STaR Enterprise takes off in state
Event focuses on academic research

This article appeared in the September 18, 2007, edition of the Times West Virginian (Fairmont).


By Jessica Legge

MORGANTOWN — The presidents of West Virginia University, Marshall University and the University of Louisville came together Monday to discuss academic research during the annual West Virginia Science, Technology and Research Symposium.

The 2007 event, titled “Defining our Future: The STaR Enterprise in West Virginia,” started Monday morning and continues today at the Waterfront Place Hotel in Morgantown. The event features guest speakers, panel discussions, scientific sessions on various topics, and a poster competition for college and university students.

Dr. Paul Hill, vice chancellor for science and research at the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, said research is the foundation for the country’s economic future. The people at the STaR Symposium and the programs they represent are a $200 million enterprise in West Virginia, he said.

Michael Garrison of WVU, Stephen Kopp of Marshall, and special guest panelist Dr. James Ramsey of Louisville made up the keynote panel Monday on “Collaborative and Competitive Research.” These individuals talked about their school’s research goals and strategies.

Jay Cole, education policy advisor to Gov. Joe Manchin, served as moderator. Cole said every example of successful regional high-tech development over the last 50 years has involved the leadership of a research university.

The University of Louisville started placing an emphasis on funded research around 1997 and 1998, President Ramsey said. At this time, the school adopted a plan called “Challenge for Excellence” that focused on building research and becoming a “premier, nationally recognized, metropolitan research university.”

He said the University of Louisville identified potential growth areas in two economic clusters: health care and life sciences, and logistics and distribution management. In the area of health care, the institution has done a lot of cancer research, including work with cervical cancer and the vaccine.

Kentucky’s “Bucks for Brains” state campaign has providing vital funding for the University of Louisville’s research programs and to bring in faculty and researchers, Ramsey said. The school has had to look for other funding sources beyond the state to build its physical infrastructure. The university constructed four research facilities and is working on the development of a downtown research park.

President Kopp of Marshall University said there are many parallels between Kentucky and West Virginia’s research efforts. Although West Virginia may be behind, it is working to close the gap, he said.

Marshall has researchers who are accomplished, but in the past, the university’s research was not focused. Now, Marshall University is evolving as a research university and continues to progress, he said. The school is working on a range of projects, from purely theoretical research to applied research.

Kopp said he knew it would be a challenge to fund research programs and cover faculty, equipment and other needs without being affected by state budget cuts.

Marshall created a funding model that is self-sustaining and does not require base
funding from the state.

Kopp stressed that even if the state does an exceptional job with research and educating school children about career opportunities, it also needs to ensure that jobs are available in these fields.

The role of universities and state government in research and education is changing, WVU President Garrison said. In the nation, people are seeing a commitment to innovation and enhancing the public research venture.

“We must ask ourselves what part West Virginia will play in the next wave of creativity,” he said. “We’ve grown our research enterprise at WVU. We will be diligent in staying focused on our priorities.”

Garrison said WVU is committed to becoming a leading energy research facility and strives to complement the economic development in the state. Some of the university’s research priorities include biometrics and nanotechnology, and WVU has a vibrant Health Sciences Center.

With the success of students and the hard work of faculty, WVU is at a “crossroads” and is ready for more growth, Garrison said. He thanked Gov. Manchin and the legislators for their focus on research funding.

“We’re very encouraged by this symposium,” Garrison said.