This document has been archived. Title : NSF-EHR-LT EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM TO STIMULATE COMPETITIVE RESEARCH (EPSCoR) NEWSLETTER Type : Letter NSF Org: EHR Date : March 26, 1996 File : nsfehrlt EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM TO STIMULATE COMPETITIVE RESEARCH (EPSCoR) Dir. for Education & Human Resources National Science Foundation 4201 Wilson Boulevard Arlington, VA 22230 _________________________________________________________________ Volume 1, No. 4 EPSCoR Newsletter Oct.Dec. 1995 _________________________________________________________________ NSF's EPSCoR program has developed a quarterly newsletter to provide news of interest to the EPSCoR community. Information is provided about program announcements; state annual EPSCoR conferences; special conferences and staff visits; accomplishments, breakthroughs; and personnel changes -- at NSF and within states. Readers can access the newsletter from the EPSCoR home page: http://www.ehr.nsf.gov/EHR/epscor/start.html. The newsletter is edited by Minnie Mills, Program Analyst, EPSCoR Program. Comments, suggestions, and information can be addressed to her on e-mail internet: mmills@nsf.gov; phone: (703) 306- 1683; fax: (703) 306-0456. Individuals with hearing impairment should use NSF's TDD number: (703) 306-0090. I. Program Announcements NSF : NSF experienced the longest work stoppage in its history (almost four weeks, mid December to January 8) resulting from the partial shutdown of the Federal government for three weeks and the blizzard that followed immediately thereafter. During the shutdown, NSF's activities were strictly circumscribed. No proposals were logged into our systems; program officers neither sent requests for, nor received reviews, review panels did not meet; and the staff were unable to obligate funds for new or continuing awards. The combined effects of the extended shutdown and the uncertainty about our Fiscal Year 1996 budget are severe. Planning for this year and next is complicated by the budget unknowns. NSF Exhibit Center: The NSF Exhibit Center is located on the first floor adjacent to the north elevator lobby. Currently, the Center is open to the public from 11am -2pm Monday through Friday. The main entrance is along Ninth Street. Current Exhibit Center displays include: "Journey to the Microcosm " -- learn about NSF-supported research and education tools that help us explore the microscopic world. The exhibit includes: - a collection of electron photomicrographs -- photographs taken through the lens of a scanning electron microscope -- which combine science and art to show you the microscopic realm; - interactive software about microorganisms inhabiting the invisible microscopic worlds around us, inside of us, and on us; - a video visualization of molecular interactions created with supercomputers; - interactive molecular modeling software which allows you to "grab" atoms in a molecule, pull on them, and see the results. "NSF and the Internet" -- an exhibit presenting examples of NSF- supported projects involving the Internet in science and engineering research and education. Try your hand at educational software that utilizes the Internet to teach about weather and seismology, visit cool science-related sites on the World Wide Web, and learn about NSF's role in bringing Internet access to millions of Americans. Explore career opportunities in science, engineering, and technology through SETQUEST, an interactive multimedia program. Meet professionals and spend "a day on the job" through their video profiles. Investigate the database containing information on dozens of careers, and print out your findings to take home. EPSCoR Directory: The EPSCoR Directory is on the World Wide Web. It contains names and contact information, including e-mail addresses, for a wide variety of EPSCoR participants in each of the 19 EPSCoR jurisdictions, plus the NSF EPSCoR Staff and the EPSCoR Interagency Coordinating Committee (EICC). It is the responsibility of each EPSCoR jurisdiction to keep the information up-to-date. This can be done by sending your updated information to Quantum Research Corporation (QRC) e-mail: epscrdir@qrc.com. When there is a change in names, titles, addresses, phone/fax numbers, for your state committee, project director, project administrator, PIs, etc., please send the appropriate changes to QRC to keep the directory current. To access the directory: QRC The EPSCoR Office is having QRC print 500 copies of the directory cover (about 20 per state) to be distributed to project directors as soon as they are available. Project directors can arrange to purchase directory binders similar to those distributed at the Wyoming conference. You can print your updates from the WWW. We have observed that version 1.2 or later of Netscape is needed for printing. FARNET begins survey of State telecommunications and information infrastructure: The Federation of American Research Networks (FARNET), with a grant from the National Science Foundation, has begun a three-year project to design, develop and deploy an on-line guide to telecommunications infrastructure, Internet penetration and strategic directions for each of the United States. As the National Information Infrastructure expands throughout the country, states will increasingly play important roles in formulating policy, perhaps building infrastructure and being, in general, in closer contact with citizen-users than those