Fall 2010 Newsletter

• 1 •

FALL 2010

continued on page 2

Message from the DirectorThe Idaho EPSCoR program hosted its Annual Meeting and Project Advisory Board review on August 31 and September 1, 2010 in Boise, Idaho. The Annual Meeting provided an opportunity for more than 100 faculty, staff, and students involved in the Track 1 NSF EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII) program to meet for two days to review progress and strengthen collaborations. The mechanisms and levels of funding in NSF and other federal agencies will be discussed in future newsletters, but this article will describe the great support we receive from the State of Idaho.

The Idaho EPSCoR program now reports to the Idaho State Board of Education (SBOE). This is not a platitude; the SBOE recognizes the important role of EPSCoR in strengthening our research institutions and economic development. We were asked to report on EPSCoR progress within weeks of being placed under the SBOE. The SBOE appoints the Idaho EPSCoR Committee comprising business leaders, legislators and the vice-presidents for research at Boise State University, Idaho State University and the University of Idaho. Under the leadership of Dr. Doyle Jacklin (chair) and vice-chair Senator Laird Noh (retired), Idaho has one of the most engaged and supportive EPSCoR Committees in the nation. This committee volunteers their time to provide direction and advice on the current and future directions of EPSCoR in all matters from the fundamental research to workforce development and engagement of under-represented minority and rural communities. Participating faculty, students and the EPSCoR staff appreciate this opportunity to interact and exchange ideas, and we are currently working on ways to increase the interaction between the Idaho EPSCoR Committee and individual researchers.

The Idaho EPSCoR Committee also assists in approving the theme of an RII competitive proposal, ensuring that research supports the core mission of the State Science and Technology Plan and the appropriate workforce development and economic growth that are key for Idaho’s future. The current RII focus is Water Resources in a Changing Climate, and the architect and lead scientist of this research is Dr. Von Walden. He is assisted by three team leaders - Dr. Sian Mooney, Dr. Colden Baxter and Dr. Rick Allen. This team has succeeded in developing an Idaho

scientific community of researchers, educators and students from all Idaho’s universities and several colleges. The quality of our research and effectiveness of our outreach and engagement plans are assessed regularly by an external Project Advisory Board (PAB).

In addition, the National Science Foundation (NSF) plays an active role through requiring an external assessment plan, reverse site visits, site visits and rigorous reviews of the annual project report. Our current NSF program director is Dr. Jennifer Schopf, an internationally recognized cyber-infrastructure (CI) expert, who has provided excellent advice on our research activities, research data management plans, and outreach to under-represented and rural communities. She also gave a plenary talk at the Annual Meeting to let us know about some of the most recent CI policies, opportunities, and challenges being discussed at NSF.

This structure results in remarkable connections from the Governor’s Office and SBOE (for example the direct participation of Lieutenant Governor Brad Little, Mr. Ken Edmunds, SBOE, and John W. Goedde, Idaho Senate Education Committee) through academic researchers, teachers, and students. We are working on an innovative format for next

The Annual Meeting also provided time for faculty and students from across the state to discuss their plans for the coming year and to present their work at a poster session . Approximately 38 posters related to the EPSCoR project were displayed. From L-R: Dr. Xin Jin, Postdoctoral Fellow, Dr. Venkat Sridhar, Assistant Professor, Thilini Jaksa, Graduate Student, and Kevin Nuss, Research Associate.

• 2 •

Message from the Director, continued from page 1

Peter Goodwin, Project Director

year’s annual meeting, but this genuine interest and communication between Public Office and researchers/educators is one of the things that makes the State of Idaho great! I would like to thank all of the State Committee members, other elected officials, agency advisers, and the PAB who donate their valuable time in events such as the Idaho EPSCoR Annual Meeting and Springboard Day (further details are described in this newsletter).

New NSF EPSCoR Grant Enhances Cyber Connectivity at Idaho CollegesIdaho recently received a $1.1 million National Science Foundation EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement (RII) grant, Inter-Campus and Intra-Campus Cyber Connectivity (C2), primarily to expand access to research and research-based education in Idaho. The project starts this fall 2010.

The grant’s Principal Investigator, Dr. Von P. Walden, also Idaho’s Track 1 RII science lead for Water Resources in a Changing Climate, noted that, “the new program will provide a big boost for filling significant gaps in cyber connectivity and broadband access at two-year, four-year, and rural institutions in Idaho.”

