U-M lands $26M in biz education, software grants

The University of Michigan has scored a couple of large grants, adding up to $26 million for nanotechnology research and business education.Dennis Sylvester, an associate professor of electrical engineering and computer science at U-M, is part of a national team that is splitting a $10 million federal grant. The money will fund a study of how software can make nanoscale computer components (circuits and chips) more efficient. “The idea of this project is to design the software so it takes some of the burden off of the hardware,” says Sylvester. He will be working on the project with a small team of U-M students, including a post-doctorate student. He is also hoping to involve more university faculty into the study.About $16 million from the U.S. Department of Education is going to seven centers in the University of Michigan International Institute. The grants will help develop the nation’s capacities in international and area studies, foreign languages, and international business education. The grants will support language and area studies training, curriculum development, library acquisitions, outreach to K-16 students and educators, as well as public programs such as lectures, conferences and films.Source: University of Michigan and Dennis Sylvester, associate professor of electrical enegineering and computer science at the University of MichiganWriter: Jon Zemke