The C.O.N.N.E.C.T–S.B.G. program prepares students to contribute to NASA’s Surface Biology & Geology (SBG) mission through interdisciplinary research and training. It brings together Chapman University’s expertise in data science, environmental policy, and science communication with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which leads satellite missions like ECOSTRESS and EMIT. Students in the program explore topics such as aquatic ecology, urban heat, and biodiversity monitoring, applying satellite data to real-world environmental challenges. In its first year, student-led projects supported SBG mission goals by investigating spectral patterns in tidepool biodiversity, refining models for evapotranspiration, developing strategies for water security, analyzing how coastal ecosystem health affects real estate values, studying water use in vineyards, and monitoring urban heat islands and heat waves.