Lab 304: Outlook introduces science segment highlighting state achievements

West Virginia Public Broadcasting introduced a new segment to its weekly news and public affairs television program "Outlook" this week during the Thursday show. "Lab 304" is an on-going series of stories focusing on activities of West Virginians exploring the vast world of math and science.

"Outlook" airs on West Virginia PBS each Thursday at 9 p.m. and repeats the following Sunday at 6 p.m. There is also a broadcast Sunday at 10 p.m. on West Virginia PBS Cable, available via Suddenlink and Time Warner cable systems in limited areas.

On this week’s premiere of "Lab 304" viewers learned about the challenges of replacing the azimuth track on the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope. Scientists from around the world use this telescope to study virtually all types of astronomical objects, from planets and comets in our own Solar System to quasars and galaxies billions of light-years away. The azimuth track is used to calculate distance.

Throughout the refurbishing project, West Virginia Public Broadcasting cameras were granted access in, on and around the 420-foot structure--capturing unique images of how the telescope is constructed and used.

Some of this footage was recently featured on the PBS program "Wired Science."

"Lab 304" video clips are available online on YouTube and the WVEPSCoR website.

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory operates the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope and several other telescopes.

Support for "Lab 304" is provided by West Virginia Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research.

Eureka

Intellectual capital

Charleston Gazette
2/7/08


AMONG appeals for state money before the Legislature this year is a plan pitched by Gov. Joe Manchin to use $50 million to endow competitive research at West Virginia and Marshall universities. This plan has great potential.

Modeled after a program in Kentucky called "Bucks for Brains," Manchin's plan is named "Bucks for Jobs," but the goal is the same. The state would invest $50 million and divide the interest between WVU and Marshall. WVU would get 70 percent of the earnings and Marshall would get 30 percent, a ratio that reflects existing research at the schools. The schools would have to raise equal amounts in private donations to get the money.

While the principal remains invested to generate more money, the schools would use the earnings to hire research scientists and build and equip their labs. The researchers would then be in a better position to compete for federal and private research grants, drawing more money and staff into Morgantown and Huntington.

This plan is good for West Virginia in a number of ways. First, it will attract smart professionals and their families, who will buy houses, attend schools and pay taxes. Second, it will generate the kinds of jobs that state residents currently move away to find: high-tech careers, many in the knowledge economy. At the same time, research opportunities will further enliven campus life for graduate and undergraduate students. Because these are new positions dedicated to research with funding attached, it will not pull existing faculty from important teaching duties, as other efforts to bolster research have done.

The goal of this research investment is to generate patents and private spinoff companies to manufacture new products.

There's already biomedical research going on at WVU and Marshall. This effort would help it advance even further. Other fields include biotechnology, nanotechnology, biometrics, material science, engineering and environmental studies.

Paul Hill, vice chancellor for science and research at the state Higher Education Policy Commission, says the money would be spent in fields where the schools are already strong, and where there is potential for an economic payoff.

In a decade or two, this investment could add millions to West Virginia's economy. More of the state could enjoy the kind of boom that Morgantown has been seeing for years, largely driven by research efforts.

This could be the smartest $50 million the Legislature spends.