SSTI Digest

The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology has named Dr. Gautam Pillay to the new position of vice president for research. Pillay was executive director of the Inland Northwest Research Alliance.

Gov. Mike Rounds announced last week the creation of four new specialized research centers at the state's public universities. The $2.8 million in awards mark South Dakota's first foray into using university-based research investments as a tool to grow the state's economy, the governor said.

Tina Van Camp has been named the director of the South Dakota Governor's Office of Economic Development.

South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds has appointed Jim Hagen to serve as secretary of the governor's Office of Economic Development.

With the recent passage of much economic development legislation in South Dakota, Gov. Mike Rounds' 2010 Initiative would seem to be moving along as planned. The 2010 Initiative, an economic stimulus plan introduced last fall, outlines a series of goals for growth in South Dakota by the year 2010 (see the Oct. 31, 2003, issue of the Digest).

Sherry Farwell has been named as the new head of the National Science Foundation's Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). Dr. Farwell currently serves as dean of graduate education and research at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

"If our children are to have the kind of jobs we want them to, this type of facility is one of the finest advantages we can give them for many generations," said South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds in his 2004 State of the State Address on Tuesday.

John Calvin, Secretary of the South Dakota Department of Tourism and State Development, has announced his resignation effective Dec. 15.

In 2010, the end of Gov. Mike Round's second term – should South Dakota voters choose to grant him one – residents of the state will have several precise ways to measure whether or not he delivered on his economic development goals. Gov. Round's 2010 Initiative, released Oct. 15 at Mount Rushmore, is built on a few, very specific and quantifiable goals in tourism revenues, entrepreneurship, and R&D. They include:

South Dakota Governor Mike Rounds announced Friday that John Calvin has been named Secretary for the Department of Tourism and State Development. The newly formed department combines the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, Department of Tourism, Office of Tribal Relations, Division of Cultural Affairs, and the South Dakota Housing Development Authority.

A $500,000 state grant approved Thursday by South Dakota Governor Bill Janklow will help create a center in Sioux Falls for fledgling technology businesses.

In December, Governor Bill Janklow created the South Dakota Math, Science and Technology Council to encourage more interest in math, science, and technology at all levels of education. The council's duties include: identifying major opportunities for coordinating math, science, technology and research efforts; promoting coordination of public and private initiatives in those areas; pursuing federal and private funding; and, identifying ways to create jobs in South Dakota in those areas.



Representation on the council is drawn from South Dakota State University, the University of South Dakota, the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, the state Board of Regents, the state department of economic development, state legislators, and business representatives. The 12 members were appointed by the Governor.



Many states have established S&T councils to spearhead strategic planning or policy development for tech-based economic development (recent Digest articles on other state's councils are listed in the 2000 index: http://www.ssti.org/Digest/Indices/2000index.htm#COUNCILS [expired]). South Dakota provides one of the first variations to tie math, science and technology education directly to state economic development activities.



In a related announcement, Governor Janklow proposed creation of a new multimillion dollar scholarship program as the cornerstone of his 2002 state budget. The Regents Scholarship program would reward high school students who successfully complete a more rigorous curriculum of advanced math, laboratory science, foreign language, fine arts, computer skills, English, and social studies.



School districts in turn would need to offer the courses so their students could be eligible for the scholarships. The scholarships could be used to pay for college, technical school or other post-secondary education. The long-range goal is to prepare more young South Dakotans for higher-paying technology-related positions.



The scholarships would be funded annually from South Dakota's share of the national tobacco settlement. The scholarship would be $1,500 the first year; $2,000 the second year; $2,500 the third year; and, $3,000 the fourth year. Students would need to maintain a 3.0 grade point average and pledge to not use tobacco to remain eligible.



More information is available at: 

http://www.state.sd.us/news/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewAgencyDocs&AgencyID=23