April 24, 2024

Faculty and Staff, 

Today is the last of my 4-week series on UAF’s path to R1. In last week’s message, I shared why R1 is important for UAF. In this final installation, I want to focus on why R1 will not only strengthen UAF, but also benefit the State of Alaska in significant and long-lasting ways.

When UAF achieves R1, the impacts will be felt across the State of Alaska. As America’s Arctic University, we conduct 89% of university research and development in the State. A boost in our research will be a boost to the State of Alaska’s research enterprise. Based on data pulled from other universities that have achieved R1, it is reasonable to anticipate an increase in UAF's research expenditures in our run-up to and following our achievement of R1. During the latest R1 classification cycle in 2021, federally financed R&D expenditures grew by 60% for 15 institutions that made the transition from R2 to R1. By comparison, federally financed R&D increased by 30% nationally during that same timeframe.

A significant boost in research will have a significant economic impact on Alaska. More research dollars brought into Alaska means more dollars spent on local jobs to do the research, services to support the research, and services to support the researchers (housing, recreational activities, etc). This is a direct infusion of cash into the economy. But that is just a small beginning to the overall economic impact.

The vast majority of UAF’s research is conducted in Alaska in areas of direct interest to Alaskans and their businesses. Topics like agriculture, volcanoes, earthquakes, environmental change, cold regions engineering, wildlife biology, and the arts. The information provided by UAF research is actionable to Alaskans; such as what are the best seed varieties for Alaska’s changing environment, when will a volcanic ash plume interrupt air travel, or when and how should kelp be harvested and processed to make a sustainable business. Stuff that matters to the State’s economy.

While it is true that new dollars put into the economy benefits the community, and actionable information helps Alaskan lives and businesses every day, the things that have the most potential to have long-lasting positive impacts on the economy of Alaska are talent and innovation. Companies can take talent and innovation and create wealth in our economy. Businesses can take the know-how UAF research produces and create products, processes, and services that create new business niches, or introduce more competitive products into existing sectors. The outcome of research is innovation and companies can leverage this knowledge to create wealth right here in Alaska. This is what drives our economy.

Check out the story of Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories in Pullman, Washington. The first digital relay was invented as part of a doctoral thesis at Washington State University. This electronic device became the foundation for a massive international company still based in Pullman. Schweitzer has manufacturing facilities in Mexico, Idaho, Illinois, and Indiana. The company grew from one employee in 1984 to more than 6,000 today. This is an amazing success story that is the result of university research. It is true that you don’t need to be R1 to have this success, but it surely helps. This can be our story and Alaska’s story!

In Alaska, we have the start of this story in various research-derived businesses. For example, in January 2020, BeCool Pharmaceutics founder Dr. Kelly Drew licensed a UAF-developed drug composition that aims to control shivering during medical procedures where body cooling technologies are critical to success. Modulating metabolism and body temperature is used in treating stroke and traumatic injury. The drug is a result of many years of research into animal hibernation by Dr. Drew and her colleagues. This drug development done at UAF could have significant impacts around the world on modern medicine and at the same time, contribute to diversifying Alaska’s economy.

In order to have a successful industry, you have to have talent in the state that can seize that opportunity. Alaska is home to incredible talent, and we want to provide Alaskans with the opportunities and resources they need to find success and fulfillment in their home state. Achieving R1 will help UAF recruit more people who want to make Alaska their home, and to allow people who want to stay here the opportunity to do so. That includes entrepreneurs and businesses who want to work in partnership with UAF, researchers who want to work at UAF, and students who seek UAF’s transformative experience. Since achieving R1 status in 2018, the University of Nevada, Reno graduate student enrollment increased by approximately 12% and the number of graduate assistants (teaching and research) increased by about 15.4 %.  We want this to be our story too.

Though we are still discovering the potential impact of R1 for UAF on the Alaskan economy, we know that the R1 transition for other universities has had positive economic impacts in their states. For example, the University of New Mexico, the only R1 university in NM, accounted for 47,053 jobs, $1.9 billion in labor income, and $5.2 billion in economic output in 2022. Similarly, in 2019, the University of Colorado Boulder estimated its R1 research activities alone produced $1.2 billion in economic activity for the state. As a public university, we can optimize state funding and contribute to the state’s economic prosperity. 

Thank you for following along on my R1 mini-series. I am grateful to those who have provided feedback and posed questions. There are now over 80 people involved in the R1 Steering Committee and working groups. If you are not already involved, chances are you know someone dedicating their time to help UAF achieve this milestone. I encourage you to continue sharing your questions, ideas, and insights with leaders and R1 volunteers across campus. Achieving R1 will take all of us.

Thanks for choosing UAF.

—Dan White, chancellor