at the federal level. A comprehensive resource, such as FARNET is developing, could help planners identify models for development and facilitate important synergism between states. The collected information and references will be made available to the public through the Internet on the World Wide Web. A prototype of the Web site is scheduled for initial deployment in April of 1996. FARNET is interested in input on this project from EPSCoR members and others. In particular FARNET is interested in how this resource could be most useful to state-level entities and officials for whom, in part, its results are intended. Please contact Heather Boyles by email: heather@farnet.org or by phone: (202) 331-5342 or fax: (202) 872-4318. FARNET is a not-for-profit association of leading edge internetworking organizations from across the United States. The mission of FARNET is national advocacy for internetworking with a primary focus on the research, education and related communities. For more information: http://www.farnet.org. Mississippi's new Commissioner of Higher Education, Dr. Thomas Layzell, has shown his support of the Mississippi Research Consortium and EPSCoR since arriving in Mississippi in June 1995. Dr. Layzell's staff, in cooperation with the Mississippi Research Consortium public relations task force, has developed three brochures: one each on the NSF EPSCoR Program, the Mississippi Research Consortium, and the general topic of university research. The fliers were included in the Mississippi EPSCoR Conference folders. The public relations group is also developing a series of short announcements, each highlighting a research initiative, for newspaper distribution in the following year. The Commissioner has met with the Mississippi Research Consortium several times and gave the welcome at the 1996 Mississippi EPSCoR Conference in January. Montana: The 17th Round of "Montanans on a New Trac for Science" (MONTS) program grantees will be announced in mid April. The program processed a record 72 proposals for external review this year - the second largest amount received since the inception of NSF-EPSCoR in Montana. Nebraska: The Nebraska Behavioral Biology program (a cooperative research and graduate education program among three Nebraska universities) has a home page on the World Wide Web (http://cricket.unl.edu/NBBG.html). Nebraska EPSCoR has identified two new research clusters to be part of the NSF sponsored cooperative agreement. These are "Environmental Processes for Accelerated Bioremediation of Xenobiotics in Soil and Water" involving ten scientists from 5 departments and 3 campuses (Dr. Pat Shea, group leader) and "Interdisciplinary Program in Gene Expression in Plants" involving 10 scientists in 3 departments and the Center for Biotechnology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Dr. James Van Etten, group leader). Nevada: The Nevada EPSCoR Office is soliciting applications for Proposal Development (PD) Grants. These grants, for up to $5000, come from EPSCoR funds and are used to help faculty members write competitive proposals to federal and other outside funding agencies. A total of $50,000 has been earmarked for this project. North Dakota: ND EPSCoR submitted proposals and is awaiting notification from: o NASA EPSCoR, Infrastructure development & cluster research related to NASA mission o DOD EPSCoR, Individual research topics related to DoD mission o NSF EPSCoR, Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) o NIH Institutional Development Award (IDeA) ND EPSCoR competitive grant-awarding programs currently being processed are: A new program: New Faculty Start Up Awards will help attract researchers who otherwise might not consider North Dakota. The awards, made to departments, enhance recruitment packages offered to new faculty. The first awards will be announced by February 29, 1996. Individual Improvement Plan (IIP) awards are made to individual investigators who plan to initiate a research proposal in areas normally supported by NSF. The first awards will be announced by February 28, 1996. Phase 0 Technology Research Into Commercialization (TRIC), modeled after the successful Vermont Phase 0 program, is another new program to North Dakota. It focuses on commercialization of university research. Seven proposals were received, and awards will be announced by May 5, 1996. North Dakota businesses are currently being solicited for participation in the Students in Technology Transfer And Research (STTAR) and Faculty In Technology Transfer (FITT) programs. FITT was a pilot program last year and we hope it expands and grows successfully like STTAR. Vermont: The fourth annual Phase 0 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR ) seed grant program to Vermont entrepreneurs was announced in February 1996. This program serves to introduce entrepreneurs to the federal SBIR program which offers opportunities for $50,000 - $750,000 for their innovative research projects. To date, Vermont EPSCoR has made 20 awards of $5,000 each to Vermont businesses. 