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Reading, Writing, ’Rithmetic... and RESEARCH. By James E. Casto
P
eople sometimes laughingly refer to education as “reading, writing and ’rithmetic.” Today, colleges and universities are increasingly adding a fourth r-word to that time-honored description. That word is “research.” Educators say campus-based research not only expands society’s body of knowledge, it helps create jobs and steers many young people toward careers in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) disciplines. Little wonder that research now plays a huge role on many campuses.
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In West Virginia, federal and state investment in campus-based research has tripled since the year 2000. West Virginia is now 18th in the nation in state-sponsored research and development expenditures, up from 37th in 2006. Much of that growth in funding can be traced to the West Virginia Research Trust Fund, commonly known as the “Bucks for Brains” program. Marshall President Stephen J. Kopp has labeled the “Bucks for Brains” program “arguably the state’s most important initiative in recent memory,” one that “will enhance the economic vitality of our region and advance