Idaho’s RII C2 project focuses on: 1) broadening participation in Cyberinfrastructure (CI), 2) facilitating improved research data management, 3) connecting a more diverse audience to research and research-based education, and 4) leveraging new connections to Idaho’s K-12 schools.

The program is expected to broaden individual and institutional participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) research and education activities in Idaho. It also will strengthen connections to NSF EPSCoR RII activities related to Water Resources in a Changing Climate. Investments at College of Southern Idaho (CSI), Lewis-Clark State College (LCSC), and North Idaho College (NIC) will potentially benefit 16,000 students, and particularly the many who are already contemplating technical careers. The project also will broaden the cyber-enabled partnerships among Idaho’s academic institutions, the Idaho Regional Optical Network (IRON), the Idaho Education Network (IEN), and the Idaho National Laboratory (INL).

The RII C2 Program was a unique NSF EPSCoR opportunity made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to especially provide 2-year and 4-year colleges with advanced connections to research and research-based education.

There are many benefits of improved internet connections. CI promotes research project collaboration for students and professors located in different parts of the State; improves

remote access to unique instrumentation (e.g. electron microscopes) and scientific visualization facilities (such as those at the Center for Advanced Energy Studies), improves usefulness of interactive video conferencing classrooms, and gives students better access to educational material hosted at other institutions. The addition of several new videoconferencing systems will also encourage more collaboration between universities, colleges, and high-schools. For example, the project will improve delivery of video courses, including those offered for dual credit to high school students.

Investments at NIC will specifically improve connections between NIC and the University of Idaho, as well as provide greater access to internet bandwidth through the Idaho Regional Optical Network (IRON). At CSI, EPSCoR funding will replace network switches and wireless access points, particularly at facilities that support STEM related programs, thus increasing desktop and wireless connection speeds. LCSC also will benefit from increased connection speeds and significantly improved video conferencing quality and accessibility.

Idaho EPSCoR looks forward to working with faculty and students at participating colleges as all become increasingly involved in projects and activities related to the EPSCoR RII programs.

Idaho State University and Idaho EPSCoR Host LiDAR Data Processing WorkshopIdaho State University and Idaho EPSCoR recently hosted an Airborne LiDAR Data Processing Workshop on August 30, 2010 at the Boise Center Aerospace Laboratory (BCAL) in Boise, Idaho (http://bcal.geology.isu.edu/). There were 18 participants, including students and faculty from BSU, UI, and ISU. The participants use LiDAR (or are planning to use LiDAR) for research in the fields of hydrology, environmental science, rangeland ecology, forestry, ecohydraulics, and geology. The workshop included hands-on training for the participants and covered error assessment, height filtering, rasterization, and several other topics. The participants commented on the “very

Workshop facilitators (standing L-R) Lucas Spaete, Rupesh Shrestha, and Linda Tedrow, assist students during the NSF EPSCoR Airborne LiDAR Data Processing Workshop in Boise, Idaho.

• 3 •

helpful exercises” and “relevant readings” that were provided as part of the workshop. Faculty and staff from ISU and UI, including post-doc Rupesh Shrestha (ISU), research associate Linda Tedrow (UI), research associate Lucas Spaete (ISU), faculty Nancy Glenn (ISU), and IT expert Kevin Jones (ISU) facilitated the workshop.

Idaho EPSCoR Hosts First Annual Springboard Day On September 2, 2010 Idaho EPSCoR hosted the first annual Springboard Day in Boise, Idaho at the Grove Hotel. The purpose of the first annual Springboard Day was to build upon and expand the state-wide education and research community interested in climate change science. The Springboard Day provided a forum for the Idaho EPSCoR Committee, public officials, university researchers, educators, and agency representatives to meet and explore mutual interests. The meeting promoted better understanding, information sharing, future collaboration, and/or collaborative proposal efforts.

THE PEOPLE OF IDAHO EPSCOR

Jae Ryu

Jae Ryu is assistant professor in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at the University of Idaho and is located at the UI Water Center in Boise. Dr. Ryu earned his Ph.D. in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Washington in 2006. His research specialties are hydrologic

drought and streamflow forecasting; water resources planning and management; identification of regional drought characteristics; and water conflict resolution modeling. He has been working with Idaho EPSCoR scientists to develop a water resources planning model associated with climate change issues to provide mitigation and adaptation strategies for local stakeholder groups such as Idaho Department of Water Resources, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and other federal and state agency personnel.

