Interwoven Strength: The Power of Two Universities | David Cook & Andrew Armacost | TEDxFargo

Key Concepts

• R1 Research Universities: Universities classified by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as having the highest level of research activity.
• Economic Impact: The total effect of an organization's activities on the economy, including direct, indirect, and induced effects.
• Transcend Program: A federally funded research initiative focused on addressing North Dakota's most challenging medical issues.
• Artemis Mission: NASA's program to return humans to the Moon and eventually send them to Mars.
• Rare Earth Elements: A group of 17 chemical elements with unique properties crucial for modern technologies.
• Hydrogen Economy: An economic system based on the production, storage, and use of hydrogen as a fuel source.
• Metastasis: The spread of cancer cells from the place where they first formed to another part of the body.
• Tissue Engineering: The creation of biological substitutes to restore, maintain, or improve tissue function.
• Individualized Medicine: A medical approach that tailors treatment to the individual characteristics of each patient.
• AI (Artificial Intelligence): The simulation of human intelligence processes by computer systems.

Collaboration Between UND and NDSU for North Dakota's Advancement

This discussion highlights the significant collaborative efforts between the University of North Dakota (UND) and North Dakota State University (NDSU) to benefit the state of North Dakota. While acknowledging the traditional rivalry in athletics, the focus shifts to the much more impactful cooperation in research, economic development, and citizen creation.

Economic Impact and Research Prowess

• Combined Economic Impact: The estimated annual economic impact of UND and NDSU on North Dakota is $3 billion. This figure extends beyond monetary value to encompass the creation of skilled workers and engaged citizens.
• R1 University Status: Both UND and NDSU are classified as Carnegie R1 research universities, a distinction held by a select group of institutions with the highest research activity. This status is significant for a state with a population under 800,000, enabling them to attract top faculty, secure substantial research grants, and provide students with a high-level research experience.
• Research Funding: Collectively, the two universities bring in over $400 million annually in research grants. This demonstrates their ability to "punch above their weight" in research endeavors, especially when working together.

Addressing State Health Needs

• Healthcare Workforce Development: The universities play a crucial role in producing graduates for various medical professions, including doctors, physical therapists, and pharmacists, thereby influencing the state's healthcare landscape.
• Transcend Program: A prime example of collaboration is the Transcend program, an $11 million federally funded research effort involving UND, NDSU, and Sanford Health. This initiative targets critical medical issues facing North Dakotans, such as:
  • Cancer
  • Parkinson's disease
  • Youth psychiatric issues, including suicide
  • Binge drinking
  • Radon hazards The program aims to collectively impact the lives of citizens by tackling these complex health challenges.

Advancing Agriculture and Food Security

• Agricultural Significance: Agriculture is a cornerstone of North Dakota's economy, generating $41 billion annually. The state's ability to produce 14 of the top crops nationally, despite its population size, is remarkable.
• Innovations in Agriculture: UND and NDSU are collaborating on innovations in:
  • Autonomous systems
  • Data analytics
  • Precision agriculture
  • Food and water security
• Space Agriculture: A particularly innovative area of research involves studying how astronauts can grow food in space to support NASA's Artemis mission to the Moon and Mars.
• Commercialization Success (Dakota Russet): A notable commercialization success is the development of the Dakota Russet potato variety. This potato was one of eight selected by McDonald's for their French fries, showcasing the successful translation of Red River Valley research into a significant commercial product, replacing previous varieties sourced from the Pacific Northwest. This was achieved through partnerships with farmers and industry.

Driving Energy Innovation

• Energy Sector Focus: Energy is another major economic driver for North Dakota, and the universities are actively involved in research and development in this sector.
• Areas of Research:
  • Biofuels: Research into biofuel production.
  • Drilling Rig Efficiency: Improving the operational efficiency of drilling rigs.
  • Reservoir Management and Waste Cleanup: Addressing challenges in oil and gas extraction.
  • Rare Earth Elements: Developing efficient methods to extract rare earth elements from North Dakota's lignite coal, which are vital for the technology economy.
  • Hydrogen Power: UND is leading a $925 million effort focused on the hydrogen economy, aiming for national impact.

Contributions to National Security and Defense

• Materials and Coatings: NDSU is involved in developing advanced materials and coatings for the U.S. Navy's ships, enhancing their operational efficiency and power projection capabilities.
• Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) and Counter-UAS: UND has been a leader in research on unmanned aircraft drones and counter-unmanned aircraft systems.
  • Grand Forks Exercise: A recent exercise in Grand Forks demonstrated the integration of various military and UND aircraft (Global Hawks, MQ9 Reapers, quadcopter drones, Scan Eagle aircraft) operating at different altitudes. These systems sensed each other's activities, feeding live data into a simulation in Fargo run by the North Dakota Air National Guard. This showcases the practical application of integrated sensing and data sharing.
• Satellite Technology: UND has launched two satellites that are orbiting Earth. A key mission objective was to test the ability to separate two satellites and then bring them back together. They separated by 2,000 feet (approximately 2 km) and successfully re-converged, marking a significant achievement as the first time a university has demonstrated this capability for on-orbit satellite matching.

Advancements in Biomedical Engineering

• Cancer Research: Faculty are actively researching breast and prostate cancer metastasis, focusing on how these cancers spread through the body.
  • Statistics: Approximately one in eight individuals will be diagnosed with breast or prostate cancer in their lifetime. Globally, about one million people die annually from these two cancers.
  • Bone Metastasis Challenge: A critical challenge is that once these cancers metastasize to the bone, there is currently no cure, as science has not yet provided a solution.
• Tissue Engineering for Bone Regeneration: Universities are stepping in with innovative research. Through tissue engineering, they are using patient cells to manufacture and create bone tissue, aiming to address the challenges posed by incurable bone metastasis.
• Personalized Therapies: This research is leading to the development of personalized therapies, medicines, and biomarkers, aligning with the future of individualized medicine. The ultimate goal is to find cures for these diseases.

Developing Leaders and Maintaining Humanity in AI

• People-Centric Approach: The speakers emphasize that the people on their campuses are paramount.
• Humanity in AI: In the context of the growing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI), UND and NDSU are committed to "keeping the humanity in AI." This means focusing not only on technological advancement but also on developing leaders and well-rounded human beings.

Service to the State

• Commitment to Service: Both universities are deeply committed to serving the state of North Dakota through their research, educational programs, and outreach initiatives. This service is particularly vital in a state like North Dakota.

Conclusion: Partnership Over Rivalry

The overarching message is that the collaboration between UND and NDSU transcends traditional athletic rivalries. The "threads that connect us as institutions, but as a society" are far more significant. By working together, both universities are strengthened, and more importantly, the state of North Dakota is made better. The partnership is celebrated as a key driver of progress and prosperity for the state.