Mississippi State University officials broke ground in late May on a new 35,000-square-foot High Performance Computing Data Center. Marking the occasion, from left, is Dale Partners Architects Managing Partner Leigh Jaunsen; MSU Vice President for Research and Economic Development Julie Jordan; MSU High Performance Computing Collaboratory Director Mike Navicky; MSU President Mark E. Keenum; MSU Interim Chief Technology Transformation Officer Trey Breckenridge; MSU Vice President for Finance and Administration Don Zant; MSU Associate Vice President for Administration Les Potts; Dale Partners Architects Partner Jason Agostinelli; West Brothers Construction Project Manager Mike Lum; Dale Partners Architects Project Architect Will Commarato; and West Brothers Construction Onsite Superintendent Jim Shackelford. PHOTO: Grace Cockrell | Public Affairs
Oakley chosen for Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research mentoring program
The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research recently selected a Mississippi State University graduate student for its three-year mentoring program. Graham Oakley, an agronomy doctoral student in the MSU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and project manager with the Mississippi Water Resources Research Institute, joins approximately 25 students from across the U.S. in the sixth cohort of the FFAR Fellows Program. Oakley, an Oktibbeha County native who grew up on a dairy and beef cattle farm, focuses on advancing crop production practices and precision agriculture technologies. His current research addresses reducing water usage for rice production while integrating new, autonomous technologies to aid in water management.
NASA, Forestry’s Yang study natural resources satellite data to address water insecurity
The federal agency in charge of the nation’s space program is receiving assistance from a Mississippi State assistant forestry professor in addressing water security by monitoring, understanding and managing natural resources through satellite data. Yun Yang, also an MSU Forest and Wildlife Research Center scientist, is part of a national consortium of more than 30 members and partners contributing to the NASA Acres project. The five-year, $15 million program led by the University of Maryland continues the spirit of similar work initiated under NASA’s Landsat series of satellite launches begun 50 years ago.
E-Center expanding McCool Hall headquarters
A transformational project will double the size of Mississippi State’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Outreach, also known as the E-Center, in McCool Hall, providing an even greater boost to the state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The expansion project, which includes a new entrance prominently accessible from the Leo Seal Atrium on McCool Hall’s first floor, will add startup team rooms, expand meeting and conference spaces, and create a museum-like experience showcasing MSU startups. “Too often, people discount the idea of starting a business, doubting their own capacity to become an entrepreneur. I love that this project really focuses on showing diverse stories of successful Bulldog founders, hopefully inspiring others to say, ‘They did it; so can I,’” said E-Center Director Eric Hill.
Smoke-free policy enhances healthy environment
Mississippi State University is a smoke-free campus. Official policy prohibits the use of any combustible or vapor products anywhere on campus property including university buildings, university grounds, university vehicles, parking areas and sidewalks. The smoke-free campus policy is part of the university's commitment to creating a healthy environment for all members of the campus community. Use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, pipes, hookah or other similar devices are prohibited by this policy. The complete policy is available at www.policies.msstate.edu/policy/91301.
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