National Science Foundation Renews Funding For Unique National Magnet Laboratory In Florida

October 31, 2000

Contact:
Dr. Raymond Bye, (850) 644-3347
Janet Patten, (850) 644-9651

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Citing outstanding progress in enabling researchers to address critical problems in science ranging from materials research to chemical and biological sciences, the National Science Foundation has awarded the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory $117.5 million for the next five years.

NSF Director Rita Colwell recommended increasing the current support for the NHMFL at Florida State University in Tallahassee.

"The NHMFL requires this level of investment to maintain and consolidate its position of innovation and world leadership in high magnetic fields and magnet technologies," Colwell wrote in a letter to the National Science Board, the policy making arm of NSF.

"I am pleased that NSF has recognized the important leadership role the NHMFL has played in advancing science and engineering in the highest magnetic fields possible," said Jack Crow, NHMFL director. "We have spent the past decade developing the preeminent center for magnet-related research in the world. We look forward to a new decade of exploring exciting new science frontiers and technology opportunities."

Magnet-related research plays a critical role in supporting national initiatives in complex materials, materials processing, nanotechnologies, the environment, power generation and storage, structural biology, and medical sciences. As a national user facility and only one of nine such facilities in the world, its breadth and scope is not duplicated at any other laboratory. Use of its facilities has grown 60 percent during the past five years with external researchers coming from academia, national laboratories, and industry.

"Much of the success of the NHMFL can be attributed to the strong collaborations that have been forged with the private sector," said Raymond Bye, Florida State University vice president for research. "This lab is a model for state and federal partnerships in support of education, science and technology, and is an important and unique resource for the nation."

"I am particularly proud of the pivotal role the laboratory has played in attracting new centers that are outside the core grant," Crow said.

The newly funded FSU Center for Advanced Power Systems will assist the Navy in conducting critical research for development of the all-electric ship in the 21st century. Recent advances in superconductivity, high strength materials, power semiconductors, and control technologies can drive new applications for power systems in ships, aircraft and other transportation systems and a variety of energy storage devices for military and commercial uses.

The NHMFL's main facility is located in Tallahassee at FSU with satellite facilities at the University of Florida and Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico.