The LSU system’s federal research and development spending fell from 2005 to 2006, according to the National Science Foundation.
The NSF’s Survey of Research and Development Expenditures at Universities and Colleges reported LSU System federal spending dropped after inflation from $128.3 million to $126.5 million.
This 1.4 percent drop reflects a national pattern. The report cited 2005 as the year in which the nation’s federal research spending fell below inflation for the first time in 25 years. John Jankowski, NSF research and development statistics director, said a decline in federal financial expenditures does not necessarily mean total research and development expenditures declined. He said non-federal or total spending increased more rapidly than federal spending.
Brooks Keel, vice chancellor for research and economic development, said when NSF developed the report, university campuses were looked at as an aggregate. He said the report was based on the LSU System, which is composed of 11 institutions throughout the state.
“Our campus did drop a small amount in federal research spending, but not in total research spending,” Keel said.
Although federal spending dropped, Keel said the total research and development expenditures for just the LSU campus increased from $123.3 million to $127.3 million from fiscal year 2005 to fiscal year 2006.
However, he said total research spending for the LSU System decreased from $356.8 million to $343.8 million. Keel said it is difficult to tell if it was a one-time event or because of other factors such as Hurricane Katrina.
Hurricane Katrina damaged the LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, one campus included in the 11-campus LSU System.
“The LSU System spent less than average in 2005 when the hurricane hit because of infrastructure damages,” Keel said.
Jankowski said some decline in the federal research spending for the Southern states on the Gulf Coast was a function of Katrina.
According to the report, of 100 leading U.S. universities, the University was ranked 75th for fiscal year 2006 in federal research and development expenditures. However, the NSF report assesses that total federal spending increased for the 2007 fiscal year that ended Sept. 30. This bounce back came as a consequence of government efforts to double spending for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science and NSF during the next seven years.
“Most universities are interested in increasing their research and development activity,” Jankowski said. “They become frustrated when research expenditures do not grow.”
—Contact Natalie Messina at [email protected]