U.S.Congressman Zach Wamp

Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker

County Commissioner Claude Ramsey

Dr. Harry McDonald demonstrates wind patterns over Lookout Mountain

UTC Receives $1 Million in Federal Technology Funding

U.S. Congressman Zach Wamp has announced the appropriation of two federal grants for technology initiatives on the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga campus.

Wamp joined UTC Chancellor Bill Stacy, Chattanooga Mayor Bob Corker, and Hamilton County Executive Claude Ramsey to report $1 million total grants: $500,000 to the UTC SimCenter, a graduate education and research program in computational engineering, and $500,000 toward the establishment of the Riverbend Technology Institute on the campus.

"Communities that invest in research and technology today will reap the benefits of economic development tomorrow," said Congressman Wamp. "The SimCenter at UTC and the Riverbend Technology Institute are two exciting developments in technology growth for the Chattanooga area. High speed computers and computational engineering are frontiers and this funding will allow Chattanooga to be on the cutting edge of new technology research while advancing the curriculum at our major research institution."

UTC, with support from the city, county and University of Chattanooga Foundation, recruited 18 internationally renowned faculty and researchers in the fall of 2002 to form the UT SimCenter at Chattanooga, including Dr. David Whitfield, center director, and Dr. Harry McDonald, the center’s chief research scientist. Prior to coming to UTC, Whitfield was one of three co-founders of the National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center for Computational Field Simulation at Mississippi State University, and McDonald served as the former Director of NASA Ames Research Center at Moffett Field in California, where he established the NASA Center for Excellence in Information Technology.

"We are thrilled that the U.S. government has recognized the renowned researchers of the UTC SimCenter, and we appreciate the tireless efforts of Congressman Wamp in helping earmark this funding for our campus," said Chancellor Stacy. "This is an accomplishment beyond our expectations for the center considering its recent establishment. We are grateful that the SimCenter researchers’ contributions to the scientific community will continue from their new home in Chattanooga."

The mission of the UTC SimCenter is to serve U.S. government and industry through integrated research and education in computational engineering through development of advanced computational simulation and design systems that enable and support designers in the analysis, design and certification of air, land, sea and space systems.

"Today’s announcement provides a great opportunity for our computational engineers, one that is crucial to their academic programs. It will get students involved and provide funding that is needed," according to Dr. John Friedl, UTC Provost.

In the last six months, Dr. Harry McDonald says the SimCenter has acquired 18 professors, 5 Ph.D students and two graduate students.

"With today’s announcement, the SimCenter has acquired $754,000 in grants for research. Over the next 18 months, the research arm of the SimCenter will move to the Solar Building on M.L.King Boulevard, recruit more students and increase our grants and funding," McDonald said.

The Riverbend Technology Institute is a public-private partnership initiative between the City of Chattanooga, Hamilton County, UTC, and community partners. The institute, which is a component of UTC’s Metropolitan College, will support the establishment of high technology industries and work collaboratively in furthering the understanding and development of technology and its effective applications. The institute will sponsor regular presentations increasing public awareness of technology, applications, technology issues, and Chattanooga’s growing involvement in high tech industries.

"The Riverbend Technology Institute will provide intellectual capital to assist with high-tech businesses. As it helps to develop this culture, the institute also holds great promise for celebrating successes in technology in the Chattanooga-Hamilton County area," said Dr. John Shaerer, Dean of Metro College at UTC.