ND EPSCoR announces state conference The North Dakota Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research is holding its 2008 state conference in the Memorial Union Friday, Sept. 19. The conference theme is “The Dimensions of North Dakota EPSCoR.” The event begins with registration and a complimentary continental breakfast at 8 a.m., with the program beginning at 8:30 a.m. Two hundred faculty and students from North Dakota universities and colleges are expected to register for the event. EPSCoR, and its sister program in the National Institutes of Health, the Institutional Development Award (IDeA) program, will be highlighted during the one-day conference. Particular attention will be focused on the National Science Foundation EPSCoR program and the NIH IDeA program with respect to what these programs are providing in the way of research infrastructure improvement and economic development to the State of North Dakota. Additionally, synergistic North Dakota initiatives designed to enhance the research climate and culture of the state will be presented. These include the Red River Valley Research Corridor initiative of Senator Byron Dorgan and the Center of Excellence in Economic Development program championed by Governor John Hoeven. Senators Conrad and Dorgan, along with Representative Pomeroy and Governor Hoeven have been invited to welcome conference participants. North Dakota University System Chancellor William Goetz, along with Presidents Joseph Chapman and Robert Kelley will share their perspective on the ND EPSCoR program. Graduate and undergraduate students from North Dakota universities and colleges will have their EPSCoR supported work highlighted in a poster session held in conjunction with the conference. A complete agenda for the conference will be periodically updated and may be viewed on the ND EPSCoR Web page at www.ndepscor.nodak.edu All attending the conference are asked to please register PRIOR to Sept. 11 at www.ndepscor.nodak.edu For further information, contact the ND EPSCoR office 777-2492. -- Gary E Johnson, Co-Project Director, ND EPSCoR, garyejohnson@mail.und.nodak.edu, 701-777-2492