In response to the Feb. 4 announcement by University of Texas Regents authorizing planning for a potential bid to operate Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, the University of New Mexico is determined to keep all of its options open.
University of Texas Regents' advisors indicated they would be approaching New Mexico universities about a collaboration on the potential bid. UNM administrators say it is too soon to make any commitments.
"The University of New Mexico is not committed to any potential bidders at this time," says UNM President Louis Caldera. "The University does currently have a formal relationship with Los Alamos National Laboratory and the University of California that supports UNM's academic and economic development goals, including technology transfer. We believe that no bid can succeed that does not further the relationship between UNM, LANL, and the lab's managing partner institution."
In October 2003, Caldera and LANL Director Pete Nanos signed a formal memorandum of understanding, which underscores continued cooperation between the two institutions and opens up new research and employment opportunities for the University. Along with greater opportunities for collaborative research and student programs, the MOU establishes a UNM/LANL Joint Science and Technology Laboratory and a Collaborative Research Program encompassing the areas of bioscience, materials, quantum information science, and computer science.
The University of New Mexico is the largest research and degree granting university in the state with an enrollment of more than 25-thousand students. It is a Carnegie Research/Doctoral Extensive institution with a budget of $1.4 billion. Contract and grant funding in FY 2003 exceeded $255 million.
Contact: Susan McKinsey (505) 277-1989
Posted by kwentworth at February 4, 2004 11:04 AM