INL launching SUPER research agreement with UI and BSU
Kaitlyn Hart, EastIdahoNews.com
Pictured, from left, are John Wagner, director of Idaho National Laboratory; University of Idaho President Scott Green; and Suzie Long, dean of the UI College of Engineering. | University of Idaho
IDAHO FALLS — The University of Idaho and Boise State University have each signed a five-year Strategic Understanding for Premier Education and Research (SUPER) agreement with Idaho National Laboratory.
The memorandums of understanding are between Battelle Energy Alliance, which manages INL for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy, Boise State University and University of Idaho.
Boise State University
According to a news release from INL, the lab will collaborate with BSU on advanced materials and manufacturing for extreme environments and cyber security.
“Boise State has rapidly grown and advanced our research enterprise, particularly in these areas that are so critical for Idaho and our nation. We are committed to collaborating with industry and government partners to educate American workers and set up businesses for success in global markets,” said Dr. Marlene Tromp, Boise State president in the release. “This new agreement will produce incredible new knowledge and pay dividends for years to come.”
University of Idaho
INL and UI will focus on areas of research like nuclear materials and fuel cycle engineering, nuclear integrated energy systems, and power systems and industrial cybersecurity.
According to a news release from UI, the agreements aim to direct new initiatives toward key areas that maximize the university’s unique capabilities in nuclear materials and fuel cycle engineering, nuclear integrated energy systems, and power systems and cybersecurity.
“The University of Idaho has a long history of educating INL employees and doing collaborative research with our respected INL colleagues,” says Marc Skinner, CEO of the Idaho Falls Center at University of Idaho. “This agreement will take important research connected to our future energy needs and protection of our nation’s power grid to a new level.”
Combined with U of I research, the SUPER agreement with INL will add focus to optimizing grid performance, balancing supply and demand, and improving reliability.
“Our students in will be able to work alongside world-class scientists and engineers to help bring solutions to some of the society’s most concerning problems and threats,” says Skinner.
Idaho State University
Idaho State University entered into a SUPER agreement with INL in December, focusing on carbon reduction, sequestration and storage technologies, digitalization and artificial intelligence, geothermal energy, and spent fuel storage and disposition.
This agreement will help to deepen collaborative research and development projects toward long-term viability of nuclear power, protecting national security and building a resilient and low-carbon energy future for Idaho and the nation.