May 2004

Research reps visit Washington, D.C.
UM President George Dennison and geology graduate student Brian Boer were among a contingent of university leaders and researchers who met with U.S. congressmen from the Northwest on Capitol Hill last month.

Members of the Inland Northwest Research Alliance, a nonprofit scientific and educational consortium of eight universities, traveled to Washington, D.C., March 29-April 1, to discuss the organization’s benefits to doctoral-level education.

Boer was one of five students from member institutions invited to talk to congressional representatives about how INRA programs — specifically the Subsurface Science Research Institute — have enriched their academic experiences. A multidisciplinary, doctoral-level program, SSRI offers graduate courses crafted by deans and faculty from INRA institutions and the staff of the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL).

“The students always steal the show, as they should,” President Dennison said.
Besides meeting with their congressmen, INRA members also attended a reception hosted by Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho. Crapo noted that INRA makes significant contributions to regional economic development with new programs that lead to new technologies in the Northwest.

The total research and development budget for the INRA universities in fiscal year 2001 was $530 million, which would rank the member institutions collectively as the seventh largest institution of higher education in the nation in terms of funding. INRA comprises UM, the University of Idaho, and the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, as well as Montana State, Boise State, Idaho State, Utah State and Washington State universities.

For information, contact:
Rita.Munzenrider@mso.umt.edu
University Relations
(406) 243-2522

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