1995 Phase 0 awardees were the subject of a five page article written by Craig C. Bailey for the December issue of the Greater Burlington Business Digest. The article began by saying "The traditional image of Vermont doesn't include high technology. Woody Jackson cows and Lack Champlain sunsets look great on coffee mugs. Computer chips don't . But those of us who live in the Green Mountains know there are plenty of companies stretching the technology envelope right here in the Northeast." The Annual Vermont EPSCoR Small College Development Program was announced in February 1996. Faculty at the undergraduate institutions in Vermont are eligible to apply for summer research funds. In addition, a competitive Sabbatical Support program will be offered to assist one or two faculty at small colleges. The EPSCoR Academic Advisory Committee has been reorganized to improve communication, build relationships, and identify needs of the undergraduate independent and state colleges in Vermont. Twelve Vermont colleges and universities are now represented on this statewide Committee. One immediate need surfaced at the last meeting - grants officers are rare at many of Vermont colleges, discouraging faculty from writing proposals. To help address this problem, Committee member Regina White, Director of the Office of Sponsored Programs at the University of Vermont (UVM), will present a grants information workshop for members of the Committee at their meeting on March 7. Ms. White will discuss the possibility of electronic sharing of UVM's grant information as one source of future assistance to the other colleges. High School Outreach - students from Vermont's Burlington High School working on a project sponsored by Dr. Tony Keller in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the UVM are currently using the dynamometer (a large scale single axis force measurement device) they built to quantify human arm strength. Dr. Keller will be working with another high school team during 1996-97 to build upon this project. The 1996-97 team will create an electronic force feedback or "alarm" system. This is a significant general importance to individuals who are at risk for thigh and spine fracture (e.g., patients rehabilitating from surgery and injury, as well as the elderly). NSF/Vermont EPSCoR Cooperative Agreement for year 3 has been completed. Vermont will receive $1.488 million through November 30, 1996. A renewal proposal will be submitted in the fall of 1996. II. State Annual EPSCoR Conferences Scant travel resources have been a real limitation on NSF's ability to attend EPSCoR state conferences. If you could "twin" your conferences (Monday-Tuesday in one state and Thursday-Friday in the other), our potential to participate could be enhanced. Please try to "twin" as follows: Alabama and South Carolina Idaho and Nevada Kansas and Nebraska Kentucky and West Virginia Louisiana and Mississippi Maine and Vermont Montana and Wyoming North Dakota and South Dakota Oklahoma and Arkansas Puerto Rico Kansas: Statewide EPSCoR conference was held February 1-2, 1996 at the Kansas Expocentre in Topeka. The theme was "Linkages, Partnerships and Strategic Technologies." The first day highlighted EPSCoR science and concluded with a poster session, reception and dinner. Joe Danek, Executive Director of the EPSCoR Foundation, spoke on "Perspectives on EPSCoR and State/Federal Partnerships." The second day brought together key leaders representing the private sector, state government, the board of regents and university administration. Louisiana: Louisiana's EPSCoR Conference was held January 25-26, 1996 in Baton Rouge. The theme was "Strategies for Changing Times." View details about their conference from their home page: http://www.regents.state.la.us Mississippi: The Mississippi EPSCoR Conference was held in Jackson at the Harvey Hotel on January 30-31, 1996. The conference featured national and state speakers, poster sessions, and technical sessions. Participating in the poster and technical sessions were faculty and students from the five agencies funding EPSCoR in the state. They are the National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. National speakers included Joe Danek, Executive Director of the EPSCoR Foundation; Albert Teich, Director, Science and Policy Programs, AAAS; Jeff Shick, Deputy Director, National Technology Transfer Center; Stewart Van Scoyoc, President, Van Scoyoc and Associates; and Jon Veigel, President, Oak Ridge Associated Universities. Ed Abbott, NSF EPSCoR Off-site Program offficer also attended. Other speakers represented Mississippi programs that support science and technology. A highlight of the conference was an awards ceremony recognizing outstanding undergraduate and graduate students nominated by their professors. Receiving undergraduate recognition were Tanya Howard and Louis Bluhm. Howard participates on the NSF EPSCoR composite materials research at The University of Mississippi and Bluhm on the NSF EPSCoR chemistry research at Mississippi State University. Graduate awards went to Ellen Lackey, NSF EPSCoR composite materials research at The University of Mississippi, and to Stephen Nichols, DOD-EPSCoR research at Mississippi State University. Presenting the awards was State Senator Dick Hall. Montana will be holding its Third Annual EPSCoR Conference May 31, 1996 at Flathead Lake, Montana. Montana Governor Marc Racicot, U.S. Senator Conrad Burns, Presidential Science Advisor Jack Gibbons and NSF Director Neal Lane will join Montana State legislators, university system officials and EPSCoR project directors and PI's to chart a course for science and technology in the state for the next several years. For more information contact Mary Roloff on e-mail: aplmw@msu.oscs.montana.edu Nebraska: The Third Annual State EPSCoR Conference, "Science, Technology, and Economic Development: Progress Towards