The College of Nanoscale
Science and Engineering ("CNSE") of the University at Albany was
selected as one of 10 two- and four-year colleges and universities in the United
States to receive a highly competitive 2009 HP Innovations in Education grant,
which is designed to address the need for more students to pursue and complete
high-quality, high-tech undergraduate degree programs in engineering, computer
science, information systems, and information technology.
The UAlbany NanoCollege will receive an HP Innovations in Education award package
of HP technology, cash, and professional services valued at more than $286,000.
Technologies such as wireless HP Tablet PCs, wide-format HP DesignJet printers,
and remote access to high-power HP Blade Workstations from anywhere on campus
will be used in innovative ways to fundamentally redesign the undergraduate
learning experience.
The grant will allow CNSE to develop and deploy a complementary "virtual
laboratory complex," built on HP's server and tablet PC hardware and software
technologies to provide CNSE's science and engineering students with a one-of-a-kind
digital simulation, design, and data visualization environment that parallels
CNSE's physical laboratory infrastructure. This HP digital infrastructure will
also be applied to CNSE's secondary school outreach programs to establish an
interactive, tether-free classroom environment where students can apply nanoscale
technology to real-world issues as a means of encouraging them to pursue science,
engineering and related career fields.
Dr. Alain E. Kaloyeros, Senior Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of
CNSE, said, "The UAlbany NanoCollege is delighted to be one of only 10
higher education institutions across the country selected to receive the prestigious
HP Innovations in Education grant. With only 5 percent of proposals receiving
funding, this recognition is testament to the pioneering educational paradigm
at CNSE that is preparing students at all levels to become the future leaders
in science and technology that are vital to U.S. competitiveness in the global
innovation economy of the 21st century."
Worldwide, HP is investing more than $17 million in mobile technology, cash
and professional development as part of the global 2009 HP Innovations in Education
grant initiative. This initiative follows HP's five-year, $60 million investment
in HP Technology for Teaching grants to more than 1,000 schools and universities
in 41 countries. During the past 20 years, HP has contributed more than $1 billion
in cash and equipment to schools, universities, community organizations and
other nonprofit organizations around the world.
"Innovation is key to expanding education opportunity - and HP is privileged
to collaborate with educators around the world who are committed to exploring
the exciting possibilities that exist at the intersection of teaching, learning,
and technology," said Jim Vanides, Worldwide Program Manager for HP Global
Social Investments. "Emerging evidence from the last five years is very
positive - excellent instruction combined with the right technologies is measurably
improving student academic success."
More information about the 2009 HP Innovations in Education initiative and
other global social investments is available at www.hp.com/go/grants.