Contact: Robbie Ward
Groundbreaking ceremonies for Mississippi State's Science and Technology Center will take place at 10:30 a.m. Monday [May 3] at NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center.
The $9 million structure at the Hancock County facility will be the new home for the university-led Northern Gulf Institute. It also will provide space for staff and researchers from MSU's Geosystems Research Institute and other university research units.
In addition to MSU, the NGI is a consortium of researchers from Louisiana State and Florida State universities, University of Southern Mississippi, and the Dauphin Island Sea Laboratory near Mobile, Ala. Applications of high-technology tracking balloons and unmanned aircraft systems to collect better, more precise data on Gulf of Mexico hurricanes are among its primary research areas.
U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran will be the keynote speaker for the ceremony. Also on the program will be MSU President Mark E. Keenum and David Shaw, vice president for research and economic development, along with Stennis Center Director Pat Scheuermann.
Shaw, NGI's former director, said the 40,000-square-foot building will enhance the abilities of MSU and the consortium to address pressing needs of this region.
"The research and educational programs developed through the Northern Gulf Institute are nationally acclaimed, and the commitment to this new facility by NOAA and MSU is a strong exhibition of our plans for continuing and expanding these exceptional efforts," Shaw said.
Funding for the construction is provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
For media planning to cover this event, contact NGI director Mike Carron at 228-342-6086 or mcarron@ngi.msstate.edu for additional information and assistance with security clearance at the Stennis Space Center.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.