Matthew Germino

Matt Germino is an associate professor of Plant Physiological Ecology at Idaho State University Department of Biological Sciences. Dr. Germino received his Ph.D. in Botany from the University of Wyoming in Laramie in 2000 where he worked on physiological adaptation and ecology of alpine plants. Dr. Germino’s area of

expertise is functional diversity among upland plants, and its significance to the larger problem of species change in plant communities. As part of the Idaho EPSCoR team, Dr. Germino is working to determine how the temperature, precipitation, and fire interactively affect the composition of plant communities. His is also working to determine how changes in species, in turn, alter processes like evapotranspiration (ET) and the potential for meteoric recharge of groundwater.

Kevin Feris

Kevin Feris, associate professor in Biology at Boise State University, received his Ph.D. in Microbial Ecology from the University of Montana in 2003. His research portfolio includes studies designed to enhance our understanding of how microbial communities respond to global change and how these changes affect ecosystem

processes. As part of the Idaho EPSCoR team, Dr. Feris is working to determine how varying precipitation regimes affect microbial-community structure and soil carbon processing in semi-arid terrestrial ecosystems, and how ecosystem responses at the microbial level affect, and are affected by, changes in plant community dynamics and hydrologic processes.

The meeting was opened by Lieutenant Governor Brad Little, who described the importance of preparing our students to compete in the global economy. Participants had an opportunity to learn about research and education activities and plans within the state. Some of the activities included a panel discussion on Diversity and Workforce Development for the 21st Century, presentations from Dr. Jennifer Schopf from the EPSCoR Office at the National Science Foundation and Dr. Harold Blackman from the Center for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES) in Idaho, and a panel discussion on Institutional Research Priorities at Idaho’s universities.

Specific workshop themes focused on social science and its role in collaborative climate change research, the role of cyberinfrastructure, and diversity within STEM workforce development. Breakout sessions also allowed for inter-disciplinary and interinstitutional integration throughout the day. To receive a detailed report of Springboard Day activities contact the Idaho EPSCoR Program at [email protected].

The vice presidents for research at BSU, ISU, and UI address the group during a panel discussion regarding institutional priorities at Idaho’s universities. Panel members include from L-R Dr. Pamela Crowell (ISU), Dr. Jack McIver (UI), Dr. Peter Goodwin (Idaho EPSCoR, moderator), and Dr. Mark Rudin (BSU).

• 4 •

OUTREACH AND EDUCATION

Graduate Student Profile: Patrick Sorensen

Patrick Sorensen, a graduate student from Boise, Idaho, is making great strides in his professional career and tackling climate change along the way. Patrick is currently working on his Master of Science in Biological Sciences and works as a graduate assistant for Dr. Kevin Feris,

associate professor in Biology at Boise State University. For Patrick’s thesis research he is using a field plot experiment located at the Idaho National Laboratory where he manipulates soil moisture by amending field plots with additional water in either the dormant season (winter) or growing season (early summer). He is addressing two broad questions. First, how does the timing of precipitation affect soil microbial diversity and abundance? Second, how does the timing of precipitation affect carbon cycling in a water-limited environment like Idaho’s sagebrush steppe?

Why is this important? Many climate change scenarios predict that along with rising global temperatures, precipitation patterns will change over the next century. In a water-limited environment, like southern Idaho’s sagebrush steppe, the timing of precipitation is an important environmental constraint on ecosystem productivity and soil respiration. Understanding how ecosystems are impacted by climate change will allow us to better manage our natural resources.

Patrick has not only been busy with his research, he has also taken an active role on a national scale. A highlight for Patrick was his participation in the National NSF-EPSCoR Conference in Washington D.C. last fall where he presented his research. He was also able to meet Congressman Walt Minnick, and stated that, “It was very cool!” According to Dr. Kevin Feris, “Patrick is an exceptional student. He’s naturally inquisitive and has brought a unique perspective to our work.“

So what’s next for Patrick? He has been accepted into a Ph.D. program at Boston University and will begin in January 2011. The program is in Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior with a focus on Terrestrial Biogeoscience which will allow him to continue his education on plant-microbe interactions and ecosystem ecology in forested landscapes. According to Patrick,

EPSCoR Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)

