In connection with the launch of our redesigned website, Science Foundation Arizona has initiated an SFAz Blog to inform readers about items of potential interest. We are mindful of the abundance of information being made available to readers and hope that you will find our periodic blog posts to be a welcome addition.
For those who have not heard the good news, SFAz has received $10 million of STIMULUS funds from Governor Brewer's State Fiscal Stabilization Fund via the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Approximately $6.5 million will be invested in research and the balance in STEM education activities throughout the state. One interesting new investment will be in Aerospace & Defense, where SFAz has been asked to incubate a potential A&D Institute for Arizona. This institute would be truly transformational and create a competitive advantage for Arizona industry. We will announce a plan to move this concept forward by mid November.
I want to thank the Flagstaff community and our astronomy and optical partners from Flagstaff and Tucson who worked with Darcy Renfro, Len Fine and others at SFAz to host a successful “star party” for about 400 fifth grade students, their teachers and parents on October 15. The students and teachers built their telescopes from ’kits’ provided by Steve Pompea and his colleagues at the National Optical Astronomy Observatory. Astronomy is magical and the young ‘astronomers’ had a great time. We will be conducting star parties throughout the state in the months ahead.
Bill Harris
October 20, 2010
