STONY BROOK, N.Y., April 17, 2007—Stony Brook University has received $11.5 million in funding over the next five years from the National Science Foundation to support the Consortium for Materials Properties Research in Earth Sciences (COMPRES), a community-based consortium of 78 universities and laboratories worldwide that supports research in the materials properties of Earth and planetary interiors.
The research has a particular emphasis on high-pressure science and technology and related fields. It is charged with the oversight and guidance of important high-pressure laboratories at several national facilities, such as synchrotrons and neutron sources. These have become vital tools in Earth science research. COMPRES also facilitates the operation of beam lines, the development of new technologies for high-pressure research, and advocates for science and educational programs to the various funding agencies.
The funding is a renewal of support from the Instrumentation and Facilities Program of the Division of Earth Sciences of the NSF and includes over $3 million for the two beamline operations at the National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS) of the Brookhaven National Laboratory overseen by Professors Donald Weidner, Jiuhua Chen and Michael Vaughan of Stony Brook’s Mineral Physics Institute.
The University’s Mineral Physics Institute will continue to serve as the administrative headquarters for COMPRES, a consortium which includes 50 U. S. academic institutions and national laboratories and 28 foreign affiliate members.
COMPRES conducts research related to minerals located at great depths inside the earth and such research has applications for the study of deep earthquakes, the creation of continents, and interplanetary exploration.
“This funding allows continued exploration of material properties that help us understand the evolution of our planet, and also in materials design that leads to energy efficient and use-driven materials fabrication,” said Provost Robert McGrath. “That the NSF chooses to ask Stony Brook once more to lead the national effort attests to the quality and stature of our scientists, and particularly to Professor Liebermann’s skill in leading the national effort.”
“We’re grateful that we have the opportunity to take full advantage of the opportunities at the NSLS as well as the chance to be on the ground floor of NSLS II,” said Robert Liebermann, Director of COMPRES. NSLS II is a new generation Synchrotron expected to be constructed by the U.S. Department of Energy at Brookhaven National Laboratory and come on line in 2013.
The NSF funding is for May, 2007 through April 2012 and was approved following a site visit to Stony Brook and Brookhaven last year.
