This is the first edition of the ERC Newsletter from the KU
Energy Research Center. Future editions will be distributed quarterly.
Volume 93-1 briefly describes the ERC, including its primary mission,
Energy Research Opportunities, and Items of Interest. Later issues
of this newsletter will feature Energy Programs and University
Faculty.
The ERC serves the University of Kansas, state and federal government,
industry, and the public on issues related to energy. The primary
objective is to facilitate interdisciplinary energy-related research
and to assist in efforts to transfer technology to interested
parties beyond the University. The goals of the ERC are to establish
new and expanded energy research directed toward stabilizing and
sustaining domestic energy supply and maximizing its use, to provide
technology transfer services, to develop databases for Kansas
energy resources, to provide technical information for discussion
of public policy, and to provide research for consensus building
in environmental and energy development discussions. An in-depth
review of the ERC is provided in our Annual Report - 1991-1992,
a copy of which is available on request.
The Center's day-to-day operations are led by Executive Director,
W. Lynn Watney. Lee C. Gerhard and Don W. Green serve as Co-Directors.
Melanie Cromwell is the Office Coordinator. State funds for the
ERC support the Center's 1.5 staff positions and operations. External
funding derived from its own contracts and return of overhead
funding from external grants submitted through the ERC support
additional activities.
Energy-related grant proposals are encouraged to be submitted
through the ERC. Business operations are conducted through the
Center for Research, Inc. (CRINC), a contracting organization
for externally funded programs at The University of Kansas. KU
has audited Federal overhead rates applicable to contracts operated
through ERC. Administrative charges for private contracts may
be negotiated with federal cost-recovery rates and actual costs
of services. This business operation provides expedient handling
of grant applications, funded by grant and contract overhead,
at no additional cost to the individual or unit/department; it
provides overhead money to the university.
As Program Notices and deadlines become available we will use
this media to inform you of upcoming deadlines. Announcements
and our newletters will soon be placed on an E-mail bulletin board
operated by the Center. The Center receives program funding notices
from many federal government agencies and private organizations.
We also monitor the Commerce Business Daily (CBD) and the Federal
Register for solicitation information. Program announcements and
special and annual reports of funding organizations are maintained
in our library files in the center offices and are available for
review. We would be happy to assist you in obtaining needed information
for grant submission and help establish communication with funding
organizations. Please give us a call at 864-3965 regarding proposal
deadlines, forms, and procedures for specific programs.
KU faculty/staff will soon be receiving an Interests/Capability
Survey from the Center. We our updating our database and will
be asking you for general information as well as to give us a
list of your energy-related research interests/capabilities 'KEY
WORDS'. This information will be entered into our database and
will be used to match with RFP's as they become available. One
of the questions asks how we can better serve you in your research
program including securing funding. Your suggestions are most
welcome.
Current summaries of Federal funding opportunities can be reviewed
through an Internet service called FEDIX. This is an on-line information
service available for universities and research organizations.
FEDIX includes brief descriptions of research programs including
descriptions, eligibility, funding, and deadlines. User-friendly,
menu-driven screens permit searches by agency, program topics,
and procurement titles. Agency information includes formal information
releases that can be searched by date and agency. Procurement
information includes name of contacts, address, phone, fax, and
program description. The Internet address is fedix.fie.com and
can be accessed through TELNET.
National Science Foundation
NSF now offers an electronic dissemination system called STIS
that provides rapid access to NSF publications including program
announcements, press releases, NSF staff directories, award abstracts,
vacancy announcements. STIS is available on Internet at stis@nsf.gov.
Index of files can be downloaded using FTP to stis.nsf.gov.
The NSF Earth Science Program Announcement for 1994 has arrived
at the ERC. Submission deadlines are June 1 and December 1. Proposals
may involve individual scientists or collaborative efforts of
associated researchers working on coordinated projects. Stop by
or call to get copies of portions of the program announcement
that you are interested in or contact NSF directly regarding specific
programs:
Geology & Paleontology - 202-357-7866
Tectonics - 202-357-7915
Petrology & Geochemistry - 202-357 -7498
Geophysics - 202-357-7355
Hydrologic Series - 202-357-7916
Education &Human Resources - 202-357-7356
We also have a full listing of Related NSF Programs on file.
Argonne National Laboratory
Information is available at the ERC on:
FY 94 Application Guide for the DOE Office of Energy Research (DOE ER-0249). It is anticipated that approximately $500 million will be available for award in FY 1994. Applications may be submitted anytime up to the deadline of October 31, 1994. Potential applicants are encouraged to contact OER program staff for pre-application technical assistance and/or more specific information regarding funding opportunities. Topics and phone numbers are included in Document DOE ER-0249. A few of the specific topics found in the Application Guide include Basic Energy Sciences -- energy biosciences, geosciences, engineering research, advanced energy projects.
We recently received the U. S. Dept. of Commerce and U.S. Department
of Energy Program Solicitations for Small Business Innovation
Research (SBIR) for FY 1994. Consultative arrangements with private
firms and universities are permitted and encouraged. The small
business serves as the Prime Contractor. The DOE solicitation
lists 43 topics including photovoltaics, wind turbines, remediation,
natural gas, coal-based power systems, enhanced oil recovery,
advanced geophysical imaging, and "green" car technology.
Closing date for proposals to DOE is February 15, 1994. Program
announcement and abstracts of 1993 awards can be reviewed at the
ERC office.
A recent meeting with GRI indicates that they are undergoing significant changes in organization and are re-defining new areas of research interests. GRI has not been a source of funding for KU researchers in the past decade. Perhaps this may change. Natural gas has become an attractive fuel because of its abundance in the U.S. and for its relatively benign environmental characteristics. Also Kansas is well endowed with this resource with one of the largest gas fields in the western hemisphere, Hugoton field. The R&D Budget of GRI for 1994 is $175.5 MM. Contact us for latest information.
Current Program Areas of GRI include:
Sources of information available on GRI:
The Clinton Administration released its Initiatives to Aid
Domestic Natural Gas and Oil Industry on December 9. Fifty specific
action items are focused on creating high technology jobs in the
nation's oil and gas industry, expanding markets for natural gas,
and improving coordination among Federal, state regulators and
decision makers. The long-term strategy is to lessen dependence
on foreign oil. The Clinton Administration is intent on fostering
industry and government partnerships to assist oil and gas exploration
and production efforts. The report states that they desire to
eliminate environmental overkill by creating greater coordination
and flexibility in State and Federal regulatory processes. The
40-page Domestic Natural Gas and Oil Initiative is available at
the ERC.
Climate Change Action Plan was announced by Clinton Administration
on October 19 to address global warming. The objective of this
plan is to return greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by year
2000. Report is available at ERC and copies can be acquired through
regional EPA office in Kansas City, KS (913/551-7003).
On File at the ERC - National Research Council Report, Advanced Exploratory Research Directions for Extraction and Processing of Oil and Gas.
Recently received report titled, "Selected Data on Federal Support to Universities and Colleges: Fiscal Year 1991" (document no. NSF 93-320) describes composition of funding received in science and engineering. Total Federal support in science and engineering to all institutions in FY91 was $10,014,322,000. Totals for KU by Federal agency include:
Dept. of Commerce $50,000.
Dept. of Defense, Research $838,000.
Dept. of Education $1,658,000.
Dept. of Energy $680,000.
Environmental Protection Agency $21,000.
Dept. of Health and Human Services $21,047,000.
NASA $888,000.
NSF $2,911,000.
Other $248,000.
KU Total $28,341,000.