Record-breaking total will support faculty projects
The upcoming fiscal year is a record breaker for CU. According to the CU Web site, the university will receive more funds this year in sponsored research awards than ever before.
CU beat the previous record set in 2004 of $259.7 million received. In the coming 2008 fiscal year, the university will receive a total of $266.2 million.
The leading organizations contributing money to the university are NASA ($46.9 million), the National Science Foundation ($43.9 million), the Department of Health and Human Services ($40.3 million) and the Department of Commerce ($33.1 million). Most of the funding will support faculty research projects.
NASA and CU will be working together on a satellite with two CU instruments to study blue clouds forming in the mesosphere over the polar region.
Students from the university will be working closely on the project. According to NASA’s Web site, one professional and one student will control the satellite each time it passes. Graduates and undergraduates will be doing data analysis as well.
This project alone will account for $20 million of the funds CU will receive.
The money that CU has been given is an indication of how hard the faculty has worked for their research projects.
“We are gratified that the faculty continues to apply for funds,” said Dr. Randall Draper, director of the Office of Contracts and Grants.
The university is also pleased because the increase in funds shows growth for the first time in two years. In 2005 and 2006, growth was relatively flat.
Other notable donations the university will accept are from the Department of Defense ($9.8 million), Department of Education ($7.8 million) and the Department of Energy ($7.8 million).
“Our faculty is responsible for all this,” Draper said.
Contact Campus Press staff writer Aaron Musick at aaron.musick@thecampuspress.com
