CONTACT: Dr. Terry Yates, 277-6128 or
Frank D. Martinez, 277-1811

Feb. 18, 2003

UNM/SANDIA CHARTER ESTABLISHES OFFICE FOR POLICY, SECURITY AND TECHNOLOGY

University of New Mexico President F. Chris Garcia and officials from Sandia National Laboratories will sign a charter agreement to collaborate in the establishment of an Office for Policy, Security and Technology at UNM.

The signing will take place Wednesday, Feb. 19, at 5 p.m. at University House on the UNM campus.

With funding from the Lockheed Martin Corp. of $250,000 per year for a five-year period, the office will identify and explore opportunities for UNM and Sandia National Laboratories to collaborate on national issues that may require multidisciplinary approaches. "Interactions between technology and policy are central to understanding in many important and dynamic national and international areas ranging from deterrence and homeland security to water and energy," states the background section of the agreement.

"The establishment of the Office for Policy, Security and Technology at UNM provides a timely opportunity for the University and Sandia National Laboratories to collaborate on some of the most important and sensitive issues currently facing our state, the nation and the world," said UNM President Garcia. "UNM will draw from its expertise across a range of disciplines-such as political science, economics and various technical areas-to focus on policy areas where technology crosses into such areas as weapons of mass destruction, terrorism and homeland security, for example. I believe the University has a responsibility to help address these kinds of policy issues."

"This is a critical area of need for the nation and we are fortunate that the University of New Mexico and Sandia National Laboratories have the unique expertise necessary to take a leadership position at this important time in our history," said Dr. Terry Yates, UNM vice provost for Research.

The office will be a UNM unit reporting to Yates. Dr. Roger L. Hagengruber, who served as senior vice president for Special Projects for National Security at Sandia National Laboratories, will serve as the office's initial director. Other collaborators and principal researchers will be drawn from UNM, Sandia and other institutions.

The office will be governed by a board consisting of one member named by UNM, one by Sandia and a third representing the public who will be approved for a fixed term by both UNM and Sandia.

The office's mission, states the charter, will be "to illuminate, investigate and educate where technology is a causative or potentially curative element of insecurity" in areas such as those related to weapons of mass destruction; arms control and non-proliferation; terrorism and homeland security; water, environment and energy; borders and sustainable development, and others.

"The office will provide an environment where researchers from diverse disciplines and organizations can engage in research, scholarship and public service" to conduct "studies, analyses and assessments; curriculum and course development; conferences and seminars; collaborative research; public survey and outreach" and other activities, it says.

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