Competitiveness," will be held on April 23, 1996 in Lincoln at the Burnham Yates Conference Center, Cornhusker Hotel, Lincoln, Nebraska. The Conference will highlight research programs in the state including those sponsored by EPSCoR and the major research universities including the Nebraska Research Initiative centers. Topics will range from competitive grant opportunities in academia and private business to developing an infrastructure to enhance science and technology in the state. For more information contact Royce Ballinger, Nebraska EPSCoR, Lincoln, Nebraska 68583-0848; 402-472-8946 or e-mail: epscor@unlinfo.unl.edu. Nevada: Nevada's annual state EPSCoR conference was held February 22 and 23, 1996. The theme was "Linking With Business". Nevada's Governor and the new Governor's Science Advisor were among the invited speakers. Other speakers were from Van Scoyoc & Associates, and from Bechtel Nevada, the newly awarded contractor for the Department of Energy, Nevada Operations Office. The conference will be held at the Desert Research Institute (DRI) and the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV). Oklahoma: Oklahoma EPSCoR will sponsor a "Research Day" on April 3, 1996 at the State Capitol. The program will target legislators, business and industry people, educational leaders and scientists to tell Oklahoma's research story. The Capitol rotunda will be filled with science displays as well as interactive booths. Sessions will feature briefings on SBIR and the federal research policy, trends and funding. For more information, contact Nancy Dixon, phone: 405-744-9993, fax: 405- 744-7688, or e-mail: ndixon@okway.okstate.edu Puerto Rico: Puerto Rico's annual conference is scheduled for March 22-23, 1996. For more information contact Brad Weiner, Department of Chemistry,University of Puerto Rico, Box 23346 University Station, Rio Piedras, PR 00931, phone: (809)765-5170, fax: (809)756-7717, e-mail: brad@adam.uprr.pr South Dakota: The Seventh Annual South Dakota State Conference is planned for October 18 and 19, 1996, to be hosted by South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City. Vermont: Vermont's Annual EPSCoR Conference on Science and Technology was held jointly with the Vermont Technology Council's Partnerships in Science Technology: A Progress Report" on December 5, 1995. The conference featured presentations by EPSCoR Director Christopher W. Allen and other State leaders who are working to develop the Centers of Excellence as outlined in the State Plan for Science and Technology. Dr. Luther Williams, Assistant Director for Education and Human Resources at the National Science Foundation, addressed the National Perspective on Research and Development. Graduate students and focus faculty from the current clusters, as well as former EPSCoR supported researchers, presented over 50 posters. Close to 300 people from academia business, and government attended the conference. An editorial in Vermont's major newspaper applauded the effort to use "intelligence and partnerships to forge the state's economic destiny" and urged the Vermonters "embarked on this adventure to persist. West Virginia: The third Annual West Virginia EPSCoR State Conference was held in Charleston on January 30-31, 1996. The theme was "Partnerships for Success." It showcased the research accomplishments of EPSCoR-supported faculty and gave updates on the instrumentation program. Sessions were designed to increase research collaboration among higher education, state government, and industry. West Virginia's EPSCoR efforts to create the West Virginia Science and Technology Council received special focus. III. Special Conferences and Staff Visits North Dakota: The Institute for Business and Industry Development (IBID), North Dakota State University, hosted an SBIR conference, October 26, 1995. A panel of local business people and faculty with SBIR experience discussed their experiences and encouraged university researchers to consider SBIR programs. Dr. Philip Boudjouk, ND Project Director and Dr. Chris Busch, the North Dakota SBIR circuit rider, gave presentations. North Dakota's EPSCoR award received a $125,000 supplement to establish the circuit rider program. The program is administered by Mr. Bruce Gjovig, Center for Innovation and Business Development (CIBD). Dr. Busch founded Spectron Development Laboratories, Inc. His company was a leading winner of SBIR program awards with nearly 40 Phase I and 20 Phase II grants. He provides a link between the University of North Dakota and North Dakota State University SBIR outreach programs. The CIBD, University of North Dakota, sponsored an SBIR conference, January 9, 1996, for companies that have been awarded or had submitted SBIR proposals. The purpose was to update program changes, describe resources available, and facilitate networking among companies. North Dakota State University Research Administration hosted a grants-skills development seminar January 26, 1996. Dr. Philip Boudjouk, ND Project Director, and personnel from Van Scoyoc Associates (Stewart Van Scoyoc, Carolyn Fuller, Michael Stevens, and Niles Godes ) presented information on EPSCoR programs, addressing the federal budgeting process and the impacts that the Congressional continuing resolutions will have on agency grant programs. Joe Danek, Executive Director of the EPSCoR Foundation. Stewart Van Scoyoc indicated that this was the first of a series of seminars they intend to present to other