The University of Nebraska allocates funding for areas of research, teaching and public service that are critical to Nebraska's public health, economic development, elementary and secondary education, and access to the university. Funding for 2007-2008 will address interdisciplinary work in the following areas:

Public Health. The potential for pandemic diseases, threats to community food and water supplies and health care problems associated with an aging population require new approaches to strengthening the state's public health infrastructure. Research in this area includes studies in such disciplines as epidemiology, water resources, health education and geriatrics.

Life Sciences and Agriculture. Work in this area can range from a better understanding of the human genome to development of better hybrid corn to increase ethanol production. There is a pressing need for more research in the human-animal interface and its relationship to disease prevention and environmental health. New drugs are needed to deal with drug-resistant bacteria and viruses, improved food production, and the functions of the immune systems of humans, animals, and plants. The disciplines of plant science, biochemistry, environmental studies, and virology are among those that can assist in meeting these critical needs.

Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). Our state and nation need to markedly increase the education and training of people in these critical areas to build a workforce suited to 21st century economic competition. The most critical need is to improve elementary and secondary education in these fields. The University of Nebraska currently has excellent programs that address this need. Notable are "Math in the Middle," in which math professors work directly with middle school teachers on advanced mathematics concepts and innovative pedagogy, and "Molecular Biology for Secondary Classrooms," in which biotechnology faculty train high school teachers to teach students to understand and manipulate DNA. But much more work by the university is needed to help improve the STEM education of K-12 students, including the increasing population of Latino students. Many more students need to be motivated to achieve proficiency in math, science and technology and to consider careers in these fields.