Cal State acts to fill innovation's need
Daily Bulletin 1/17/07
Think robotic vacuum cleaners and "smart" cell phones.
While developing the latest technology may present its share of difficulties, there is one challenge this company regularly runs into: finding qualified people to employ.
"We stand in a place where we are developing the newest technology by using the latest scientific knowledge available. We need people that are able to understand this new scientific knowledge and apply that to developing technologies," said Mario Munich, vice president of engineering.
To address the need for more college graduates in science, math and technology, the Cal State system has created 16 new professional science master's degree programs.
These two-year graduate degree programs will produce professionals in cutting-edge scientific fields such as bioinformatics, biostatistics, biotechnology, computational science, ecological economics, environmental science and human-computer interaction - to name a few.
The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation gave the CSU system an $891,000 grant for the implementation of the programs. The gift was announced in December.
Twelve Cal State campuses, including Cal Poly Pomona, will participate in the new program.
The program, which will be implemented over the next three years, will offer courses that combine science and mathematics with business skills and technology.
Donald Straney, dean of the College of Science at Cal Poly Pomona, was a leader in bringing the multicampus program together.
"Students will take different courses on different campuses utilizing specific courses in the specific expertise that each campus will have," Straney said.
Straney said Cal Poly Pomona has particular expertise in the field of bioinformatics, which combines biology and information technology.
Keith Boyum, CSU associate vice chancellor for academic affairs, said the entire region will benefit from the biotechnology program starting at Cal Poly Pomona.
"The biotechnology degree program involving Cal Poly Pomona will provide critically needed talent for the region's work force," Boyum said.