Student Profile: Tiffany C. Cooke

Tiffany Cooke is not only working on finding her niche in the sciences – she’s also hoping to motivate other Native American students to pursue STEM as well. Tiffany, who is originally from Fort Defiance, AZ, is currently working with Dr. Colden Baxter, assistant professor

of Ecology at Idaho State University, as part of the Native Internship Program. According to Tiffany, “there have not been very many Native American students in the biological field since I’ve attended ISU and I want to motivate my Native peers to get into this field.” Although she is still undeclared, she is working with various faculty in the ISU Department of Biology to find her focal interest in the science field. She has been working on the ISU herbarium collection. She also participated in a collaborative intern experience over the summer at Dine’ College in New Mexico (facilitated by the Tri-State EPSCoR meeting). She is seriously considering botany and has been making progress towards her bachelor’s in botany. Also, as part of her program, she was able to do an internship in her home state of Arizona which further opened the doors to opportunities and broadened her connections in STEM. Great things lie ahead for Tiffany and she is not stopping at a bachelor’s degree. She hopes to continue on to a master’s in ethnobotany.

Student Profile: Esther Contreras

Esther Contreras, a Boise State University Civil Engineering student from Nampa, ID has been working with Dr. Molly Gribb, associate professor from the Department of Civil Engineering, to develop a better understanding of the hydrology of semi-arid, snowy regions in order to

determine what impacts future climate change might have on water resources. She is currently working in the Dry Creek Experimental Watershed in southwest Idaho and has been investigating spatial and temporal trends in soil hydraulic properties. The results of her investigations are helping to improve our understanding of the distribution of soil hydraulic properties over the watershed. Her findings can be used as inputs into a large scale hydrologic model of the watershed. These results could also be incorporated into databases that will be available for use by the wider scientific community.

The REU experience has proven very beneficial to Esther. “Being part of this research was a great experience,” she states. “I got the opportunity to gain knowledge that I wouldn’t have been able to get from my classes. The work environment with

“Participating in the EPSCoR program has been an awesome experience for me. I’ve had the opportunity to meet and learn from a diverse group of scientists and this has helped me put my research into a broader perspective.”

– Patrick Sorensen

• 5 •

graduate students and professors was very pleasing. I am definitely more determined about my career and what I’d like to accomplish.” After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Esther plans to continue her education by pursuing a master’s degree in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering.

Student Profile: Will C. Schrader

Will Schrader, an Environmental Science student at the University of Idaho (UI) from Idaho Falls, ID, worked as a field technician with Dr. Christine Moffitt, professor in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, as part of the EPSCoR REU Program. He is currently focusing on

fisheries research, specifically adult post-spawn steelhead trout (known as “kelt”) in the Snake River Hydrosystem. As a member of a team working to evaluate the general condition of adult post-spawning steelhead trout in the Snake River Hydrosystem, Will was involved in collecting data and samples (blood, scales, tissue, length, weight, etc.) from steelhead at Lower Granite Dam in Washington and Fish Creek in Idaho. He was also responsible for evaluating the ratios of female and male steelhead at both sites to better understand the relationship between migration timing and gender. He is currently working on preparing the collected tissue samples for analysis.

Will’s research has broad impacts and is important for many reasons. As Will states, “Steelhead are connected to recreation, conservation, economics, politics, and beyond, and our research could certainly impact any of these issues. We are working in collaboration with many other agencies, including the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, and the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, all of which could use our data to plot a course of action for their future.“

Will, who plans on continuing his studies at a graduate level focusing on an aspect of environmental science, offered some advice for other undergraduates. “I would highly suggest any undergraduate student who is considering graduate school, or who wishes to further develop their professional skills, to participate in an REU program,” he stated. “The opportunity to work with Dr. Moffitt and her crew of graduate students has exposed me to the methods of scientific questioning and the standards of quality, accountability, and integrity required to thrive in the academic and professional world.“

RESULTS FROM PRIOR SUPPORT

New Grant Funds Study of Host-Switching VirusesAn interdisciplinary team of researchers at the University of Idaho, including several past recipients of NSF EPSCoR support, will begin investigating whether viruses that have adapted to higher temperatures – similar to increases due to global warming – can jump species more easily. Thanks to a $911,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a group that includes a computational biophysicist, an evolutionary biologist and a mathematician will conduct the study. Their results could shed light on the characteristics of host-switching viruses – such as the avian flu or H1N1 – in a world of increasing temperatures. “If it turns out that our idea is right, it could have enormous implications,” said Marty Ytreberg, assistant professor of physics and the computational biophysicist of the group. Dr. Ytreberg was hired at the University of Idaho in 2006 as part of a previous NSF EPSCoR RII grant.

