With
unanimous endorsement from our Board of Trustees, Mid-South Community College
has partnered with the University of Memphis to enhance applied research and
training activities related to transportation and chemical processing. Our
collaboration with UofM goes back several years, but this memorandum of
understanding solidifies and formalizes our relationship.
The
University of Memphis recently hired a new president, Dr. M. David Rudd, and he
has spent a fair amount of time watching what we’ve been doing, particularly in
the alternative fuel arena. He understands that we have a fantastic facility
and sees the wisdom in a collaboration that will generate great benefits in western
Tennessee and eastern Arkansas. And we recognize that UofM has assets that will
be particularly beneficial for us as well.
Without
a doubt, this new partnership is a win-win situation. Our institution possesses
a multitude of advanced laboratory resources in the Marion Berry Renewable
Energy Center, and we also have technicians and instructional staff that can
support applied research activities. What we don’t have is the depth of science
and engineering talent to maximize utilization of our cutting-edge facility. I
have said on more than one occasion that the Marion Berry Center is a Ferrari,
and we need more people who can drive it. The University of Memphis can provide
us with those Ferrari drivers.
Looking
at the big picture, MSCC, UofM, and Southwest Tennessee Community College are
all navigating toward a common goal: creating opportunities for our students to
become skilled workers and land great jobs with Memphis-area companies. We are
currently working with Southwest to develop an innovative, new process control
technology program that will allow our graduates to access thousands of jobs
that are available in Memphis today – yet another effort toward economic
development through education.
A
key component to our collaboration with the University of Memphis and Southwest
Tennessee is Dr. Srikant Gir who serves as director of research and technology
for the UofM Center for Biofuel Energy & Sustainable Technologies. Dr. Gir
is already very familiar with our campus and facilities through his ongoing work
here. He has focused his considerable talents and expertise on this alternative
fuel technology effort for more than six years and has created a technology
that has tremendous potential for our region.
Four
years ago, Dr. Gir secured a $500,000 clean energy production and research
award from the U.S. Department of Energy, and 70 percent of that funding came
to West Memphis to advance MSCC’s efforts toward renewable fuel research and
promotion of the region’s biofuel economy. That helped us jumpstart our efforts
toward designing and building a world-class facility, and we are continuing to
pursue opportunities related to clean/sustainable energy that will help us
reduce our dependence on foreign petroleum products.
As
a result of the most recent MOU, Dr. Gir will be spending additional time on
our campus. With his help, our ultimate goal is to become a major player in the
biofuel arena on three different fronts: production, testing, and
education/training. Those goals are all well within our reach.
Our
expanding regional partnerships with forward-looking and well-resourced
institutions will help us in our efforts to positively impact the people of
Crittenden County and the region. We are excited about the many opportunities
that we anticipate will come our way as a result of these new collaborations.
- See more at:
http://www.midsouthcc.edu/blog/mscc-university-of-memphis-expand-collaboration/#sthash.mmadpapx.dpuf
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