The Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) in the state of South Dakota EPSCoR consists of an infrastructure improvement plan and two research clusters. Infrastructure improvements will take place within the context of cluster projects which are interdisciplinary in scope and inter-institutional in involvement. EPSCoR improvements will enhance the research competitiveness of over 30 faculty at three institutions (the University of South Dakota, South Dakota State University, and the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology). The research cluster areas are: (1) Surface and Interfacial Chemistry and (2) Regulation of Biological Processes: The Role of Membranes. The state's infrastructure improvement plan focuses on the development of human resources, on providing an environment that is conducive to competitive research, and on building the visibility of scientific research in South Dakota. Specific objectives are: to develop science faculty in both numbers and competitiveness, to strengthen graduate programs through competitive recruiting efforts, to add research equipment and support personnel, and to establish an effective system for communication between scientists, between scientists and policy makers, and between scientists and the South Dakota citizenry. A Coordinator for Human Resources Development will oversee activities aimed at students and teachers in elementary, middle and high schools. Non-federal state and institutional resources of over $6 million will be contributed to ensure the success of the state's EPSCoR effort over the three year award period.
