乐虎直播

April 24, 2024

Faculty and Staff,听

Today is the last of my 4-week series on UAF鈥檚 path to R1. In last week鈥檚 message, I shared why R1 is important for UAF. In this final installation, I want to focus on why R1 will not only strengthen UAF, but also benefit the State of 乐虎直播 in significant and long-lasting ways.

When UAF achieves R1, the impacts will be felt across the State of 乐虎直播. As America鈥檚 Arctic University, we conduct 89% of university research and development in the State. A boost in our research will be a boost to the State of 乐虎直播鈥檚 research enterprise. Based on data pulled from other universities that have achieved R1, it is reasonable to anticipate an increase in UAF's research expenditures in our run-up to and following our achievement of R1. During the latest R1 classification cycle in 2021, federally financed R&D expenditures grew by 60% for 15 institutions that made the transition from R2 to R1. By comparison, federally financed R&D increased by 30% nationally during that same timeframe.

A significant boost in research will have a significant economic impact on 乐虎直播. More research dollars brought into 乐虎直播 means more dollars spent on local jobs to do the research, services to support the research, and services to support the researchers (housing, recreational activities, etc). This is a direct infusion of cash into the economy. But that is just a small beginning to the overall economic impact.

The vast majority of UAF鈥檚 research is conducted in 乐虎直播 in areas of direct interest to 乐虎直播ns and their businesses. Topics like agriculture, volcanoes, earthquakes, environmental change, cold regions engineering, wildlife biology, and the arts. The information provided by UAF research is actionable to 乐虎直播ns; such as what are the best seed varieties for 乐虎直播鈥檚 changing environment, when will a volcanic ash plume interrupt air travel, or when and how should kelp be harvested and processed to make a sustainable business. Stuff that matters to the State鈥檚 economy.

While it is true that new dollars put into the economy benefits the community, and actionable information helps 乐虎直播n lives and businesses every day, the things that have the most potential to have long-lasting positive impacts on the economy of 乐虎直播 are talent and innovation. Companies can take talent and innovation and create wealth in our economy. Businesses can take the know-how UAF research produces and create products, processes, and services that create new business niches, or introduce more competitive products into existing sectors. The outcome of research is innovation and companies can leverage this knowledge to create wealth right here in 乐虎直播. This is what drives our economy.

Check out the in Pullman, Washington. The first digital relay was invented as part of a doctoral thesis at Washington State University. This electronic device became the foundation for a massive international company still based in Pullman. Schweitzer has manufacturing facilities in Mexico, Idaho, Illinois, and Indiana. The company grew from one employee in 1984 to more than 6,000 today. This is an amazing success story that is the result of university research. It is true that you don鈥檛 need to be R1 to have this success, but it surely helps. This can be our story and 乐虎直播鈥檚 story!

In 乐虎直播, we have the start of this story in various research-derived businesses. For example, in January 2020, BeCool Pharmaceutics founder Dr. Kelly Drew licensed a UAF-developed drug composition that aims to control shivering during medical procedures where body cooling technologies are critical to success. Modulating metabolism and body temperature is used in treating stroke and traumatic injury. The drug is a result of many years of research into animal hibernation by Dr. Drew and her colleagues. This drug development done at UAF could have significant impacts around the world on modern medicine and at the same time, contribute to diversifying 乐虎直播鈥檚 economy.

In order to have a successful industry, you have to have talent in the state that can seize that opportunity. 乐虎直播 is home to incredible talent, and we want to provide 乐虎直播ns with the opportunities and resources they need to find success and fulfillment in their home state. Achieving R1 will help UAF recruit more people who want to make 乐虎直播 their home, and to allow people who want to stay here the opportunity to do so. That includes entrepreneurs and businesses who want to work in partnership with UAF, researchers who want to work at UAF, and students who seek UAF鈥檚 transformative experience. Since achieving R1 status in 2018, the University of Nevada, Reno graduate student enrollment increased by approximately 12% and the number of graduate assistants (teaching and research) increased by about 15.4 %.听 We want this to be our story too.

Though we are still discovering the potential impact of R1 for UAF on the 乐虎直播n economy, we know that the R1 transition for other universities has had positive economic impacts in their states. For example, the University of New Mexico, the only R1 university in NM, accounted for 47,053 jobs, $1.9 billion in labor income, and $5.2 billion in economic output in 2022. Similarly, in 2019, the University of Colorado Boulder estimated its R1 research activities alone produced $1.2 billion in economic activity for the state. As a public university, we can optimize state funding and contribute to the state鈥檚 economic prosperity.听

Thank you for following along on my R1 mini-series. I am grateful to those who have provided feedback and posed questions. There are now over 80 people involved in the R1 Steering Committee and working groups. If you are not already involved, chances are you know someone dedicating their time to help UAF achieve this milestone. I encourage you to continue sharing your questions, ideas, and insights with leaders and R1 volunteers across campus. Achieving R1 will take all of us.

Thanks for choosing UAF.

鈥擠an White, chancellor