UH research lands $9M grant
By Beverly Creamer
Advertiser Education Writer
Hawai'i's scientific research community, and the University of Hawai'i system that supports it, are on the brink of a surge in new federal money.
The achievement of EPSCoR status (Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research) has enabled the UH system to tap into a new source of National Science Foundation money.
Since Hawai'i joined EPSCoR ranks two years ago, $20 million in federal money has been awarded to the UH system for a variety of NSF-approved research projects — $9 million of that was awarded on April 1, to be dispersed at the rate of $3 million a year over three years.
That means half a dozen new faculty positions at Manoa and Hilo in each of the three years, plus money for equipment at the rate of $300,000 per researcher.
EPSCoR was adopted 23 years ago by the National Science Foundation to funnel more research money into states seriously lagging in federal dollars. But it was only in 2000 that Hawai'i qualified for the lucrative status, as program criteria loosened.
Initiatives to create a more streamlined UH administrative structure launched by President Evan Dobelle will open the federal floodgates even more, say EPSCoR officials in Washington, D.C.
"Dobelle has moved Hawai'i to the front of the EPSCoR pack," said James Hoehn, who headed the National Science Foundation's EPSCoR office until his retirement two weeks ago. "A seamless system is absolutely crucial... Without the seamless university, each partner would go their own way and what was beginning to happen was a decline in funding and opportunities missed."
The latest statistics from the NSF, from the Chronicle of Higher Education, rank UH 61st among the top 100 institutions in the country for receiving NSF research and development money.
UH received $97.7 million in 2001, just before EPSCoR became a reality. By comparison, Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Md., which tops the list, received $879 million.
"Once you qualify, they try to give us money," said UH-Hilo chancellor Rose Tseng, who took the initiative to go after the EPSCoR designation three years ago. "They're under pressure from Congress to give money not just to rich states. Based on your state needs, pretty much they'll give you the money. Once you're recognized as a state that needs stimulus, then the other departments want you to apply for more grants."
As of 2001, 22 states are receiving money through this specialized program.
Along with the $3 million annual grant to hire faculty and procure scientific equipment comes "co-funding" to the tune of millions more because EPSCoR status clears the way for money from other agencies.
"They have millions of dollars in co-funding set aside for EPSCoR states," said Tseng. "If your grant meets the criteria but there isn't enough money, then another department will match this."
With EPSCoR status a growing reality, UH is on track to corral as much of that federal money as it can. A November conference here brought together 200 Hawai'i researchers with NSF program officers to hear research proposals. And the community colleges also are being encouraged to look at their potential for research.
"Proposals will not only come out of Manoa, but increasingly out of the Hilo campus and out of the community colleges," said David McClain, UH interim vice president for research and principal investigator for the new $9 million EPSCoR grant. "They're involved in this. There's a big NSF initiative on math and science education."
Reach Beverly Creamer at bcreamer@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8013.
