Portland State aims to lead in computational science

Fariborz Maseeh

Portland State University today announced it received a $3.9-million philanthropic investment in its computational science program within its Department of Mathematics and Statistics. The investment came from alumnus Fariborz Maseeh through his Massiah Foundation.

Computational scientists create computer simulations and data analysis tools that predict the behavior of complex systems such as the atmosphere, oceans, tectonic plates, airplanes, freeways and more. The donation will support upgrades in the department's facilities and will add three new faculty positions in computational science, five annual research fellowships, a lecture series and symposium, according to the university.

The announcement is good news for Portland-area businesses, which will be able to tap into the research being performed by faculty and students in the new program. For example, by using models basd on computational science rather than designing real models in the lab, Hillsboro, Ore.-based solar photovoltaic manufacturer SolarWorld would be able to eliminate the expense and months of time it takes to test new materials. "It lowers the cost and the risk," of testing new materials, Gordon Brinser, vice president for operations for SolarWorld Industries America, told Sustainable Industries at a press confernce Dec. 7.

"We've historically reached out to companies with strong computational science programs," Brinser says.

The $3.9-million grant from Maseeh, an expert and entrepreneur in micro-electro-mechanical systems, is aimed to help position Portland State as a national leader in research, especially in the areas of sustainability. Masee previously made an $8-million gift to the Portland State University College of Engineering and Computer Science, which now bears his name.