UNLV’s Commitment to Research

In my first few months at UNLV, I have made it a priority to learn as much as possible about the campus, meeting often with faculty, staff, and students, as well as interested constituent groups. Through these interactions I have discovered a great deal about the fine research that is being conducted at UNLV.

For a young institution, UNLV has made tremendous advances in building its reputation as a university committed to research. Evidence of this commitment is seen in a number of campus developments, such as our classification in the category of “high research activity” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching; sizable gains in research funding in recent years; and the construction of the new Science and Engineering Building, which is profi led in this publication.

As our university continues to grow, the advancement of research will become an even greater priority. Excellence in research is an integral characteristic of major universities, and UNLV must remain dedicated to supporting and enhancing this endeavor. Much of our progress will depend on our success in this area.

In the next stage of our evolution as a major public university, we must continue to focus our research activities in areas that bring prominence to the institution and that involve, educate, and inspire our students. It will also be critical to conduct research that both engages and benefits the community and state. You will find examples of such timely, relevant research in the following pages. We hope that these stories are as enlightening as they are helpful in demonstrating the importance of UNLV research.

David B. Ashley

UNLV President

Advancing Innovative Research

We are delighted to bring you another issue of UNLV’s research magazine highlighting the outstanding work of our faculty. This issue contains a diverse selection of stories about UNLV research on such topics as transportation, hydrogen fuel, problem gambling, and public health. These are some excellent examples of UNLV research, but they represent just a sample of the exceptional work that is being performed.

You may recall seeing our very first issue of this publication last year under the name UNLV Fusion. We have implemented a name change in this issue with the goal of better reflecting the nature of research at UNLV. “Innovation” is a term that truly applies to all forms of research at UNLV and most appropriately captures the spirit of the research enterprise. We hope you enjoy this issue and that it enables you to better understand the scope and significance of research at UNLV.

Mark Rudin

Interim Vice President for Research and Graduate Dean