Nov. 14 Grand Challenge event focuses on opportunities to increase external funding

A UND Discovery Grand Challenge event, focusing on opportunities to increase external funding, will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14, at the Gorecki Alumni Center.

Registrations are no longer being taken for the event, which is at capacity.

Attendees will leave with classroom resources, ideas for funding streams, and workforce development opportunities.

“We have some great presenters coming a significant distance to kick off one of our Grand Challenge opportunities under the Discovery section of the Strategic Plan,” said Thomasine Heitkamp, professor in the College of Nursing & Professional Disciplines and Champion of the Grand Challenge, who noted it is being held during National Rural Health Week.

Representatives from Region 8 federal agencies will present, including:

• Department of Health and Human Services
  • Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health
  • Health Resources and Services Administration
  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
• Department of Agriculture
• Department of Housing and Urban Development

Representatives from the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education will also present.

The schedule follows.

• 8:30 a.m., check-in
• 8:45 a.m., welcome and introductions by Grant McGimpsey, Vice President for Research and Economic Development a.m., opening remarks from agency representatives
• 9:40 a.m., panel discussion moderated by Jeffrey Holm, professor and chair of psychology
• 11:30 a.m., lunch
• Noon, speed networking

For more information, please contact Thomasine Heitkamp at thomasine.heitkamp@und.edu.

About Grand Challenges

Grand Challenges, part of the UND Strategic Plan, focus on generating opportunity for North Dakota by diversifying its economy and addressing societal grand challenges through cutting-edge research. The goals are to:

• Promote energy security and environmental sustainability.
• Address health challenges through basic, clinical and transitional discovery.
• Help rural communities solve their unique health and social problems.
• Drive the world-changing developments of UAS and do so in a way that reflects UND’s values.
• Effectively, efficiently, and ethically produce, manage, and securely use information in the age of big data.