EPSCoR states. South Dakota: A very successful series of workshops was held around the State on the topic of SBIR activity. Chris Busch, SBIR circuit rider, and Melvin Ustad, Director of the South Dakota SBIR Center at Dakota State University, Madison, SD, visited each of the three EPSCoR campuses: USD, SDSU, and SDSM&T. Workshops focused on the topics of SBIR federal grant opportunities, tips on proposal preparation, identification of companies interested in faculty research, and establishing linkages between faculty and small businesses in the state. Opportunities were also given for individual faculty meetings about specific interests. Students were also welcomed at the workshops. Utilizing funds from the 1993 ESI grant, "Electronic Communication and Information Retrieval," a series of seminars were held over the Rural Development Telecommunications Network (RDTN). This Seminar Series has been very successful in fostering communication among the EPSCoR investigators and throughout the state and bringing in top-level scientists to visit South Dakota and interact with faculty and students in both the membrane and surface science research clusters. The series alternated between membrane and surface speakers, with the three EPSCoR campuses rotating as hosts. During the grant, sixteen seminars were presented by nationally-prominent researchers representing a variety of institutions such as MIT, Yale, Penn State, University of Minnesota, University of California at Riverside, Oregon State University, Polytechnic University of New York, Columbia, and University of Delaware. David Francis and David Benfield, SDSU Veterinary Science, served as coordinators of the First International Rushmore Conference on Mechanisms in the Pathogenesis of Enteric Diseases, held September 27-30, 1995, in Rapid City. The South Dakota EPSCoR program provided support for this conference, which attracted 135 scientists from across the U.S. and twelve foreign countries. Program sessions were held on the following topics: Pathobiology of Gastroenteric Diseases; Mechanisms of Identity and Interaction between Host and Pathogen; Effector Mechanisms in the Pathogenesis of Enteric Diseases; Regulation of Pathogenic Activity in Enteric Diseases; and Novel Approaches to Prevention and Therapy of Enteric Diseases. Jack Williams, USD Physiology/Pharmacology, serves as the Research Chairperson for the Dakota Affiliate of the American Heart Association and was a co-organizer of the first Dakota Cardiovascular Research Conference held September 29-30, 1995, in Sioux Falls. The conference, sponsored by the American Heart Association (AHA) and supported financially by South Dakota EPSCoR and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, served to network cardiovascular researchers in this region and to provide participants the opportunity to discuss current research with internationally recognized cardiovascular scientists and also to explore research funding opportunities. Vermont: Vermont EPSCoR has been working with the Vermont Technology Council to develop Centers of Excellence. One effort has focused on developing an on-line Directory of Environmental Resources of over 1000 academic and business researchers, and government agencies which are particularly interested in the environment. The electronic, searchable database resides on EPSCoR's TECHNET, an Internet gopher server dedicated to providing information about science and technology resources and expertiste in Vermont. Through TECHNET, Vermont scientists and entrepreneurs have access to information from federal databases, as well as patent information. It can be accessed on the WWW: http://mole.uvm.edu/epscor NSF: Eleventh Annual EPSCoR Conference held September 26-29, 1995 in Jackson, Wyoming at the historic Jackson Lake Lodge in Grand Teton National Park. The theme of the conference was EPSCoR: Design of a Partnership for Success. There was active interaction among participants. Over 300 people registered. Each EPSCoR jurisdiction was well represented including members of State legislatures, EPSCoR Committees, Principal Investigators, and members of the academic and business communities. (Tetons photo) Dr. Richard Anderson, Head, Office of EPSCoR, NSF, opened the conference Wednesday morning with brief welcoming remarks. Two sessions on Wednesday morning: 1) Chaired by Dr. Ted Kuwana, Kansas EPSCoR Project Director on "How to Build the Public/Private Partnership with Science and Technology." Participants in this session were Dr. Rebecca Holman, The Wirthlin Group and Dr. E. J. Lovett III, Chairman, Maine EPSCoR Committee. 2) Chaired by Dr. Irwin Feller, Graduate School of Public Policy and Administration, Pennsylvania State University on "Forging the Partnerships: Matching Fund Strategies." Those participating: Robert Kidd, Maine Science and Technology Foundation and Thomas N. Cooley, Budget and Financial Affairs, NSF. (Photos of Anderson and Holman) The luncheon speaker The Honorable Jim Geringer, Governor, State of Wyoming, was introduced by Dr. William A. Gern, Vice President for Research, University of Wyoming, and Chairman of the Wyoming EPSCoR Coordinating Committee . (Photos for Gern and Geringer) Wednesday afternoon sessions: 1) Chaired by John Meyer, Industrial Innovation Programs, NSF on "Economic Partnerships: Small Business Innovative Research." Participants included Richard Bendis, President, Kansas Technology Corporation, Dr. Chris Busch, Consultant, SBIR, and William Hagstrom, President and CEO, UroCor, Inc., Oklahoma City. 2) Scientific poster session - each state had a very extensive poster exhibit. Photos of Vermont and South Dakota are typical for posters. The dinner speaker was Dr. Robert L. Park, The American Physical Society.