firms formed by University of Maryland faculty and students in areas such as business plan development, feasibility studies, financial modeling, and raising capital from equity and debt.
MITE to launch free online-learning tool
The Monterey Institute for Technology and Education (MITE) has announced the launch of HippoCampus, a free, interactive homework-help website. The website provides high school, advanced placement, and college general-education course content that is suitable for advanced learners, home schooling, credit recovery, and general student use. The new site also provides tools for customization such as MyYahooTM and MyGoogleTM. The Monterey Institute for Technology and Education (MITE), founded in 2003, is an educational non-profit organization. The institute is committed to helping meet society’s need for access to better educational opportunities.
