Office of University Communications
New grant funds purchase of energy-efficient sensors for residence halls
Additional faculty and staff accomplishments noted
Date: July 28, 2008
The grant was one of three recently awarded by City Utilities as part of its EnergyWise Grant Program, which is intended to help fund projects that may reduce energy and water consumption or electric demand. The projects funded by the grants do not qualify for existing prescribed rebate programs.
EPA estimates show that occupancy sensors can save up to 90 percent of a room’s electricity usage, said Jennifer Cox, assistant director of residence life and services – facilities and operations.
“For the common area rooms in which we will be installing the occupancy sensors, we should see an annual savings of $7,495.29 in energy bills and a reduction in our carbon footprint,” Cox said. “Most exciting about this grant opportunity is the chance to demonstrate sustainability practices to our residential population of 4,000 students so that they can learn about sustainability in their academics and come back to their home and see it happening first hand.”
Cox and Teresa Frederick, facilities and operations coordinator, serve as principal investigators for the grant.
Dr. Dennis Hickey, professor of political science and recipient of the James F. Morris Endowed Professorship, received an $8,000 grant from the Chiang Ching-Kuo Foundation for International Scholarly Exchange (USA) for the a project, entitled “Peace or Poison: The Changing Nature of China’s Policy Toward Taiwan.” Hickey’s work on the project focuses on the dynamic relationship between the United States, China and Taiwan.
The project was created because of the long history of civil war between mainland China and Taiwan. Both sides have different stances about the civil war and its conclusion, Hickey explained. Beginning in 2005, Beijing’s policy toward Taipei began to change. Rather than calling for reunification, Beijing began to call for “the status quo” and “peaceful development of relations.”
“Some Taiwan officials and scholars argue that the changes are meaningful and significant. Others claim modifications in policy are nothing more than ‘united front’ tactics and a complete fraud,” Hickey said. “I am trying to unravel this puzzle and explore explanations for the U.S.
“The stand-off between mainland China and Taiwan has long been cited as one of the principal ‘flash points’ for conflict in East Asia. Given America’s strong links to Taiwan, any military conflict might involve the U.S. and perhaps even escalate into a world war. The possibility that China might be willing to sign a peace agreement with Taiwan and change its policies toward the island in other meaningful ways is a very important development that will influence the trajectory of peace and stability in the Western Pacific.”
For the past several years, Hickey has organized a series of international symposiums focusing on China and Taiwan. This year the university will play host to the annual meeting of the Association of Chinese Political Studies. This will be the largest China-related academic event ever held at Missouri State University or in the state of Missouri. Next year, Missouri State will hold a conference focusing exclusively on changes in relations between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan and the prospects for peace between the two sides.