The U.S. Department of Energy's
(DOE) Argonne National Laboratory, the University of North Dakota (UND)
and North Dakota State University (NDSU) announced today that they are developing
a regional partnership to explore complementary scientific research efforts.
The partnership will allow the three organizations to conduct more joint research
in the areas of high-performance computing, nano science, national security,
energy and environmental science. UND, NDSU and Argonne, a multi-purpose scientific
laboratory located outside of Chicago, have had ongoing discussions about joint
research opportunities for three years and are now exploring ways to expand
collaboration.
"This is a true testament to the success of the Red River Valley Research
Corridor (RRVRC)," Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D, said. "Our nation's
Department of Energy national labs are hotbeds of technological development
and research, and Argonne wants to build on the innovation happening here in
North Dakota with a partnership that will allow them to work together on the
greatest energy challenges facing the nation. This is an exciting day for the
research corridor, one that will lead to a growth in our research industry and
attract new, high-paying jobs to the state."
The RRVRC is a corridor along the Red River of the North that is anchored by
UND and NDSU. It was established in 2002 by Dorgan in an effort to bring research
dollars to North Dakota.
The formalization of this partnership will enable Argonne, UND, and NDSU to
engage in basic research projects that require a long-term commitment and will
enhance each organization's efforts to develop technologies that will
address the nation's energy and environmental challenges.
UND and NDSU scientists have already accessed Argonne's Advanced Photon
Source and the Center for Nanoscale Materials, two world-class scientific user
facilities located at the laboratory. Other opportunities exist to perform research
at the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility, which houses one of the world's
fastest public computers for scientific study, and initiate collaborative research
projects.
"This three-party partnership will support President Obama's plan
to reinvigorate the American scientific enterprise," Argonne director
Eric Isaacs said. "It will open the door to university faculty exchanges
and expand the educational opportunities for UND and NDSU students by means
of internships. Argonne runs very robust graduate and undergraduate research
programs that pair some of the world's brightest scientists with students,
who assist in research to solve real world challenges."