Top Priorities?

The fate of our higher education research institutions (DRI, UNLV and UNR) lies at the center of an even more fundamental question. What kind of state do Nevadans want to live in and call home? Are good schools, great health care, adequate transportation and personal safety top priorities?  As you’ve seen over the last two weeks of my Tweets, you know that our research institutions are actively involved in innovative work in each of those areas. If these are priorities, then why have we done so little to support them financially? 

Horsford & Cegavske

Steven Horsford and Barbara Cegavske are the two most incompetent Legislators to ever serve Nevada. Each party has one of these. The Republicans - Cegavske and Democrats - Horsford. If you vote the party line and you are a Democrat think about looking at the qualifications of the candidate rather than the party they represent. If I were forced to vote for either Horsford or Cegavske,
I would choose Cegavske.

Question About Nevada

Is Nevada evolving as a state or is it doomed to irrelevance and extinction? While I’ve seen Nevada’s higher education system continuously adapt to a new environment by streamlining operations, improving programs, and increasing student success, they will not succeed if the Nevada Legislature continues to remain entrenched. For years, they have had study after study showing them what level of investment they need to make our education system succeed by developing their research infrastructure.  And for years the only action they have taken was to commission another study that they will ignore.

Horsford | Too Late

Tax policy in Nevada controls every decision made by the Legislature and by the Governor on the operation of the state. Even so, Horsford did not discuss options to broaden the tax base until the legislative session was 75% through its term. It was then too late.

UNR | Commercialize Research

State funding support for world-class public universities, like Berkeley, the University of Michigan and the University of Virginia has been reduced as low as zero to 20%.  The top tier public universities learned many years ago it was necessary for them to become research universities, which are profit centers, to fund their operations.  UNLV and UNR are far behind on the curve in becoming self-sustaining.  Both must develop as world renowned research universities to earn income to survive and succeed.

Today Jim discusses the many attributes and plans of UNR and UNLV to make both universities competitive with the other world-class U.S. public universities.

A focused commitment to move innovation into the marketplace is exemplified by UNR’s efforts to advance and commercialize research. Led by the University’s Technology Transfer Office, a resource shared with DRI, patents and research commercialized by UNR are on the rise. UNR has licensed technologies that hold promise for the treatment for muscular dystrophy, allow rapid diagnosis of the leading cause of AIDS-related deaths in sub-Saharan Africa, support geothermal and petroleum exploration, contribute to sensing technology at our nation’s ports and support improved water treatment capabilities.

Horsford

During the legislative session, Horsford, a glib individual, made dozens of partisan speeches to move his political career forward rather than move the state forward.

UNR & Geothermal Energy

State funding support for world-class public universities, like Berkeley, the University of Michigan and the University of Virginia has been reduced as low as zero to 20%.  The top tier public universities learned many years ago it was necessary for them to become research universities, which are profit centers, to fund their operations.  UNLV and UNR are far behind on the curve in becoming self-sustaining.  Both must develop as world renowned research universities to earn income to survive and succeed.

Today Jim discusses the many attributes and plans of UNR and UNLV to make both universities competitive with the other world-class U.S. public universities.

Nevada has the nation’s largest geothermal energy potential.  UNR research has helped develop sophisticated and complex exploration strategies for geothermal energy. UNR was selected from a consortium of top universities in the field of geothermal energy to host the National Geothermal Academy: http://newsroom.unr.edu/2012/07/25/universitys-national-geothermal-academy-recognized-for-outstanding-leadership/