Presentation on UW Science Initiative Feb. 7 in Laramie

Two University of Wyoming faculty members and a graduate student are scheduled to speak about UW’s Science Initiative Wednesday, Feb. 7, at the Laramie Sunrise Rotary Club’s meeting.

The meeting begins at 6:45 a.m. at the Laramie Holiday Inn.

Rachel Watson, director of UW’s Learning Actively Mentoring Program and a lecturer in the Department of Molecular Biology, and Wyoming Research Scholars Program Director Jamie Crait will be joined by botany graduate student Kali Nicholas Moon to discuss the initiative that aims to revolutionize scientific education and discovery in Wyoming.

The Science Initiative, initiated by Gov. Matt Mead and the Legislature in 2014, is an effort to enable world-class research and education related to pillars of Wyoming’s present and future economy. Through life and data sciences research that impacts areas including mineral extraction, agriculture, tourism, resource management and high technology, the initiative will impact Wyoming’s economy and give UW students a leading-edge skill set.

Central to the Science Initiative is construction of a $100 million facility at the northwest end of the UW campus, featuring flexible laboratories for interdisciplinary science research; the Center for Advanced Scientific Instrumentation; state-of-the-art greenhouses for plant research; a 200-seat active-learning classroom; and student collaboration areas to foster science innovation.

The governor, who describes the facility as “a unique research and teaching environment that will transform interdisciplinary research and education,” and the Legislature’s Joint Appropriations Committee have recommended that lawmakers release $100 million previously appropriated for the project.

The Wyoming Research Scholars Program, one of the components of the Science Initiative, provides scholarships for undergraduates to study and conduct research with top UW researchers.