THE STEWARDSHIP SCIENCE ACADEMIC ALLIANCES (SSAA) PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2002 TO SUPPORT STATE-OF-THE-ART RESEARCH AT U.S. ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS IN AREAS OF FUNDAMENTAL PHYSICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OF RELEVANCE TO THE SSP MISSION. THE SSAA PROGRAM PROVIDES THE RESEARCH EXPERIENCE NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN A CADRE OF TRAINED SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS AT U.S. UNIVERSITIES TO MEET THE NATION’S CURRENT AND FUTURE SSP NEEDS, WITH A FOCUS ON THOSE AREAS NOT SUPPORTED BY OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES. IT SUPPORTS THE DOE/NNSA’S PRIORITIES BOTH TO ADDRESS THE WORKFORCE SPECIFIC NEEDS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS AND TO SUPPORT THE NEXT GENERATION OF PROFESSIONALS WHO WILL MEET THOSE NEEDS.