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.