School of Mines and CU awarded $16.5 million

Gov. Bill Ritter today joined officials and researchers from the University of Colorado and the Colorado School of Mines to announce $16.5 million in six-year National Science Foundation research grants through NSF's Materials Research Science and Engineering Center program.
 
The School of Mines will receive $9.3 million to establish a new Center, which will focus on investigating emerging renewable energy materials and technologies. It will be the first NSF-funded Center dedicated solely to renewable energy.
 
CU-Boulder will receive $7.2 million to continue and expand work at its existing Liquid Crystals Research Center. This will be the third round of NSF funding for the Center. Founded in 1995, the Center has spun off six different companies, and its research is contributing to a number of different fields, including better liquid crystals for solar panels and the origins of DNA.
 
"These grants will help us address the enormous energy challenges that face our state, our country and our planet," Gov. Ritter said. "There are only 26 Centers around the country. So for Colorado to receive two multimillion grants is an incredible achievement. It recognizes the cutting-edge science and advanced-technology research being done here.
 
"These grants also demonstrate the vital link between higher education, the New Energy Economy and the importance of preparing our students to enter a 21st century workforce that is becoming more and more competitive and more and more focused on knowledge-based industries of tomorrow, such as energy."
 
"I have full confidence that these two Centers will advance our understanding of basic materials science, address the energy challenges that face our nation and the world, and train the next generation of scientists and engineers on how to solve the complex problems of the future," said Dr. Arden Bement, director of the National Science Foundation.
 
The Colorado Higher Education Competitive Research Authority played a key role in providing state matching funds for each grant. This research authority was created by Senate Bill 07-182, sponsored by Sen. Bob Bacon and Rep. Jack Pommer, to provide the state's research institutions with matching funds so they can compete effectively for major federal grants that require such state support.
 
Bacon and Pommer joined Gov. Ritter at today's news conference along with CU President Bruce Benson and School of Mines President Bill Scoggins.
 
The Mines Center will be led by Dr. Craig Taylor and will collaborate with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. CU’s Liquid Crystal Research Center is headed by Dr. Noel Clark. Both researchers also attended today's news conference.

Colorado School of Mines receives $1 million gift from Anadarko

The Anadarko Foundation, a nonprofit organization operated by Anadarko Petroleum Corporation for educational and charitable purposes, made a $1 million gift to the Colorado School of Mines Foundation, with $500,000 slated for the construction of Marquez Hall, a new petroleum engineering facility, and $500,000 for Mines' Department of Geology and Geological Engineering. A reception to formally announce this remarkable gift will take place at the Mines Geology Museum on Sept. 25 at 4:30 p.m.

"Colorado School of Mines has been producing top-quality geoscientists and petroleum engineers directly benefiting our industry for more than a century," said Bob Daniels, Anadarko senior vice president, Worldwide Exploration, who holds a master's degree in petroleum geology from Mines. "The university has demonstrated a commitment to continuing this tradition by staying at the forefront of expertise and technology related to the earth, energy and the environment through the continuous enhancement of its curriculum and facilities. This dedication goes hand in hand with Anadarko's commitment to develop the future leaders of our industry."

Anadarko's gift brings total funds raised for the school's state-of-the-art petroleum facility, Marquez Hall, to more than $20 million, propelling Mines toward its $25 million goal for the first phase of the building and an anticipated spring 2009 groundbreaking. The company's additional $500,000 commitment will strengthen geology and geological engineering at Mines, funding new graduate fellowships, student travel and fieldwork, as well as departmental needs and initiatives. The gift will also establish the Anadarko Petroleum Lecture Series at Mines.

"The Mines community is proud to count Anadarko as one of its most loyal corporate partners," said President M.W. "Bill" Scoggins. "Such a remarkable commitment extends the school's capabilities in areas critical to the energy industry, and helps to strengthen our international reputation as a top-tier teaching and research environment in engineering and the applied sciences."

"People are the foundation of our success and Anadarko employs nearly 100 geoscience and engineering graduates of Colorado School of Mines, so I can attest to the crucial role that the university is playing in developing the talented individuals so key to our industry's ability to continue finding and producing energy resources vital to the world's health and welfare," said Jim Kleckner, Anadarko vice president of the Rocky Mountain Region, who holds a petroleum engineering degree from Mines. "We are delighted to broaden our long-standing partnership with Colorado School of Mines through this gift and enhance the outstanding educational opportunities the university makes possible."