Contact: Maridith Geuder
Mississippi State research contracts and grants stand at a record $36.5 million for the quarter ending Sept. 30.
That amount represents a 44 percent increase over the first quarter of the last fiscal year, said Robert A. Altenkirch, the university's vice president for research.
These latest figures follow a recent announcement that MSU received a record $93.5 million in external research funding during the fiscal year that ended June 30. The funds from federal, state and private sources were in addition to federal financial aid received by the Starkville university.
Altenkirch said some major federal research projects launched during the July-September 2000 period include:
--A National Science Foundation-sponsored investigation into the impact of information technology on agriculture education;
--A Department of Energy-funded consortium to produce alternative fuels;
--A Department of Defense-requested study involving protective technology; and
--An examination for the Environmental Protection Agency of flea control products' impact on humans.
"As these varied projects indicate, Mississippi State is committed to research that can improve the quality of life in the state, the region and the nation," Altenkirch said.
The National Science Foundation currently ranks the university 59th among public institutions in total research expenditures. A university goal is to be among the top 50.