North Texas Daily

Chelsea Watkins | Staff Writer

@chelloo

UNT launched four collaborative Institutes of Research Excellence Thursday in what administrators are calling a big step toward becoming a tier one university.

The university described the new initiative as a major hub of research knowledge spread across multiple areas of study. The areas include cross collaboration between Advanced Environmental, Materials and Manufacturing Processes, BioDiscovery, Logistical Systems and Advanced Environmental Research.

“We need put a greater focus on how creativity informs us in every dimension of our research enterprise and how technology enables us,” UNT President Neal Smatresk said. “It’s time that the university begin making a conscious transition,”

The university is able to invest in these institutes because of UNT’s record enrollment of more than 37,000 students this year.

“We figured that this is the year that we decide to make a move that will put us on the map, that will have people talking, especially in these focus areas around the country,” Smatresk said.

The Advanced Environmental Research Institute, led by professor Samuel Atkins, will focus on the complexities of the environment and help solve real world problems to inform policy makers using science based research.

“Each of the institutes also have their own grand purposes, each tackling big problems,” Atkins said.

The Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Processes Institute, led by professor Rajiv Mishra, will create more efficient performance materials for various industries like aerospace and automotive.

The BioDiscovery Institute, led by professor Richard Dixon, will research biomaterials using plants as raw materials.

Lastly, the Logistics Systems Institute, led by professor Terrance Pohlen, will study how businesses can transport goods through marketing channels in a more efficient manner.

Visit this website to get more information on each institute.

“I think today marks the beginning in a new phase in a phase in our existence,” Smatresk said. “It’s a day you’re going to remember as the day when it started,”