WSU FY11 Requests
Through our four campuses, four research centers, and WSU Extension, WSU is physically present in every congressional district, delivering education, research, and services that benefit Washingtonians in their communities every day. As the state's land-grant university, WSU's mission is to drive education and research into our communities to support and grow the state's economy.
Washington State University delivers cutting-edge research, supports existing industries while creating new ones, and drives long-term economic growth for the Northwest. We are state, national, and global leaders in plant science, bioenergy feedstock development, global animal health, food safety, energy technologies, and storm water research, and work with key partners such as Boeing, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Avista, and U.S. Departments of Defense, Agriculture, and Energy. We also work closely with other leading land-grant and research universities around the country.
Agricultural Research and Extension
WSU's vision is to lead the research, discovery, and implementation of 21st century agriculture; research, development, and implementation of new crop varieties and new cropping systems; and management or elimination of diseases in plants, animals, and soil.
- Research and Extension Funding-WSU received $8,093,426 in FY2008 and $8,669,849 in FY2010. If funding is rolled back to 2008 levels WSU could lose $576,423 that is used as foundational funding for agricultural research and extension programs delivered to Washington state.
- Authorized Funding-Special research grants and federal administration grants in 2010 totaled $3,587,216. If these funds are eliminated, programs that provide needed research in cropping, specialty crops, plant breeding, climate change, and bioenergy will be discontinued.
- Competitive Funding-The Agriculture Food Research Institute provides peer reviewed funding. WSU has been successful in winning grants in 2010, particularly for specialty crops and organic research. We have aggressively pursued biofuels research grants as well. We strongly support AFRI competitive funds being increased by having authorized funding (such as the special grants and federal administration grants) moved to the competitive AFRI funds.
- Agriculture Research Service-ARS and WSU have a very good working relationship in plant and animal sciences research, and provide valuable results to the Pacific Northwest region as well as the nation. Joint research initiatives and leveraging of funding resources creates a competitive advantage to both partners, in turn providing benefits to farmers, ranchers, and consumers.
- Farm Bill-The next farm bill will be highly scrutinized by Congress and many programs will be considered for elimination. WSU is committed to working with the delegation and agriculture communities in the state to review elements that affect our mission to advance agriculture and economic development in the state.
Clean Technologies and Energy
Washington State University is advancing research and working with industry to develop clean technologies and energy technologies. Bioenergy and water resources research also benefits from WSU's multidisciplinary research of agriculture, engineering, and science. Material science research is leading to breakthroughs in fuel cell catalysts materials and novel research in energy storage at nano scale.
- Aviation Biofuels-Washington State University has been a leader, with our partners Boeing, SeaTac, CAAFI, Spokane International Airport, Targeted Growth, FAA, USDA, and U.S. Navy, as well as others, to explore the feasibility of developing an aviation biofuels industry in the Pacific Northwest. This effort includes both a civilian market and military opportunities.
- Low Impact Development and Stormwater Remediation-WSU has invested over $1,000,000 at the Puyallup research station to create a unique scientific facility that can provide duplicative research results in stormwater technologies and techniques. This facility serves the entire state, and has partnerships with local municipalities and the state. Discussions with the EPA are ongoing; WSU believes that this facility can be a national resource.
- Algae, Fuel Cell Catalysis, and Positrons-WSU is currently engaged with the federal government in three specific research projects that address energy production or energy storage.
Health Sciences
Washington State University is committed to establishing a health sciences campus that educates and generates a medical science research industry in Spokane and the greater eastern Washington region.
- Educating Doctors, Nurses, and Pharmacists-WSU is committed to helping fulfill the need for medical professionals who are educated to better work in teams to deliver integrated primary health care in Washington.
- Expanding the WWAMI program-To meet the growing shortage of primary care physicians, WSU is committed to expanding the WWAMI partnership with the UW School of Medicine at the WSU Spokane Riverpoint Campus with the goal of establishing a complete four-year undergraduate medical education program in Spokane, coupled with expanded graduate medical education (residency) programs.
Federal funding is key to WSU's core mission:
Big ideas
- It accounts for $576,000 in combined basic land-grant university funding that supports research and extension
- It supplies $2,000,000 that is critical to continued progress in algae biofuels research
- It supplies $3,587,216 of additional congressional authorized funds that support research vital to the our region's economy-today and in the years to come-in specialty crops, cropping systems, aquaculture, plant breeding, and climate change.
Big ideas
- 21st Century Agriculture-WSU will help the world meet the needs of an ever-growing world population in changing conditions.
- Health-WSU is in a unique position to advance health and healthcare worldwide-and in our own backyard.
- Clean Technologies and Energy-WSU is the nexus for the development of renewable fuels and the agricultural and industrial supply chains.
- Educational Access-WSU must ensure access to quality higher education and prepare a skilled workforce to sustain economic stability and innovation.