UAF Biosciences Building Gets One Step Closer
Sen. Wilken’s SB 37 Moves out of Senate HESS Committee

Juneau - The Senate Health, Education and Social Services Committee moved out a bill Wednesday appropriating $105 million to design, construct and equip a bioscience facility on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus.

“This is the first step in a long process to cement a foundation for research at the University of Alaska,” said bill sponsor Sen. Gary Wilken, R-Fairbanks. “The University is able to leverage $6 in other revenue sources for every $1 the state invests in University of Alaska research, and the HESS committee recognizes the significant role the biosciences building would play in attracting those dollars.”

The biosciences facility, or BIOS, is the Board of Regent’s only request for new construction projects this year.

University of Alaska President Mark Hamilton told the committee the concept for the building was first introduced to the Alaska public in 2002 in a general obligation bond to increase the delivery of science for both the University of Alaska Anchorage and UAF. Because of student demand in Anchorage, the Board of Regents first pursued the integrated science building at the UAA campus, and began construction of that building last year.

“Now it’s time to take a look at the BIOS concept in Fairbanks, and the Board of Regents has stepped forward to put that as their number one new construction project,” Hamilton told the Committee.

UAF Vice Chancellor for Research Buck Sharpton told the committee that the building is so essential because research activities have grown by 75 percent since the year 2000.

“For every dollar we brought in in 2000, we now bring $1.75 from federal and competitive resources,” Sharpton said. “BIOS gives us the breathing room and the ability to consolidate our activities to the point where we can actually grow to meet our destiny.”

The proposed 110,000 square-foot building will house research laboratories for 18 university programs as well as classroom space and teaching labs. SB 37 now goes to the Senate Finance Committee for consideration.

Please Note: A Fact Sheet for SB 37 is attached.
http://www.aksenateminority.com/pdfs/25/sb0037.pdf