(photo) On Thursday morning, Joel Widder, Office of Legislative and Public Affairs, NSF, gave an update to Project Directors and Project Administrators. Then to the two sessions 1) Chaired by Dr. Robert Yin, COSMOS Corporation on "Productive Partnerships: Demonstrating Progress" with participants: Dr. Albert Teich, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Dr. Hans Brisch, Chancellor, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, and Dr. Melvin C. Ray, Mississippi State University. 2) Chaired by Dr. Maurille Fournier, Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst, "Moving on to New Partnerships: Transition to Non-EPSCoR Funding Sources" with participants: Dr. Steven Sikes, Dept. of Biological Sciences, Univ. of Southern Alabama and Dr. Richard Powell, Optical Sciences Center, University of Arizona. The luncheon speaker was Dr. Luther Williams, Assistant Director, Education and Human Resources, NSF. (Photo) An afternoon session chaired by Dan VanBelleghem, Networking Infrastructure, NSF on "The Partnership as an Electronic Community: Telecommunications and Distributive Computing." Participants included Mike Kling, Louisiana Office of Telecommunications, Paul Holbrook, CICNet, and Dr. Richard Gowen, President, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology There was some time in late afternoon for participants to explore and enjoy the pristine beauty of the Tetons. Friday morning's session focused on interagency EPSCoR programs. The conference adjourned at noon. Thanks for a successful conference to Wyoming's EPSCoR team: Dr. Randy Lewis, Project Director and Ms. Barbara Kissack, Project Administrator. (photos for Lewis and Kissack) All EPSCoR jurisdictions were well represented. Two examples follow: Idaho EPSCoR was led by Dr. Jean'ne M. Shreeve, state project director. The Jackson Hole meeting drew several state committee members, including Dr. Debonny L. Shoaf, Manager of Academic and Professional Affairs at Lockheed Martin Idaho Technologies (Idaho National Engineering Laboratory); Dr. Frederick E. Templeton, Vice President of Advanced Systems at Morrison Knudsen Corporation; Dr. Rayburn Barton, Executive Director of the Idaho Board of Education and state EPSCoR committee chairman; Dr. Robin A. Dodson, Chief Academic Officer of the Idaho Board of Education. Also attending were State Senators John D. Hansen and Laird Noh (who is also on the state EPSCoR committee) and Dr. Carole McWilliam, Vice President of the Idaho Board of Education. Dr. Scott Fendorf of the University of Idaho represented the project researchers with a scientific poster presentation. Mississippi EPSCoR Program was also well represented. The full EPSCoR Committee and the Project CoDirectors and Associate Director were in attendance. With them were Mrs. Nan Baker, President of the Board of Trustees of Institutions of Higher Learning; State Representative Alfred Walker; John Fahnestock, President of the Mississippi Science and Technology Commission; and two researchers, George Bennett and James Vaughan, presenting in the poster session. IV. Accomplishments, Breakthroughs Kentucky: Professor Michael Freeman, of the Mathematics department at the University of Kentucky, received an award as the outstanding teacher of 1995 by the Kentucky Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Prof. Freeman is a PI on the NSF supported Kentucky EPSCoR grant. His project includes an honors program in physics and chemistry for students from under- represented groups, such as minorities, women and economically disadvantaged. Fred Roisen of the University of Louisville Department of Neurosciences, who is a PI on the Kentucky EPSCoR grant, was awarded an equipment grant from the Biological Sciences directorate of NSF for the purchase of a confocal scanning laser microscope. The total cost of the equipment was $405,000, with NSF contributing $170,000 and the University of Louisville providing cost-matching of $235,000. This equipment will be the core of a facility which will be very useful for the "Developmental and Molecular Neurobiology Program" which is one of the current EPSCoR research clusters. The Kentucky Science and Technology Council has recently been the recipient of a $2.5 million grant for the "Appalachia Rural Systemic Initiative". This grant, which is funded by the Division of Educational System Reform of the National Science Foundation, will seek to improve the science and mathematics of attainment of students in the Appalachian region shared by six states, including Ohio, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, as well as Kentucky. The principal investigator of this project will be Dr. Wimberly Royster, who also serves as coordinator of the Kentucky EPSCoR. The Kentucky Science and Technology Council is a private not-for- profit company which is responsible for a number of projects, including EPSCoR grants from five Federal agencies, and the Kentucky Statewide Systemic Initiative. Montanta: Dr. Gary Strobel's latest research on the torreya - the rarest tree in North America - will be highlighted in the March issue of Scientific American. An endophytic/pathogenic fungus has been discovered and the