While the words "Superconducting Cyclotron" and "Rare Isotope Accelerator" might sound like characters from a blockbuster science-fiction flick, they actually apply to a real possibility here at MSU.
The U.S. Department of Energy announced Monday the university is a candidate to receive the $930 million Rare Isotope Accelerator project, one of the most influential landmark research projects in the nation.
It is an extreme honor for the university to be considered for this prestigious project.
Because of both the experimental nature of the project and the university's background, MSU would be an excellent choice for such a fascinating program.
If granted to the university, RIA would require a 75-acre facility and an $80 million annual operating budget.
Called a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" by some of MSU's officials, the project would allow researchers and students to create isotopes not found on earth at speeds up to three-quarters the speed of light.
Unfortunately, MSU is not the only contender for the splendor of RIA. The expensive and experimental nature of the project has brought about stiff competition. The most notable is Argonne National Laboratory near Chicago.
With more than 4,000 employees and an operating budget of more than $475 million, Argonne already has the makings for a good home for RIA.
Another detractor from the university's RIA potential is the lack of state funding.
According to the state's higher-education budget released in July, the $1.9 million MSU received from the state a year before was not renewed for the 2003-2004 fiscal year.
With Argonne continuing to receive millions from the state of Illinois, MSU will have to work harder to find sources of financing to ensure its competitiveness for the project.
Despite the competition and lack of funding, the educational background of MSU creates an excellent setting for such a research-based project.
Department of Energy officials should notice the project would be far more beneficial for doctoral students to have access to the RIA equipment and facilities than for it to be limited only to professionals. It is only natural for the university to be on the top of the priority list of RIA contenders.
MSU's doctoral nuclear physics program has been ranked among the best in the nation, and the school provides 10 percent of the United States' roughly 70 graduating nuclear science doctoral students each year. We hope the project will find a home in MSU.
Not only would it immeasurably benefit researchers and doctoral students through educational opportunities, it is expected to produce $716 million in income to Michigan's population and create more than 1,600 jobs.
Now that energy officials finally are recognizing the significance of RIA for the future, we hope MSU will continue to make its contention for the project a top priority.
