Funds to improve university connectivity

Mississippi will get a portion of $20 million being awarded by the National Science Foundation to enhance broadband access and bolster connectivity for academic research. NSF awarded 17 universities or state education groups. In one project, money will be used so Jackson State University, Mississippi State University, University of Mississippi, and the University of Southern Mississippi can expand Gigabit accessibility to researchers in modeling and multiscale simulations of complex systems. The upgrade will bolster the state's capacity to pursue collaborative research in biological systems simulation, computational biology, and computational chemistry. Another project in Louisiana is also of interest to Mississippi. That state will receive money to extend the high-bandwidth optical network of the Louisiana Optical Network Initiative to Xavier University in New Orleans. LONI provides cyber infrastructure across Louisiana, and includes Mississippi’s four research universities. LONI is Mississippi’s connection to the National LambdaRail, a coast-to-coast broadband network for advanced research. Each award provides just over $1 million for up to two years. (Source: NSF, 08/25/10)