Ohio University employees have requested about $124 million in federal stimulus money so far for research and infrastructure projects.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 includes $21.5 billion for research in science and technology such as $7 billion to extend broadband services to underserved areas, $10.4 billion to the National Institutes of Health and $3 billion to the National Science Foundation.
I think the opportunities (for funding) are many
said Teri Geiger, OU's director of Government Relations. We certainly think we are in a key position to have an impact on the area.
It is still unknown exactly how the money will be distributed, she added.
OU employees have submitted 29 requests for funding so far, according to the Office of Research Communications.
There are so many talented faculty members in the university and they have so many good ideas said Rathindra Bose, vice president for Research.
Stimulus money will allow the university to fund more projects and pay more graduate students taking part in research, he said.
The state is estimated to receive at least $8.2 billion in stimulus money, according to Gov. Ted Strickland's office.
While about $5.8 billion is included in the state budget, the other $2.4 billion remains unclaimed, said Amanda Wurst, a spokeswoman for Strickland.
The remaining money will likely be distributed to agencies around the state to fund public and private research and help save jobs, she said.
Universities and other organizations can also make proposals to the federal government and the NSF, which will award stimulus money for research on a competitive basis.
The university is likely to receive money because it is on the cutting edge of research, Bose said.
OU is ranked fourth nationally among public universities in research income, according to Forbes magazine.
There is currently no deadline for funding requests to the state. Proposals must include a project description, the amount of money desired and a total cost of the project. As of yesterday, the state had received 13,423 proposals.
Projects eligible for state stimulus money fall into categories such as developing a 21st century education system, lowering health care costs and modernizing transportation.
(The application) is only one small step to potentially receive stimulus money said Gayle Mitchell, director of the Ohio Research Institute for Transportation and the Environment, part of OU's civil engineering department.
Mitchell asked for $7.5 million to develop a new technology that uses recyclables and more durable forms of asphalt to improve highways and railroads.
Bob Williams, a professor of mechanical engineering, requested $1 million to commercialize software that allows students to see and feel scientific concepts such as inertia. Students holding a joystick will be able to feel the weight and movement of an object across a given surface.
Our vision is to really augment the textbook learning where the pages are flat
Williams said.
While these projects are expected to create jobs, other projects such as David Bayless's aim to save jobs.
With $9 million requested, Bayless, a professor of mechanical engineering who is partnering with an Internet and business services company, would build a pilot facility in Ohio that would essentially convert animal waste into algae, biodiesel, animal feed and other forms of energy.
Dairy farms are closing at unbelievable rates
Bayless said, adding that the technology will allow farmers to easily dispose of waste and reduce costs.
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Caitlin Bowling
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