The virus being studied is known as bacteriophage fX174. It was the first genome ever sequenced and often is used by scientists who study evolution because it has a small genome and multiplies quickly. This allows mutations and evolution to occur rapidly. Through previous experiments, the team observed that mutations that allow the virus to survive in higher temperatures might also increase the stability of the capsid – the protein shell that encloses the genetic material of a virus. If true, this increased stability may make the virus more mutable and more likely to mutate, thus giving it an increased ability to jump hosts.

To test the theory, the virus will be subjected to mutations that are known to enable it to survive at higher temperatures. Then, the team will investigate if this ability results in more stabilizing mutations than the original strain that lives at lower temperatures. The team also will investigate whether or not the stabilizing mutations allow the virus to switch hosts more easily. For this project, Ytreberg will use computational modeling to analyze if the mutations stabilize the capsid. And Paul Joyce, professor of mathematics and statistics, will use statistical and spatial modeling to explore how these beneficial mutations spread through a structured environment.

“It’s a really fun project because you work with people that are in different areas,” said Holly Wichman, professor of biology and the evolutionary biologist of the group. “You get to learn how people in other parts of science think. And since none of us are afraid to ask dumb questions, we just keep making each other explain things until we understand. Having to explain yourself really solidifies your ideas, I think.”

This particular funding comes from federal stimulus money made available through a competitive application process to institutions that receive a NIH Institutional Development Award (IDeA) Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) grant. Like NSF EPSCoR, the NIH program is designed to build capacity and increase competitiveness at institutions located in states that have historically received a small proportion of NIH funds.

• 6 •

COLLABORATIONS

Innovative Working Group Develops Strategic Plan for Diversity in STEM

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Idaho EPSCoR Welcomes New Environmental Data Manager

The Idaho ESPCoR program recently hired Dr. Luke Sheneman to serve as the new Environmental Data Manager under the NSF RII Track 2 grant. Originally from Colorado, Luke Sheneman is a long-time Idaho resident. After growing up in the Boise area, he received his bachelor’s degree in Computer Science at the University of Idaho. Luke then moved to the San Francisco Bay Area for a number of

years to pursue a successful IT career at various Silicon Valley technology firms including Netscape Communications and the Inktomi Corporation. Luke subsequently left the industry in 2002 to pursue a doctorate in Bioinformatics/Computational Biology at the University of Idaho, which he successfully completed in late 2008. Most recently, he has been an Information Technology consultant at the Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute (PCEI) in Moscow. In his spare time, Luke enjoys running, hunting, woodworking, playing the cello, and spending time with his two young daughters.

The data manager will play a key role in providing support to the faculty, staff, and students engaged in NSF EPSCoR RII and related projects. This support will include helping develop and adopt standards for data management, enabling faculty and students to become proficient and highly adept at use of the CUAHSI HIS and INSIDE Idaho data management and sharing systems, and providing training on use of these systems and others. Through EPSCoR’s investments in cyberinfrastructure, Luke’s work will support many levels of collaborative multi-institutional, interdisciplinary research and education activities.

Engaging America’s Talent – Conference Video Link Now Available

The Engaging America’s Talent Conference took place at the Peabody Hotel from March 22 – 24, 2010. The conference highlighted innovative STEM education and outreach programs in the nation and topics ranged from the evaluation of age-specific education models and integrating “real research” in student projects, to the application of technology as a learning tool in and out of the classroom. Conference Video is available at: http://www.arkepscor.org/EAT.html

Carol Moore, a student of Dr. Nancy Glenn, recently gave a presentation for the Bingham County Historical Society on October 6 to approximately 30 participants. The Borah Quake and Snake River videos were shown as well a demonstration of the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ) interactive water quality map. Several teachers in the audience were given assistance in obtaining the products and teaching materials from the Boise Center Aerospace Laboratory (BCAL) website.

The Western Tri-State Consortium Innovative Working Group team members pose for a group photo at the Valles Caldera Science Center. Pictured L-R: Phyllis Baca (Santa Fe Community College), Mary Jo Daniel (NM EPSCoR), Jose Melendrez (University of NV-Las Vegas), Bernita Litson (Dine’ College), Lorie Liebrock (NM Tech), Diana Marinez (TX A&M-Corpus Christi), Sarah Penney (ID EPSCoR), Frank Tuitt (University of CO-Denver), Patty Avila Porter (Truckee Meadows Community College), Janet Callahan (Boise State University), Michele Casella (NV EPSCoR), Paul Buck (NV State College), Charlotte Pollard (NM First), and Caiti Steele (NM State University).

