TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The University of Alabama is partnering with NASA and five other universities in the National Space Science and Technology Center, a $22 million research facility that opened recently in Huntsville.

The center is a joint project between NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and the Alabama Space Science and Technology Alliance -- a group of six research universities in the state. Joining UA in the alliance are the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Alabama A&M University, the University of South Alabama, the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Auburn University.

More than 450 full-time researchers and scientists located at the center are collaborating with those at the research universities and with private industry. Research will focus on areas that help NASA in its mission such as materials science, biotechnology, earth sciences, rocket propulsion and optics. Students at the participating universities will help write proposals and conduct research.

Dr. Arthur G. Stephenson, director of MSFC, and other members of the NASA scientific team visited the UA campus in October. Stephenson and his colleagues made the trip to Tuscaloosa to tour the campus, observe research activities and visit with UA President Andrew Sorensen and his administration, according to Dr. Ramana Reddy, ACIPCO Professor in the department of metallurgical and materials engineering at UA, and the University's coordinator for the project. "The University of Alabama is very actively involved in NASA-related research," Reddy said.

First suggested by NASA Administrator Dan Goldin in a 1995 speech to the Alabama Legislature, the new center is jointly funded by federal and state money.

Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman said recently that the National Space Science and Technology Center will have a positive effect on the lives of Alabamians. "Space science research has made our lives longer, safer and more productive," Siegleman said. "This space research will have an impact on our daily lives.

According to the project proposal for the new center, the collaboration of government, university and industry researchers has proven to be a highly successful formula. Advantages of this type of arrangement include: the growth of competitively funded research programs; the involvement of other public and private entities in research activities; and the leveraging of resources to maximize the investment return for both NASA and the state of Alabama.