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WASHINGTON – Four universities in Washington will receive funding for science facilities and equipment from a federal funding minibus that passed through congress on Thursday.
Senator Maria Cantwell announced the funding Friday, as the bill was sent to the White House for President Donald Trump to sign.
The bill included $7,062,000 in funding to be distributed to University of Washington, Washington State University, Western Washington University and Gonzaga.
University of Washington received around $3 million for two projects. One part of the funding went towards buying equipment for the school’s Interdisciplinary Engineering Building. The other part went towards the university’s College of the Environment’s Cold Lab.
The Cold Lab allows students to do further research on polar and high-altitude ice core research and high-alititude atmospheric research.
“The effects of climate change are here, and are felt most rapidly in high-altitude and high-latitude environments – affecting sea levels, ocean currents, temperatures, and other natural processes,” Cantwell said in her announcement about the funding for the Cold Lab.
“This $1 million grant will help the University of Washington equip a new state-of-the-art Cold Lab facility on their Seattle campus to further enhance their climate science research and education,” she continued.
Washington State University received $2 million to buy equipment for crystal growth at its Institute of Material Research.
The crystal growth equipment would allow the institute to domestically produce “ultra-high-purity and specialty semiconductor crystals” that aren’t commercially available. The lab would focus on research for new types of semiconductor chips.
Western Washington University received just over $1 million to buy a “new scientific research vessel” for the school’s Shannon Point Marine Center.
The vessel is meant to expand on-the-water research for students, researchers and advocates for the Salish Sea.
Gonzaga received exactly $1 million to buy equipment for its new Center for Materials Research. The equipment would allow Gonzaga students and researchers to explore aeronautical opportunities and train aerospace engineers.
The equipment will also enable Gonzaga to expand research and teaching opportunities in materials science.
“Gonzaga University and the Spokane region are leading the way as an innovation testbed for high-rate aerospace materials manufacturing as a part of the American Aerospace Materials Manufacturing Tech Hub. This $1 million grant will allow Gonzaga to purchase equipment for their new Center for Materials Research and bolster their participation in this important R&D mission that will help ensure our nation’s future aerospace leadership,” Cantwell said.
