Colonels say focus on scouting aiding successes
April 24, 2019
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS DRILL
April 25, 2019
The Louisiana Board of Regents – the state agency that enhances higher education institutes through funding, budgeting and government representation — awarded Nicholls State University a total of $780,435 in grants for the upcoming school year.
The grant funded proposals by three different Nicholls departments: Applied Sciences, Art and Mathematics.
For the Department of Applied Sciences — more specifically the geomatics programs — in a collaborative effort with Tulane University, Nicholls and Tulane received $687,509 for a project proposed by Dr. Balaji Ramachandran, associate professor of geomatics at Nicholls.
The funding will better prepare students in the university’s geomatics program for the rapidly growing drone technologies and mapping industry. The project, according to a press release by Nicholls, will “increase the capacity of both institutions to train faculty and students in conducting state-of-the-art coastal research using unmanned aerial systems (UAS), or drones, technologies.”
Out of 23 projects submitted in the comprehensive category, Dr. Ramachandran’s proposal was one of three selected to be funded. This will make Nicholls the “leader of drone training in Louisiana,” the release reads.
“Over the years, the demand for high resolution and accurate spatial data has grown substantially both in the public and private sector,” said Dr. Ramachandran. “The innovation that is occurring in UAS [aka drone] technology is revolutionizing the way spatial data is collected and analyzed in the surveying and mapping profession. Acquisition of state-of-the-art technology to the geomatics program will help prepare our students for graduate studies and the demand laid out by the emerging technical workforce.”
The Nicholls Department of Art received $17,584. The proposal by professor and interim department head Ross Jahnke was ranked No. 2 out of 132 targeted projects. The funds will help improve the department’s ability to extract fumes from painting and printmaking labs, therefore keeping the students and faculty safer with upgraded equipment.
Receiving a grant of $75,342, the Department of Mathematics at Nicholls will upgrade two of their classrooms with furniture, technology and supplies. Proposed by assistant professor Dr. Heather Gamel, this project ranked No. 13 out of 132. Nicholls expects the upgrades will help students across all majors that typically struggle with mathematics.
“Nicholls aims to put all students on a path to a successful future and to support the Bayou Region with a skilled workforce Nicholls President Dr. Jay Clune said in a statement released by the university.” We thank the state for its support through these grants, which will support our students as they pursue their goals.” •
Dr. Balaji Ramachandran, associate professor of geomaitcs, right, shous Rep. Oarret Graves an unmanned aertal system, or drwm, in 2017 at the Micholls Farm.
