In FY 2003, NSF provided 521 awards totaling over $119 million to 43 institutions in the State of Washington as well as $253,000 in fellowships.
Institutions in Washington that received NSF support in FY 2003 include Bellevue Community College, the Institute for Systems Biology; the Pacific Science Center, Eastern Washington University, Earth and Science Research, Evergreen State College, Pacific Lutheran University, and Gonzaga University.
Center on Materials and Devices for Information Technology Research — This Science and Technology Center (STC) at the University of Washington is a multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional activity designed to support a goal-directed, sustained effort to broadly advance the science and technology of materials, devices, and systems for advancing information technology. This STC emphasizes vertical integration of knowledge and applications that span the intellectual range in fundamental optoelectronic materials and engineering research from molecules to integrated devices and systems for improved signal generation and detection and for improved information transport, processing, and storage. Research is divided among four strategic thrust areas: 1) electro-optic and all-optical materials and devices; 2) infrared organic light-emitting diodes, amplifiers, and lasers; 3) advanced assembly and patterning approaches to integrated optics, and 4) theory.
Northwest Indian College TCUP Project — A Tribal Colleges and Universities Program (TCUP) award to Northwest Indian College helps provide post-secondary educational opportunities for Native Americans that is sensitive to their world views, background, and academic needs and goals. The preliminary goal of the program is to generate student interest and growth toward further education in math and science. Building on this foundation, the overall goal is to have these students obtain associates and baccalaureate degrees in science or math related fields. During the first year, eligible students will enter into an integrated academic group or cohort. A testing specialist will evaluate math and science competencies for each student. The cohort would be assigned a relevant scientific topic, such as determining water quality. Individually and as a group, students will research the topic using math to compute statistics, the Internet to find background material, and group discussions to enhance individual research. Students will give oral and written presentations.
Small Business Innovation Research
— An NSF SBIR
award to Aculight
Corporation will support research to address
the need for a new generation of laser transmitters
for differential absorption lidar (DIAL) measurements
of water vapor. DIAL transmitter requirements
will be achieved using a revolutionary technology
that allows diffraction-limited performance from
diode bars. These ultra-bright diode bars enable
efficient end pumped, q-switched, low-gain, quasi-three
level lasers. Recently, a laser material that
operates directly at the 944.1 nanometer water
vapor absorption line has become commercially
available. Coupling these two technologies will
result in an efficient, compact DIAL transmitter.
Low cost DIAL transmitters are important for future
improvements in weather forecasting, global climate
models, and understanding of the transmission
of communications signals in the atmosphere.