IBM Grants Support Research Projects Across The University
Oct. 18, 2000
University Park, Pa.—The IBM Shared University Research (SUR) program recently awarded grants with a total value of approximately $500,000 to Penn State’s Partnership in Modeling Earth System History, the Commonwealth College, Management Science and Information Systems and the eBusiness Research Center. The University is providing a 35 percent match to most of the recipients, bringing the total value of the IBM/Penn State funding to about $730,000.

The Partnership, based in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, is collaborating with a nationwide community of scientists who are trying to understand the natural variability of the earth’s climate. IBM SUR is supporting this effort with an equipment grant that will provide improved computer storage resources and enhanced Internet communications with partners at other institutions.

The Commonwealth College received equipment that will be used to help implement degree programs that started this fall in the School of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) at four of the College’s 12 locations: DuBois, Fayette, Hazleton and Shenango.

The grant provides equipment for Management Science and Information Systems to set up a 22-seat computer lab known as the Laboratory for Economic and Management Science. This will enable the carrying out of controlled studies of behavior relevant to economics and management research. Ongoing research projects include auction and institutional design, bargaining and dispute resolution, decision support systems and pricing in electronic markets.

The IBM grant will also support an eBusiness Incubator Laboratory being started by Penn State’s eBusiness Research Center. The goal is for the facility to serve as the central information network for undergraduate and graduate students in The Smeal College of Business Administration and IST. Students will use the equipment from the IBM grant to set up models of Web-based companies and develop solutions to problems encountered by electronic-based businesses.

Management Science and Information Systems and the eBusiness Research Center are both part of The Smeal College of Business Administration.