This week, Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan, director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), traveled to Seattle and Spokane to get an inside look at the important scientific research and innovation happening across the state, and share how newly approved federal funding can help support these efforts.
The visit was organized by Senator Maria Cantwell, a main architect of the CHIPS and Science Act, which authorized historic levels of funding for federal science agencies—funding researchers at WSU rely on to support efforts across the system.
Kicking off the tour in Seattle, Director Panchanathan met with leaders from the state’s higher education institutions, including Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture Dean Mary Rezac and Vice President for Research Chris Keane, to hear about their aspirations for the CHIPS and Science Act, with a focus on inventing the next generation of technologies and training the future workforce.
“CHIPS and Science sets up an opportunity for the Pacific Northwest to focus on what we do very, very well—leverage our strengths for future economic growth and for our students,” Dean Rezac said.
The Dean highlighted the urgent need for more tech-trained workers and echoed the importance of this new federal funding to support a diverse and highly trained future workforce—one that represents the diversity of the state.
The next day in Spokane, Eastern Washington leaders shared their experience with NSF grants and aspirations around the increased opportunities through CHIPS and Science.
Spokane Chancellor Daryll DeWald, College of Arts and Sciences Dean Todd Butler, Senior Vice Provost Laura Hill, and Vice President for Research Chris Keane all joined the Director for a full day of tours and discussions.
WSU’s Office of Federal Relations continues to advocate for this critical federal funding in support of research priorities for the system, campuses, and colleges. If you are interested in learning more, please reach out to the Office of Federal Relations at Glynda.Becker@wsu.edu and Jacob.Dowd@wsu.edu.