February 23, 2004

Boise State Receives $6.4 Million in Federal Funds For Projects

Boise State University will receive $6.4 million in federal funds for seven separate research projects, centers and other items as part of an Omnibus Appropriations Bill recently passed by Congress and signed by President Bush.     The appropriations will support a broad range of new and ongoing projects, including research to develop multi-purpose sensors to track subsurface contaminants, costs associated with a “multi-modal” structure to accommodate different modes of transportation, and funds to support a regional Environmental Finance Center.     The Omnibus package is important to Boise State because it provides a mechanism to get new projects started, said John Owens, vice president for research. “Boise State is a new institution without a lengthy reputation; these federal funds can help move our projects to a point where they become self sufficient,” Owens said. “We greatly appreciate the support of Idaho’s congressional delegation in securing these funds.”     Boise State projects funded through the Omnibus bill include:     - $1.5 million to develop subsurface sensors as part of interdisciplinary research projects involving engineering, geosciences and chemistry faculty.     - $250,000 in start-up funds for a Center for the Study of Aging.     - $220,000 for a regional Environmental Finance Center housed at Boise State.     - $800,000 to construct a new Center for Environmental Science and Public Policy, to be housed in a new seven-story addition on the east side of the Mathematics/Geosciences building.     - $2 million for research projects in the College of Engineering to develop three-dimensional structures in silicon microchips.     - $250,000 for the Environmental Science and Public Policy Research Institute.     - $1.4 million costs associated with a multi-modal parking structure to accommodate cars, buses, bicycles and other modes of transportation on campus. Contact John Owens Vice president for research 208 426-5770 jowens@boisestate.edu Media contact Janelle Brown communications and marketing 208 426-1790 jbrown2@boisestate.edu