EPSCoR Chairman Van Romero announced recently the acquisition by New Mexico universities of major equipment for nanoscience research and education. The equipment was funded through an EPSCoR-National Science Foundation award of more than $1.5 million.
“EPSCoR’s goal is to maximize the potential inherent in a state’s science and technology resources and use those resources as a foundation for economic growth, by aiding researchers and institutions in securing Federal R&D funding,” said Romero.
EPSCoR, the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, has funded the purchase of key nanotechnology microscopes for University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University and New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (NMIMT).
The UNM microscope has extremely high resolution and is able to define or characterize the properties of the surfDavid Brookshire of nanoscale particles with X-ray analysis. Nano refers to a tiny man-made particle, sensor, or device that is thinner than a stand of hair. UNM is the only university in the country to have an instrument of this quality. The cost of the microscope is $750,000. The NMIMT’s microscope is a similar but smaller version of the UNM’s microscope and cost $250,000.
“UNM is extremely pleased about EPSCoR’s support of our new electron microscope that is dedicated to nanotechnology. This microscope is state-of-the-art and contributes to making New Mexico a national leader in nanotechnology,” said Terry Yates, Vice Provost for Research at UNM.
EPSCoR is a critical component in the state for building workforce infrastructure, providing avenues to commercialize cutting edge research, and creating intellectual property within New Mexico.
“EPSCoR is one of the keys to helping New Mexico turn science into money through the commercialization of some of the $6 billion invested in research and development at New Mexico’s federal labs and universities annually,” said New Mexico Economic Development Department Secretary Rick Homans.
EPSCoR is a program of the National Science Foundation (NSF) that works to increase science and education capabilities for 24 rural states. The program promotes the development of the states’ science and technology resources through partnerships involving a state’s universities, industry, state government, and the Federal research and development enterprise.
The microscopes acquired by UNM, NMSU and NMIMT can be operated and viewed through computer lines from other locations and universities so that researchers throughout the state can share these facilities. The different abilities of these shared instruments allow researchers many ways of studying nano materials.
“EPSCoR provides New Mexico with a great opportunity to reach the next level in research by providing resources and infrastructure. We are hoping the State will invest $1.5 million in the Hydrology Infrastructure Program which will bring an additional $3 million investment from EPSCoR for research at NMIMT and other institutions,” said Daniel Lopez, president, NMIMT.
At NMSU, EPSCoR is providing $500,000 for a new atomic force microscope that has other unique abilities to characterize nano particles. NMSU is providing a 50 percent match or $250,000 for equipment and faculty.
“EPSCoR provides the mechanism for developing strategic resources in areas important to New Mexico. Building research capacity is necessary to be competitive for federal funding opportunities,” said Rich Hills, interim vice president for Research, NMSU.
At San Juan College in Farmington, EPSCoR is providing funding for a $20,178 Infrared Spectrometer that analyzes the surface properties of particles.
Contact: Steve Carr (505) 277-1821
Posted by kwentworth at February 17, 2004 03:56 PM