toxins that kill this rare tree have been isolated and characterized by Dr. Strobel in association with Dr. Clardy of Cornell and Dr. Schwartz of UC Davis. Nevada: Dr. Ahmad Itani, of the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) is participating in a large study of the effects of seismic forces on the towers of the San Francisco Bay Bridge (SFOBB). The study involves researchers from two University of California campuses, Berkeley and San Diego, as well as two engineering firms, ANATECH and SC Solution, Inc. The main objective of this study is to proof-test two one-half scale diagonal members with the end conditions to determine their cyclic behavior, ductility, and failure mode. The two diagonal members that will be tested are one-half scale of Pier E9 which experienced some damage during the Lomo Prieta earthquake in 1989. Based on the observed behavior, a retrofit strategy will be suggested in coordination with the SFOBB Task Force. To verify the proposed retrofit strategy, the one-half scale retrofitted laced member will be tested to ensure an adequate seismic performance. The UNR award is for $135,000, and the duration of the project is 26 months. Dr. Itani is a target faculty member of the NSF EPSCoR Bridge Engineering Cluster. Dr. George Taylor has received an NSF EPSCoR grant effective January 1, 1996. He intends to stimulate the development of a statewide program in the environmental sciences with an emphasis on education and linking the existing expertise in the public sector with that in the private sector. One of six Ph. D. fellowships to be offered has already been awarded, following a national competition. Graduate education has already been enhanced by the establishment of telecommunicated courses between Nevada's two universities. A computer bulletin board is being developed for communication on the World Wide Web, and several 1- 3 day workshops are being planned to assist the public and private sector in understanding the scientific basis for issues in the environmental sciences that are of particular interest in Nevada. Keck Computational Physics Facility Established: As a result of the increasing competitiveness of its EPSCoR- support receiving faculty, the Physics Dept. of UNLV received $450,000 in private funds from the W.M. Keck Foundation for a computational physics laboratory, which is now in operation. The laboratory is based on computer hardware and software from Silicon Graphics Inc. (SGI). Each machine will run IRIX 6, which is the latest version of SGI's UNIX implementation. Each of these PowerChallenge machines will share the distinction of being the fastest computer in the state of Nevada. Examples of projects using the Keck Computational Facility include: Bernard Zygelman and Phillip Stancil will utilize the computational laboratory to calculate the rate of transfer of electronic charge in atomic and molecular collisions. These rates are needed for astrophysical models of star forming regions, and will also have applications in areas such as the upper atmosphere or cold collisions. Stephen Lepp and Stefano Tine are performing calculations of x- ray illuminated molecular clouds. Their results will also contribute to understanding the creation of stars by helping to model the evolving molecular clouds which are a prelude to star formation. Studies of nanostructure by Changfeng Chen and Tao Pang, particularly when extended to multi-excitions, could lead to nanoelectronic devices which can increase the current computer memory capacity and speed by three to six orders of magnitude. Future plans to utilize the facility include studies of carbon chains by Kathy Robins, N-body calculations by George Rhee, and a biologist, Paul Schulte, will use the facility for calculating water transport in plants. Oklahoma: Center for the Environmental Applications of the Oklahoma Mesonet. David Jahn examines the current weather conditions around Oklahoma on a computer "kiosk". This kiosk presents real-time environmental data from the Oklahoma Mesonet using a small, touch-sensitive 31-inch monitor and a Macintosh computer. (photo) Center for Photonic and Electronic Materials and Devices: Dr. Jin-Joo Song, Director of the Laser Center and two argon ion lasers. (photo) Oklahoma Biotechnology Network: A leaf is placed into the vacuum chamber of the "gene gun" prior to bombardment with small (1.0 um) gold "microprojectiles" coated with DNA that carries genes that will be expressed within the leaf tissues. Many agronomically important crop species have been transformed using this technology. (photo) South Dakota: Ken Han, SD School of Mines and Technology, has been elected into the National Academy of Engineering. Robb Winter, SDSM&T Chemical Engineering, and Jon Kellar, SDSM&T Metallurgical Engineering, have been the recipients of several grants from All Nations AMP, the NSF program to encourage Native American involvement in the sciences. One of the goals of this program, based at Montana State University, is to double by 1999 the number of Native Americans receiving undergraduate SME degrees. Kellar and Winter receive $92,739 for "SDSM&T Undergraduate/Graduate Bridge Program," and Winter was awarded two grants of $96,643 and $24,449 for "Oglala Lakota College- SDSM&T Collaboration." Kathy Eyster, USD Physiology/Pharmacology, was awarded a Heritage Visiting Scientist to Alberta Fellowship, funded by the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research. She spent three