The Western Tri-State Diversity Innovation Working Group was convened by the EPSCoR representatives from Idaho, Nevada, and New Mexico on September 12 – 15, 2010 in Jemez Springs, New Mexico. The goal of the meeting was to develop a comprehensive strategic plan that can be implemented throughout the tri-state area to increase participation of and support for underrepresented minorities (URM) and women in EPSCoR scientific research and, more broadly, in STEM disciplines.

The working group developed four objectives as a focus for the discussions including: 1) Increase efforts to recruit URM students and women in EPSCoR scientific research and in STEM disciplines, 2) Develop strategies to effectively retain URM students and women in EPSCoR scientific research and, more broadly, in STEM disciplines, 3) Provide tools needed by faculty to develop effective mentoring skills and foster a campus climate that will positively impact success of URM students and women in STEM disciplines, and 4) Promote institutional commitments and develop infrastructure to enhance recruitment, retention, and advancement of URM students and women in STEM disciplines.

Meeting participants included both tri-state and national representatives active in EPSCoR programs, scientific research, or efforts related to diversify scientific research. A detailed report documenting meeting findings is available. For more information contact Sarah Penney at [email protected].

• 7 •

What is NSF EPSCoR?EPSCoR is a program designed by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to promote scientific progress nationwide. It is for states, including Idaho, that have historically received lesser amounts of competitive Research and Development (R&D) funding. Twenty-nine jurisdictions currently participate.

NSF EPSCoR establishes partnerships with higher education, government, and industry and provides support for key research areas at Idaho’s public universities. The goal is to stimulate lasting improvements in research infrastructure, R&D capacity and hence, our national R&D competitiveness.

For more information about this program and other Idaho EPSCoR projects visit www.uidaho.edu/epscor or E-mail [email protected]

KUDOS

University of Idaho in Consortium Receiving Regional Climate Center Award

The University of Idaho and Idaho EPSCoR will partner with two other northwest universities and the federal government to put scientific research to work on climate issues. The new Northwest Climate Science Center (NWCSC), created through funding from the U.S. Department of the Interior and connected to the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center, will be co-located at the University of Idaho, Oregon State University and the University of Washington. A five-year award of $3.6 million will establish the administrative home at the three universities and enable the distribution of an additional $2-3 million in annual flexible funding for research, applications and outreach to natural resource managers making decisions on the ground. A stakeholder panel will help set science priorities. Boise State University and Idaho State University will be among other universities in region who will collaborate in the implementation of the NWCSC science and outreach agendas.

Stephen Mulkey, director, Environmental Science Program at the University of Idaho and state principal investigator, was recently awarded a NASA grant in the amount of $547,727 for their proposal, “Collaborative Development of a Climate Change Curriculum for Classrooms in the Intermountain West.” Seventeen of the 130 proposals were recommended for funding.

Ralph Budwig, UI Mechanical Engineering professor, Donald McEligot, UI professor emeritus, and James Ferguson, BSU Mechanical Engineering Department chair, were recently awarded a grant from DOE EPSCoR in the amount of $584,961. The title of the grant is, “Fundamental Fluid Physics Studies for Energy Efficiency and Sustainability.” The majority of the work will be done in Idaho Falls, in conjunction with the Idaho National Laboratory.

• 8 •

www.uidaho.edu/epscor

Idaho EPSCoRPO Box 443029

Moscow, ID 83844-3029

*KBK865$M*

Idaho EPSCoR Contacts:Peter Goodwin, Director Idaho EPSCoR Program (main office)[email protected] /208-364-6164 Ph: (208) 885-5842/Fax: (208) 885-5111

Von Walden, Science Lead Rick Schumaker, Project [email protected] / 208-885-5058 [email protected] / 208-885-5742

Richard Allen, University of Idaho Liaison Althea Flegel, Project [email protected] /208-423-6601 [email protected] / 208-885-5842

Sian Mooney, Boise State University Liaison Sarah Penney, Diversity and [email protected] /208-426-1471 [email protected] / 208-885-2345

Colden Baxter, Idaho State University Liaison [email protected] / 208-251-5980