Every shuttle launches at Cape Canaveral, and each time one of the massive space vehicles thunders its way into the heavens, it serves as an unmistakable reminder of the significance of the nation’s investment in science and technology.
When it comes to science and technology, Florida is well known for its role and valuable contributions in the U.S. aerospace enterprise. In this state, much of the research and development performed is focused on advancing aerospace technology. The Department of Defense (DOD), the state’s largest source of federal research and development funds, spends many of its R&D dollars on aerospace activity performed by Florida’s defense industry. The industrial sector receives 65 percent of Florida’s federal R&D fund, and most of this money comes from DOD. Some of the industrial heavy-hitters include Northrop Grumman, Harris Corporation, Lockheed Martin, and the Boeing Company.
Not surprisingly, NASA is also one of Florida’s most important sources of federal research and development funds. In FY 1995, NASA provided the state with $ 391 million for R&D, over 4 percent of the agency’s R&D funds. The other half of these funds went to NASA Kennedy. Together, DOD and NASA account for almost 90 percent of federal research and development funds of Florida. On the other hand, colleges and universities in the state tend to be more focused on health-related science and other fields of research than aerospace and engineering. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which includes the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is by far the largest federal sponsor of R&D in institutions of higher education of Florida.
The University of South Florida (USF), located in Tampa conducts extensive research, in the areas of cancer prevention, early detection, behavioral and molecular oncology, epidemiology, and immunology. The Institute of Aging, on the other hand, is noted for its research on the biological, epidemiological, clinical, and social aspects of Alzheimer’s disease, as well as its research on other scientific and social aspects of aging and the care of the elderly.
The University of Central Florida (UCF), located in Orlando where The Center for Research and Education in Optics and Lasers (CREOL) is housed, was administered by the Department of Physics and includes an array of state-of-the-art laser and optics facilities. The research facility’s valuable contribution include a short pulse laser, an advanced free-electron laser facility, a pulsed Fourier transform spectroscopy laboratory, a non-linear optics laboratory, and non-linear optic fiber laboratory. The scientists also conduct experimental research in crystal growth and micro-Raman spectroscopy. Theoretical research conducted at UCF also includes condensed matter theory, elementary particle physics, optical physics, and atomic and molecular and cluster physics.
Compared to industry and federal laboratories, colleges and universities only receive a small percentage of the state’s federal R&D funds. But this has not become a hindrance for them; in fact, these institutions make a significant contribution to the education of future scientists and engineers. More than one-third of the degrees awarded in the state’s colleges and universities are at the bachelors and masters level, and about half of all doctoral degrees, are given in science or engineering.
Truly, we cannot deny the fact that Florida has been a valuable part of our technology today. In addition, the continuous work of industries and universities will still be a valuable part in the future.
