The United States Assistant Secretary of Defense for Science and Technology (ASD S&T) Honorable Aprille Ericsson visited Rice University Dec. 4 to explore areas of alignment between Rice’s research strengths and Department of Defense (DOD) technological needs and priorities.
At Rice, Ericsson met with university leadership for a discussion on opportunities for partnership and toured six laboratories working in research areas relevant to DOD interests. The lab tours presented an opportunity for Ericsson and her delegation to talk with students, researchers and lab technicians and get a firsthand view of the university’s state-of-the-art facilities and its highly competitive and diverse talent pool.
The visit underscored the meaningful contributions that Rice research can make toward the development of emerging technologies that secure a lead for the U.S. at the forefront of global innovation.
Rice President Reginald DesRoches and Executive Vice President for Research Ramamoorthy Ramesh welcomed Ericsson, providing an overview of Rice’s recently launched 10-year strategic plan and noting some of the recent milestones in the university’s efforts to supercharge its research capabilities and achievements.
“We’re excited about growing the research enterprise at Rice,” DesRoches said. “We’ve seen a major increase in enrollment, launched new institutes and centers and expanded our innovation ecosystem with a 14-acre innovation district in downtown Houston. These investments ensure we are well-positioned to tackle the challenges and opportunities of today and tomorrow.”
The ASD S&T office oversees a broad portfolio of science and technology programs, including Basic Research; Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer DOD Manufacturing Technology; and nine manufacturing innovation institutes. Emerging technology areas of focus for the ASD S&T office include advanced materials, biotechnology, quantum science, future generation wireless technology as well as developing system capabilities for hypersonics; positioning, navigation and timing; nuclear delivery; and human and uncrewed platforms.
Rice’s lead host for the visit, Vinod Veedu, assistant vice president for the Office of Research and head of the Defense Research Advancement initiative, emphasized the university’s ability to meet DOD needs through transformative research.
“This visit was an opportunity to showcase the level of investment, commitment and unmitigated expertise that Rice has to offer to governmental partners like the DOD,” Veedu said. “Specifically, Rice has the resources and potential necessary to empower manufacturing innovation for dual-use applications. I believe Rice has the potential to become the primary hub for some of the key technology innovations for the DOD much as we led the development of nanotechnology in previous decades.”
During conversations with students, Ericsson expressed genuine curiosity in their work and encouraged them to consider opportunities to engage with the DOD. She highlighted programs such as the Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship-for-Service, which offers educational and workforce development opportunities to thousands of students pursuing undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees in STEM disciplines. SMART scholarships offer tuition support, annual stipends and guaranteed employment with the DOD after degree completion.
“As a scholar in the SMART program, one commits to work as a civilian in a DOD lab on exciting and innovative technology,” Ericsson said, emphasizing the need for broader participation in the defense innovation ecosystem. “Students and faculty may not always consider engagement with the DOD, but innovation is key to protecting ourselves and deterring conflict. Possessing a demonstrated technological and scientific advantage serves as a strategic deterrent and bolsters national security.”
The SMART program is the DOD’s largest educational and workforce development initiative that offers a “hands-on experience at one of over 150 Department of Defense facilities, [which are] at the forefront of innovation in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, autonomy, cyber, space, 5G and other technology areas,” according to the program website.
Ericsson also emphasized the importance of developing well-rounded skills for students entering technical fields. “Communication is paramount to your success,” she said. “You need to articulate how your great idea is impactful, whether to your community, society or economy. Having strong technical skills is critical, but you must also be able to work with others and communicate effectively to bring those ideas to life.”
Ericsson was thoughtful in her consideration of educational trajectories and development and the impact that various contexts and backgrounds can have on students’ professional success. She also pointed out that it is not an easy task to navigate the resources and requirements of working with the DOD, noting that this complexity can raise the barrier to access for businesses and institutions in general but especially for underserved populations, nontraditional businesses, community colleges, historically black colleges and universities and minority institutions.
To address this need, Ericsson’s office spearheaded an initiative called DOD SciTechCONNECT, which seeks to “empower innovators … with resources to turn groundbreaking ideas into real-world solutions,” according to the initiative website.
Ericsson emphasized the DOD’s commitment to engaging with diverse innovators from nontraditional spaces to tackle critical challenges.
“The DOD SciTechCONNECT will serve as a hub that will inform innovators and help them to find a path to work with our agency with a focus on solutions from the science and technology ecosystem,” Ericsson said.
Ericsson traveled to the Rice campus in Houston from Austin, Texas, where she had delivered keynote speeches at the Defense Manufacturing Conference Dec. 3 and the Defense TechConnect Innovation Summit and Expo Dec. 4.
Ericsson’s passion for STEM outreach, shaped by her background as a mentor, professor and robotics coach, was manifest in her encouragement of students and mentees to pursue STEM opportunities, including through programs like FIRST Robotics and VEX Robotics.
Her visit concluded with an emphasis on collaboration, reinforcing Rice’s role as a vital partner in driving innovation for national security while providing students with the tools and opportunities to contribute to meaningful advancements.
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(Photos by Brandon Martin/Rice University)