Congress has awarded Florida's state universities a record $122.6 million in federal research funds, the highest level of support ever for Florida's public universities, and the University of Central Florida will be the beneficiary of about $14 million of the total. Last year, UCF received about $13 million.

Praising the Florida congressional delegation, UCF President John Hitt said, "It is remarkable that in these tough economic times, our congressional delegation was able to convince their colleagues that Florida's universities are performing the kind of research that will make a difference to our country. Appropriations Committee Chairman Bill Young and our Central Florida delegation have worked hard to communicate the importance of the work we are doing on our campuses."

The largest allocation for UCF is the $7.6 million it will manage and allocate for the hydrogen initiative for NASA. The funds will allow a coalition of Florida's universities to investigate ways to produce, manage and utilize hydrogen fuels at sites near the space center, so the materials will not have to be transported from elsewhere and can be used and stored more safely and efficiently. UCF is working with the University of Florida, Florida State University, the University of South Florida and Florida International University on the project.

UCF will also be working with other state universities on joint projects on biological/chemical terrorism response, biological control facilities, hurricane mitigation, and reading/math/science efforts for schools.

The following specific allocations will be awarded solely to UCF: $2.5 million for computer simulation/modeling, $2 million for nanophotonics fabrication, $1.25 for UCF's Florida Solar Energy Center to continue as the Department of Energy's photovoltaic research experiment station, and $500,000 for chloroplast genetic engineering research.

"We greatly appreciate the work of Senators Bob Graham and Bill Nelson in obtaining $2 million in defense appropriations for a nanophotonics fabrication facility in our Center for Research and Education in Optics and Lasers, said M.J. Soileau, UCF Vice President for Research. "The funding will make it possible to continue vital research that is moving optics and laser research and applications from the vacuum tube world to the integrated devices world. This will have major impact on defense applications and on Florida's burgeoning photonics industry."

Soileau added, "The work of Rep. Ric Keller was vital in obtaining $2.5 million in the defense appropriations bill for UCF's Institute for Simulation and Training and other UCF units involved in simulation research and education. This brings the total allocation over two years to $7 million. This latest support came at a critical time, as we launch our new multidisciplinary master's and Ph.D. program in simulation."

Rep. Keller, the only member of Congress from Florida on the House Education Committee, was on the UCF campus recently, seeking input from college and university leaders on the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. Among the most important issues in the legislation is student financial aid. As part of the visit, Keller and President John Hitt hosted a forum on "How to Pay for College," conducting a discussion among the educators on how parents can afford a college education for their children in a downturn economy.