On June 25, UIC Physics Professor Nikos Varelas participated in the user facilities panel discussion at the Illinois Science & Technology Coalition (ISTC) Leadership Forum Series with Reps. Hultgren, Lipinski, and Foster. The event underscored the importance of partnerships between research universities and national user facilities like Argonne and Fermi.
That same day, Urbana's Plant Biology and Crop Sciences Professor Stephen P. Long delivered the keynote address at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Charles Valentine Riley Memorial Lecture. The lecture highlighted the pivotal role of science for the future of agriculture.
President Robert Easter, VPR Larry Schook, and Professor Bill King were also in Washington, D.C. this week. While they were in town, they had a chance to meet with Representatives Rodney Davis, Danny Davis, and Enyart and Department of Defense officials to discuss the Digital Manufacturing Hub proposal being led by UI LABS and the University of Illinois. Additionally, President Easter met with Dr. Sonny Ramaswamy, Director of USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), to discuss agricultural research programs like NIFA. President Easter also met with Dr. Darrell Kirch, President of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), to discuss the university's health mission and balancing its teaching, research, and clinical care enterprise.
