LOUISVILLE, Ky. — University of Louisville President John L. Shumaker will join University of Kentucky President Lee T. Todd Jr. and faculty from both campuses to talk about advances made through the state’s Research Challenge Trust Fund during a Feb. 4 meeting of the state’s Council on Postsecondary Education.
The council meets at 8:30 a.m. in its offices at 1024 Capital Center Drive, Suite 320, Frankfort.
Other speakers discussing the impact of the trust fund, often called “Bucks for Brains,” include Paul Chellgren, chairman and CEO of Ashland Inc.; Bill Brundage, the state’s commissioner for the new economy; and four faculty members supported through the trust fund.
They are U of L faculty members Victoria Molfese, who holds the Ashland Inc. chair in early childhood education in memory of Raphael O. Nystrand, and Mark Rothstein, Herbert F. Boehl chair in health law and policy, and UK faculty Brad Anderson, Kostenbauder professor in pharmaceutical sciences, and Sharyn Perry, professor of plant molecular biology.
The Research Challenge Trust Fund is a legislative initiative that matches state funds with funds raised by the universities to help attract and retain outstanding faculty researchers. The General Assembly approved funding for the program in the 1998 and 2000 legislative sessions, and Governor Paul Patton is asking for a third round of funding in the current session.
“‘Bucks for Brains’ is an important factor in the state’s economic development and will lead to improvements in the quality of life for all Kentuckians,” Shumaker said. “Our goal is to emphasize the successes of the program to date and the benefits the state and its citizens will see with its continuation.”