UH contracts
to secure grantsThe university hopes the firm
will help get more money to
better a variety of programs
The University of Hawaii hopes a $150,000 contract awarded to a Washington, D.C.-based consultant will bring more federal research and education dollars to the state.
The Board of Regents approved the contract to the Implementation Group at its meeting on Kauai last week.
The firm helped the university system get a $9 million, three-year grant from the National Science Foundation's Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research or EPSCoR program, said Rose Tseng, chancellor at the University of Hawaii-Hilo.
TIG was paid about $30,000 to help prepare that grant, Tseng said.
Under the new contract, TIG consultants will help identify and write proposals for other federal programs and try to expand Hawaii's participation in EPSCoR.
"EPSCoR could be a big deal for the state if we manage it right," said James Gaines, interim vice president for Research at the University of Hawaii.
The EPSCoR program was established to help states develop academic, science and technology resources to make them more competitive and support economic growth. The funds go to states that historically have received lesser amounts of federal research and development money.
Hawaii is among 22 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands that qualify for EPSCoR status. Tseng said Hawaii joined the program three years ago.
Besides the National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense, NASA, the National Institutes of Health, and the Department of Energy have EPSCoR grants or matching funds that the university can apply for, Tseng said.
"Because of EPSCoR status, now we qualify for many other grants," Tseng said.
UH-Hilo, UH-Manoa and the community colleges will share the $9 million grant awarded earlier this year. The university system will get $3 million a year for the next three years. The scientific focus of the grant is to improve the state's research in conservation biology.
But the money can be used for a variety of programs that build science and technology in the state, Gaines said.
For instance, at Kauai Community College, EPSCoR funds are being used to improve math and science skills of nursing students.
The university is also applying for money for programs to improve science and math in public schools, Tseng said.
"You're going into an information-based society, so anything that starts preparing your work force, starts educating your work force, that's an acceptable EPSCoR activity," Gaines said.
