> I1 tt Ann Arbor, Michigan UNIVERSITY RESEARCH Coverage doesn't always mean funds Scientific funding based on results, not press exposure, experts say BY ELAINE LAFAY Daily Staff Reporter For all the research that goes on at the University, it's rare that a new scientific discovery hits the front page of national newspapers. Although the attention can boost the prestige of an institution, University officials say it takes much more than that to develop research that makes headlines. In the fall of 2007, University researchers led by Chemical engineering Prof. Nicholas Kotov devel- oped Plasteel - atransparent, lightweight plastic-like material with a toughness that experts say is ideal for military armor. The discovery made Wired maga- zine's "Top 10 Scientific Breakthroughs of 2007." Ellen Arruda, professor of mechanical engineering and a member of the team that developed the mate- rial, said the project's inclusion in Wired will increase the University's prominence in the field of nanotech- nology. In the long run, though, the accolade probably won't affect the University's research funding, she said. Media coverage often has more of an impact on the end result of research than on its initial funding, said Ken Nisbet, executive director of the University's Office of Technology Transfer, which helps Univer- sity researchers market their ideas to investors. "When Professor Kotov won his original grant, it had nothing to do with any Top 10 list," he said. "It's more the capabilities of researchers and research labs at the University that wins these research grants." Nisbet said media coverage becomes more impor- tant once research produces a new technology to advertise. "The media is very important to publicize the opportunities, resources, new discoveries and the people who are here to work with them," Nisbet said. "It's not always easy to connect with people in the marketplace and we're trying to use all sorts of meth- ods to get out to people." University researchers routinely compete with researchers from other colleges for funding, partic- ularly from the federal government. Nesbit said the amount of funding a research university is granted largely depends on how well their research is received by investors within the scientific community - not the mainstream media. About $679.9 million of the approximately $800 million invested in research last year was covered by grants. Most of the University's funding comes from gov- ernment agencies like the National Institutes of Health and the Office of Naval Research. There is also gap funding, where the University funds part of a project to make it more marketable to outside compa- nies, tailoring it to a company's needs. Because gap funding is much harder to find, the University usually ends up covering the cost. Only a small percentage of funding comes from outside com- panies, Nisbet said. See RESEARCH, Page 7A e 1Midigan Baili Monday, January 14, 2008 michigandaily.com * CAMPAIGN 2008 * EMMA NOLAN-ABRAHAMIAN/Daily Presidentical candidate Mike Huckabee speaks at the Amway Grand Hotel in Grand Rapids Saturday morning after a breakfast with local pastors. GOP hopefiuls court.,\ich. Candidates vow to fix state s economy By ANDY KROLL speeches on how they would help res- and JULIE ROWE idents deal with high unemployment Daily StaffReporters and low wages if they were elected. Plans are mixed for higher. ed. By JULIE ROWE As they campaigned in Michigan Daily StaffReporter this weekend, the three Republican frontrunners spoke about how they There's a growing consensus would change the country's educa- around the idea that if Michigan is tion system if elected. With the Michigan primary only a day away, Republican presidential candidates have made numerous campaign stops in Michigan, which is strugglingalongwith the once-boom- ing auto industry that drove it for so many years. The state ended last year with the nation's highest unemploy- ment rate in November: 7.4 percent. The rest of the country averaged 4.7 percent. And the recent subprime mortgage crisis has hit Michigan especially hard, leading to an uptick in foreclosures in an area where the housing market was already slow. All weekend, the Republican presidential hopefuls focused their MIKE HUCKABEE At a speech Friday before the Detroit Economic Club at the historic Masonic Temple, Republican presi- dential candidate Mike Huckabee said a federal government with him at the helm would change federal tax policies and regulatory systems in order to save Michigan's ailing economy. If elected, the former Arkansas governor said, he would work to elim- inate federal, personal and corporate income taxes and replace them with a single consumption tax much like states' existing retail taxes. See ECONOMY, Page 8A going to flourish without the domi- nance of the Detroit automakers, it's going to need to expand access to higher education. And more and more jobs in the United States are beginning to require more educa- tion. But it's also getting harder for many to attend college. The cost of college jumped nearly 11 percent last year. Meager state funding hikes have forced universities in Michigan to raise tuition to keep up with ris- ing costs throughout the economy. MIKE HUCKABEE Republican presidential candi- date Mike Huckabee said Friday at the Masonic Temple in Detroit that he would help young Ameri- cans get the education they need to "have a shot at the American dream." Huckabee, a former governor of Arkansas, said Michigan residents are struggling through a recession partly because many who lost jobs in the automotive industry didn't have See HIGHER ED, Page 7A THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES ON THE MICHIGAN ECONOMY: "I want to make sure that Washington "There's gonna be hybrid ca finally does something," Romney said. gonna be hydrogen, there'st "if Im elected President of the United ethanol, heresgnna be ba States, I will use 25years ofbusiness chasgewe'regosna reduce experience and economicexpenience to denesonforeignoil atd if's ROMN reigtethe Michigan economy. MCCCAIN in Michigan." FOR MORE INFORMATION... Includingfthe Daily's blog of events and exclusive multimedia content, see www.michigandaily.com. MCCAIN AT MICHIGAN STATE John McCain held a town hall meeting in East Lansing yesterday. NEWS, PAGE 3A. i Student groups kick off 40 days of prayer Christian groups unite in effort to show power of communal prayer By JILLIAN BERMAN Daily StaffReporter Engineering senior Israel Vicars didn't think it was a coincidence when he walked by a drunken girl who had fallen over in a parking lot and desperately needed help. Vicars attributes his ability to safely return the girl to her residence hall to the power of united prayer. Fostering that united prayer is what the campus pro- gram 40 Days of Prayer is all about. Thursday night, about 150 students crowded the sanctuary of the University Lutheran Chapel to kickoff what will be over a month of ongoing prayer. BENi DELL/Daiy With more than 10 campus Christian groups the sec- Students gather in the University Lutheran Chapel late Thursday night to begin the See PRAYER, Page 8A 40 Days of Prayer event. The candidates visit southeast Michigan MONDAY Who: Mitt Romney What: Speech at the Detroit Economic Club Where: Marriott Renaissance, Detroit When:12:15 p.m. Who: Dennis Kucinich What: Speech Where: the University's Natural Science Building When: 2:30 p.m. Who: Mike Huckabee What: Tour Where: GM Willow Run Plant, Ypsilanti When: 3:30 p.m. Who: Sen. Joe Lieberman What: Rally for John McCain Where: McKinley Town Center, Ann Arbor When: 7:15 p.m. SOURCE: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS TUESDAY Who: John McCain What: Ann Arbor Economic Club town hall meeting Where: Marriott Eagle Crest, Ypsilanti When: 12:15 p.m. Who: Mitt Romney W hat: Elec- tion night party Where: Embassy Suites Hotel, Southfield When: 7:30 p.m. av a TODAY'S H1: 33 WEATHER Lo: 28 GOT A NEWS TIP? Call 734-763-2459 or e-mail news@michigandaily.com and let us know. ON THE DAILY BLOGS Following GOP hopefuls on the campaign trail MICHIGANDAILY.COM/THEWIRE INDEX NEWS.................2A ARTS .......................,.........SA Vol.cXViii,No.75 SUDOKU............... .......3A CLASSIFIEDS..........H... ..6A ©2007TheMichiganDaily OPINION ............................4A SPORTSMONDAY.................1B michivondoiiycom