Micron Foundation gives $2 million to BSU to fund materials science program

The Micron Technology Foundation on Thursday pledged its largest gift ever — $2 million — to Boise State University for the school to start a materials science and engineering bachelor´s degree program.

Julie Howard
The Idaho Statesman

That field is one of the most important areas of study today and will lead BSU further along its goal of being a strong research university, BSU President Bob Kustra said.

"There´s no doubt that this College of Engineering is going to compete with the very best engineering schools," said Kustra, who praised Micron as being a key partner in growing the university´s reputation.

Cheryl Schrader, dean of the College of Engineering, said allowing undergraduate students to do materials science research in Boise would produce graduates ready to go into a variety of fields.

"Architects, civil engineers, toy companies, NASA, bio-medical research companies and the data storage industry are all recent users of technologies that developed from research in materials science and engineering," Schrader said. "Most disciplines in science and engineering are concerned in some way with materials, but only the field of materials science and engineering focuses directly on them."

Micron Technology, a semiconductor firm based in Boise that makes memory chips for electronics devices, is highly interested in materials research, said Mark Durcan, Micron´s vice president of research and development and chief technology officer.

"Having a quality program available enables Boise State students and faculty to participate at the forefront of technology," Durcan said. "This investment is directly aligned with the Micron Technology Foundation´s goal to advance science and technology education, particularly as it relates to microelectronics."

Boise State already has a graduate degree in materials science, but an undergraduate program would foster a broader range of study, said Bill Knowlton, a professor who will teach courses in that program.

"Materials is becoming much more well-known and an exciting field," Knowlton said.

Zack Clark, a junior mechanical engineering student at BSU, has an interest in materials science and plans to take some courses to round out his degree.

"I think this brings a lot of opportunities to Boise State," said Clark, 24, who plans to go into the semiconductor industry. "I moved here from Montana to do undergraduate research, so this is great."

Jen Cole, a senior mechanical engineering student seeking a minor in materials science at BSU, said the new program bridges the gap to other programs.

Bolstering that program can only help students like her, Cole said, adding that she plans to go into the medical field.

The bachelor´s degree program, subject to approval from the State Board of Education, would launch in the fall of 2004.

The gift to the College of Engineering will be given over a four-year period, Micron Foundation Executive Director Karen Vauk said.

While this is the largest grant from the Micron Technology Foundation, that is only because the foundation didn´t exist until 1999, taking over the philanthropic endeavors of the firm.

In the mid-90s, Micron Technology gave $6 million to Boise State University to start its College of Engineering.

Including the current gift, Vauk said that brings Micron´s total gifting to the university to more than $10 million over the years.

The Micron Technology Foundation´s support of BSU also has included a number of annual engineering scholarships and equipment donations.

The foundation — a private, non-profit organization — has 11 university partners in the United States and five in Italy.

Its goal is focused on funding educational efforts that promote science and technology from kindergarten through the university level.

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