UM marine science school awarded $15M in stimulus
South Florida Business Journal - by Brian Bandell
A wave of economic stimulus money has reached Miami, with a $15 million grant being awarded to the University of Miami to help build a research facility for its marine science school.
The U.S. Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) said the money is part of $55.5 million in grants awarded to four universities.
The money, which was awarded as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, is the first grant presented to a South Florida-based university.
UM’s federal grant will pay for about one-third of the $43.8 million cost of building the Marine Technology and Life Sciences Seawater Research Building. The 56,500-square-foot facility will be on the Virginia Key campus of UM’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science.
It will study costal areas, hurricanes and marine biology with the use of seawater laboratories.
Brian Haus, an associate professor in applied marine physics at UM’s Rosenstiel School, said that the Surge-Structure-Atmosphere Interaction (SUSTAIN) will be the only one of its kind in the world. It will combine hurricane-strength wind and water to simulate damage to coastal areas in three dimensions. UM’s existing simulator is much smaller and only analyzes the data in two dimensions.
The new building also will house the Marine Life Science Center, which will host studies on marine organisms and marine biomedical science.
Haus said UM is hoping for an additional $15 million grant for the project from the National Institutes of Health, but noted the university will move forward with the building with support from its general construction fund.
It should take about six months of permitting and planning before it can begin construction, he said. It should be completed by fall 2012.
Related Industry News |
Latest News |
Most Viewed Stories |
Most Emailed Stories |