months in the summer of 1995 as a visiting professor in the laboratory of Dr. David M. Olson in the Perinatal Research Centre at the University of Alberta, collaborating on research involving interaction of interleukin-1 with gestational tissues at parturition. During the Fall 1995 semester Dr. Olson was a visiting professor in Dr. Eyster's laboratory at the USD School of Medicine. Vermont: EPSCoR States Information Network: University libraries in four EPSCoR states are funded participants in the EPSCoR States Information Network, a 1995 Experimental Systemic Inititiative led by Dr. Rebecca Martin, Director of Libraries at the University of Vermont: Arkansas State University, Idaho State University, University of Vermont, and West Virginia University. As a part of this project in Vermont and West Virginia, statewide networks have been established in smaller academic libraries with EPSCoR researchers. In Vermont, links with large and small business partners have also been established. Six additional institutions in EPSCoR states are participating in the network without funding: Mississippi State University, North Dakota State University, University of Arkansas, University of Nevada, University of North Dakota, and University of Wyoming. The project has served to strengthen institutional relationships within states among academic institutions of varying sizes, as well as among the eight EPSCoR states in the network. ARIEL workstations have been installed in two libraries at the University of Vermont, seven Vermont college libraries, and the IBM Technical Library. Equipment for one college library has been received but not installed, pending the activation of an Internet connection. Technical problems with campus networks are encountered in several cases but have been successfully resolved. Librarians from all participating libraries have met and ARIEL training has been provided to staff. Journal subscriptions and backfiles to support one of the EPSCoR research clusters, Evolutionary Ecology, have been ordered, This pilot project has reached the end of the funding period, and usage by EPSCoR researchers and impact on library operations are being analyzed; recommendations will be made for self-sustaining continuation of the service. In addition, a study of EPSCoR researchers' information needs is underway and will serve to further inform these efforts. Dr. C.W. Kilpatrick, professor in the Biology Department at the UVM and member of the Evolutionary Ecology Cluster, works with DNA techniques in state crime labs and has served as expert witness in two Vermont murder trials. He describes his research in population genetics and molecular systematics as the foundation, both technically and theoretically, upon which current DNA profiling techniques used In the investigation and prosecutions of homicides, rapes and assaults, are based. Dr. Dryver Huston, member of the Vermont EPSCoR Cluster in Computational Science and Engineering, reports that his research has improved the meat processing efficiency of a local (but nationally known) mail order company. Through a computer/laser device he developed, the company has reportedly saved a lot of money. Dr. Huston has also developed a digital vibration dosimeter that can access whole body vibration environments which cost-effectively measures vibration in the field, i.e. trucks, farm machinery. This technology uses modern digital signal processing which can improve occupational safety and the health of farm workers. Dr. Ian Macara, professor of Pathology at the UVM, and co- director of the Vermont EPSCoR Receptor-mediated Signalling and Biotechnology Cluster, described the benefit of a state- of-the-art fluorescence microscope image analysis system for real-time capture of living cell images. This facility is available to all research groups at the UVM, and is linked to a cell micro-injection facility. V. Personnel changes: Please make sure you send complete data on changes to QRC. North Dakota: The State Steering Committee reorganized the administrative structure of ND EPSCoR. The project administrator position was phased out. ND EPSCoR plans to establish a faculty- level appointment at the University of North Dakota to assist the Project Director. Cathy Lerud continues as Project Secretary in the Grand Forks office. Beth Delfs is the Project Secretary for the Fargo office. She came to ND EPSCoR from the Fargo Public Schools District. Beth is the only full time EPSCoR employee. South Dakota: Three new members representing the private sector have been appointed to the South Dakota State EPSCoR Committee (REACH). The new members are: Ray Trankle, President of the Industry and Commerce Association of South Dakota; Craig Bailey, President and CEO of Landstrom's Black Hills Gold, Rapid City; and David Bogue, South Dakota Representative to the Council on Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching (CARET) and past president of the South Dakota Soybean Association. WWW Home Pages: For more information within EPSCoR states visit the following home pages: ID: http://www.uidaho.edu/research/epscor KY: http://www.ccs.uky.edu/epscor/epscor.html LA: http://www.regents.state.la.us ME: http://www.mstf.org/epscor/ NV: http://www.physics.unl.edu/~tcoffman/nv epscor/homepage.html PR: http://adam.uprr.pr/epscor SC: http://www.cs.scarolina.edu/EPSCOR/home.html SD: http://www.usd.edu/epscor VT: http://mole.uvm.edu:80/epscor/ WY: http://tweety.uwyo.edu/epscor/epscor.html