New research tool: A ‘global heat map’ for NC

Screenshot of Global Heat Map of North Carolina

The UNC System’s Center for International Understanding is unveiling a new tool today, the North Carolina Global Heat Map, that could benefit anyone doing research on North Carolina’s economy and demographics

The center and SAS have put together a map of the state designed to be a single data source for education, business and demographic information. It ranks every county on 52 measures of population, education, imports and exports, and other criteria. It   A detailed description is found here, courtesy of WRALtechwire.

Guilford County, for example, ranks third in population and third in most demographic measures. It ranks first in K-12 enrollment in Chinese language classes, but only 14th in percentage of K-12 students enrolled in foreign language classes.  Guilford is a net exporter by a considerable margin, $3.2 billion annually compared to $2.2 in imports.

The map was developed by the center and SAS.  It’s being shown for the first time today at the SAS corporate headquarters in Cary.

Tech entrepreneurs kick off Research Week 2012

Technology entrepreneurs/executives Karim Salehmohammed of U.S. Green Energy, David Nackashi of Protochips Inc., Greg Bowers of Advaero Technologies, and Ed Calt of Integrated Biochem engage with N.C. A&T faculty, students and staff during a panel discussion of the university's role in innovation and applied research as part of the kickoff of Research Week 2012.

 

Local manufacturing rises, aided by A&T, JSNN

Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering

The News & Record editorializes about the Greensboro Partnership’s 2012 State of the City Report:

“Manufacturing increased its share of Greensboro’s workforce from 11.1 percent in 2009 to 11.5 percent in 2010. At the same time, average pay in that sector rose by 5.3 percent to $54,017.

“This is one of the industry segments economic development leaders have focused on for years, with considerable help from the education community. Programs at GTCC, the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, even Guilford County Schools’ recent decision to place a STEM school — science, technology, engineering and math — at N.C. A&T, are critical efforts to provide skilled workers for a rejuvenated manufacturing sector.”

Chancellor Martin pushes for more JSNN funding

Chancellor Martin meets with Sen. Phil Berger, president pro tem of the N.C. Senate (to right of Martin), and Rep. Thom Tillis, speaker of the N.C. House (back to camera). With Martin are, left to right, civic leader and A&T alum Shirley Frye; Chancellor Linda Brady of UNCG; Pat Danahy, president of the Greensboro Partnership; and Ed Kitchen, vice president of the Bryan Foundation.

Chancellor Martin joined a delegation of some 60 business and academic leaders from Greensboro in a visit to the North Carolina General Assembly on Wednesday.  The group met with legislative leaders to advocate for the Greensboro Partnership’s top legislative priorities for the session.  Priority No. 1: Add $2 million to the annual budget of the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering.  That amount would bring the school to the full $6.9 million annual funding that was originally projected.

Grant of the month: $800,000 to Dr. Shofoluwe for Greensboro-Guilford community initiative

The Sponsored Funding Report for March:

N.C. A&T received 12 grants totaling $3.05 million in March.  The FY 2011 sponsored funding total stands at $40.79 million as of March 31.  That’s up 12 percent from $36.35 million in the first nine months of FY 2010.

One highlight of the month’s funding was $800,000 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to Dr. Musibau Shofoluwe of the Department of Construction Management and Occupational Safety and Health.

The project: Community Empowerment and Sustainable Workforce Development.

The issue: Census tracts 101, 110, 111.01, 111.02, 112, 113, 114, 127.06 and 127.07 contain the greatest concentrations of poverty in the City of Greensboro and Guilford County.

Abstract: This project was designed to have an enormous impact in the target area through employment opportunities in green construction; weatherization and maintenance assistance to low-to-moderate income home owners; energy conservation education; the stabilization and expansion of minority owned businesses; and job creation.  A significant portion of the project activities will take place at the N.C. A&T Business & Entrepreneurship Training Center, located 1.2 miles from the main campus in the heart of the target area, reinforcing the university’s goals for public service and strengthening our ability to serve the residents of Southeast Greensboro.

The Sponsored Funding Report for March (xlxs file).

Shofoluwe, Musibau

Getting in on Greensboro’s “next big ideas”

If you have any interest in the possible creation of a downtown university district for Greensboro, or in getting involved with the Greensboro community in general, here’s an opportunity for you.  Action Greensboro will hold a community meeting next Thursday evening, March 17, titled, “Advancing Bold Ideas: Partnerships to Maximize Resources.”  Specific issues to be discussed include next steps for the Downtown Greenway, supporting public education, and a downtown university district.

Location: The Empire Room, 203 South Elm Street.

Time: Reception, 5:30 p.m.; program begins at 6 p.m.

RSVP: Judy Morton, jmorton@actiongreensboro.org, 336 379-0821  (there’s no admission charge, but they do need an idea of how many people are likely to show up).

CEO of A&T spin-off wins entrepreneur award

Greg Bowers, CEO of Advaero Technologies, is one of the winners of the 2011 Top Catalyst Entrepreneur Award, presented by Business Leader magazine.  The magazine announced the winners Wednesday.  Advaero produces low-cost, high-quality composite materials, components, and assemblies to the military, experimental and commercial aircraft industry. The technology was developed by A&T researchers Dr. Ajit Kelkar and Dr. Ron Bolick.

Advaero was founded by Bowers, Kelkar and Bolick.  It is located at the Gateway University Research Park south campus.

The complete list of winners is here.

Local TV news coverage: The economic impact of nanotechnology

Just about anyone who has been interviewed by the news media can tell you that getting your point across to reporters — especially complex points about subjects like, say, nanotechnology — can be frustrating.  But sometimes a reporter really gets it, and then something wonderful can happen.

Case in point: In a very nice example of initiative by a news outlet, WFMY News 2 visited the JSNN yesterday to get some video for a piece on the economic-impact of the nano school.  The reporter also talked to Reyad Sawafta at QuarTek in High Point and economist/media star Andy Brod at UNCG.  The result is a very good piece on what the JSNN means to the local economy.

Check it out:  http://www.digtriad.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=147117&catid=57

Nice work by reporter Julia Bagg and videographer John Brumbaugh.

Special thanks to the JSNN — Dean Jim Ryan, the faculty and the students.  Their cooperation, patience and the thoughtful insights they’ve shared with the news media over the past couple weeks have generated some excellent coverage of the opening of the school.

Small-business commissioner coming to speak … and listen

North Carolina’s Commissioner for Small Business is looking for advice, and he’s coming to A&T next week to see what we can tell him.

Scott Daugherty wants to know how his office can help unlock the job-creation potential of small business.  Got any ideas?  Go tell him.  He’ll be speaking on Thursday September 2, at 5:30 in Merrick Hall.  Details are in the flyer (PDF) below.

ENT — Daugherty-Presentation