Contact: Bob Ratliff
The Tennessee Valley Authority is joining with Mississippi State in a partnership to provide research support for industries in the TVA service area.
During the recent presentation of $250,000 to the university's Engineering Research Center for Computational Field Simulation, TVA director Johnny Hayes said the agency's contributions to research are investments in economic development.
"I see real opportunities for industry growth throughout the Tennessee Valley," he said. "The type of research and educational activities conducted by the ERC at Mississippi State can help keep our companies competitive in the world market."
ERC researchers are focusing on ways that computer simulations can considerably reduce the time and cost of complex engineering tasks. A current project for Ford Motor Co. involves the improvement of automobile heating and cooling systems.
"The expertise of scientists at the ERC and the training they provide for MSU engineering students make this a facility that plays an important role in the economic growth of Mississippi and the surrounding region," said MSU President Malcolm Portera. "The TVA partnership will help the center better serve the research needs of our Mississippi industries and educate engineers with the skills needed by today's high-tech companies."
A federal corporation with headquarters in Knoxville, Tenn., TVA is the nation's largest electric-power producer. Covering more than 80,000 square miles throughout the Southeast, it also serves as a regional economic development agency and a national center for environmental research.