Contingency Planning

DHS and NSF Announce $8 Million for the Fiscal Year 2007 Academic Research Initiative Awards

September 28, 2007

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) have announced approximately $8 million in grant awards to academic institutions for the Academic Research Initiative (ARI). The ARI program will foster frontier research in radiological and nuclear detection at academic institutions and build the nation's intellectual capital in nuclear sciences and engineering.

"It is estimated that one-third of the current nuclear workforce will reach retirement in the next 10 years," says DNDO Director, Vayl S. Oxford. "The Academic Research Initiative is a critical element in building the nation's intellectual capital in nuclear detection capability to further advance radiological/nuclear research and development."

Twenty-three academic institutions were awarded ARI grants for the fiscal year 2007 award cycle: Boston University, City University of New York City College, Duke University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Kansas State University, North Carolina A&T State University, Ohio State University, Purdue University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institution, Rutgers University, Stanford University, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Texas A&M University, University of California at Berkeley, University of California at San Francisco, University of Michigan, University of New Mexico, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Texas at Arlington, University of Texas at Austin, Virginia Commonwealth University, Wake Forest University and Washington State University.

A potential $58 million in grant opportunities more than five years will be made available to colleges and universities focusing on research in radiological/nuclear detection systems, individual sensors or other research relevant to the detection of nuclear weapons, special nuclear material, radiation dispersal devices, and related threats. Four more ARI solicitations are planned in the next 4 years with annual awards.

The National Science Foundation is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense.

The Domestic Nuclear Detection Office is a jointly staffed office established to improve the nation's capability to detect radiological and nuclear material for use against the nation.

- DNDO