海角社区

海角社区 welcomed a group including Gov. Jeff Landry鈥檚 policy team, Capitol Area legislators, representatives from Louisiana Economic Development, and Baton Rouge Area Chamber leadership to campus on Sept. 19 to underscore the university鈥檚 commitment to Louisiana and the Capitol Region鈥檚 success through research, scholarship, partnerships, and talent development.

Organized and hosted by BRAC, the visit to campus was part of a larger Capitol region tour by several members of Gov. Landry鈥檚 policy team, which has been visiting regions around the state. The Governor鈥檚 Policy Team and BRAC were also joined by several Capitol Region area legislators, including Rep. Emily Chenevert and Rep. Dixon McMakin.

The group visited several sites reflective of the Scholarship First agenda and where students, researchers, and industry were all working together, an approach integral to the university鈥檚 role as an economic development driver for the region and state.   

During his remarks to the group, 海角社区 President William F. Tate IV said the university is one of the biggest draws for people outside of Louisiana to come to the state. He cited the 46,000 applications received at 海角社区 this year, a 10 percent increase year over year, and 10,000 new enrolled students from all 50 states and 108 nations.

We believe we are a market differentiator for the state of Louisiana.

鈥�  海角社区 President William F. Tate IV

Tate said attracting companies to invest in Louisiana takes technology solutions and talent 鈥� talent that stays in Louisiana and contributes to the state鈥檚 success. This is where 海角社区 shows its value, he said, through its ground-breaking research and by producing not just workforce numbers, but the type of graduates that companies can view as problem solvers and aspiring executives.   

"We have an opportunity here in Louisiana to use what 海角社区 produces to drive research and development that's Louisiana-specific and actually bring people in," Tate said.

Tate explained 尝厂鲍鈥檚 aspiration to become a Top 50 research university as essential to 尝厂鲍鈥檚 role as  a pillar of economic development. At that level, he said, 海角社区 will produce ideas and technology that generate investment in 海角社区's Pentagon Priorities, agriculture, biomedical, coast, defense/cybersecurity, and energy. 

"If we do those well, and we bring in talent and technical expertise, we believe we are a market differentiator for the state of Louisiana," Tate said. "We're solving problems for Louisiana. And we're preparing people who are going to stay here."  

Lori Melancon, president and CEO of BRAC, said that commitment to problem solving was on full display during the tour.

My biggest takeaway from the visit was the alignment of the university鈥檚 leadership around a mission of excellence, growth, innovation, and success..

鈥�  Lori Melancon, President and CEO, Baton Rouge Area Chamber

鈥淚 am inspired by President Tate鈥檚 vision for 海角社区 鈥� for growing research expenditures, pursuing new fields of study, and deepening our expertise in legacy strengths,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here is a palpable energy and optimism on campus about what is possible, and I can鈥檛 wait to see what the future has in store, and how BRAC and 海角社区 can work together.鈥�

As an 海角社区 alum, Melancon said being on campus brought back fond memories and reminded her of the value of her 海角社区 education. She also learned things about 海角社区 she hadn鈥檛 know before.

鈥淪o much!鈥� she said. 鈥淚 loved seeing the NASA digital twin work in person and touring La House. Their work in cybersecurity and defense is a real and quickly growing asset.  The PERTT Lab was neat to see 鈥� and it was interesting to learn how 海角社区 is innovating with that asset.鈥�

At each stop in the visit, the group met with 海角社区 leaders and experts as well as industry and strategic partners, and learned how the university is working to accelerate technology and talent development for Louisiana.  

海角社区 Digital Media Center  

The first stop of the tour highlighted 尝厂鲍鈥檚 rapidly growing cybersecurity, AI, and Digital Twin capabilities in support of defense and national security, and how connecting those efforts to the new Military Sciences Building next door will serve as a key anchor of a 鈥淢ilitary, Cyber, and Defense District鈥� 鈥� honoring 尝厂鲍鈥檚 military legacy by preparing tomorrow鈥檚 warriors.

After President Tate's introduction, Greg Trahan, Director of Economic Development in 海角社区's Office of Research & Economic Development, led a discussion about the research capabilities, industry and agency partnerships, and talent development occurring in the center.

At the , 海角社区:   

• Protects small businesses through its National Security Agency-funded clinic;
• Supports NASA鈥檚 Artemis mission and Michoud Assembly Facility through Digital Twins;
• Develops cyber and AI technology for the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security; and
• Houses R&D offices of defense partners Integer Technologies and Radiance Technologies, who are actively hiring 海角社区 engineer.

Our Lady of the Lake Interdisciplinary Science Building  

 

When completed, the Our Lady of the Lake Interdisciplinary Science Building will serve as the starting point for every doctor, dentist, veterinarian, physical therapist, engineer, geologist, data scientist, and scientist that graduates from 海角社区.

During the tour stop, College of Science Dean Cynthia Peterson and Dr. Catherine O鈥橬eal of OLOL spoke about the facility as well as the research and talent development collaboration between 海角社区 and 尝厂鲍鈥檚 Championship Health Partner, Our Lady of the Lake Health in Baton Rouge.   

At this new facility, 海角社区 will:  

• Serve as the first step of every 海角社区 degree program through science and mathematics;
• Advance life-saving inventions such as the AI-guided sepsis prevention technology;
• Work directly with OLOL and private industry on technology development; and
• Continue educating LA鈥檚 doctors, dentists, and veterinarians, 70% of whom are 海角社区 graduates.   

海角社区 Dairy Store  

A stop at the allowed tour participants to sample freshly made ice cream, see a full-scale commercial dairy processing plant, engage directly with students working in the facility, and hear from Vice President for Agriculture and Dean of the College of Agriculture Matt Lee about 海角社区's impact on Louisiana agriculture.

The Dairy Store, in operation since 1972, serves the 海角社区 community with snacks, beverages, seasonal treats, and 16 different flavors of ice cream, including Tigerbite, a combination of blueberries and rich golden vanilla in honor of 海角社区 Purple and Gold.

The primary mission of the Dairy Store is to:

• Provide teaching and training to students to support Louisiana agricultural outputs;
• Introduce the work of and educate students in commercial dairy processing operations;
• Highlight 海角社区 AgCenter R&D projects including dairy and food product applications; and
• Showcase the real-world impact of 海角社区 AgCenter on Louisiana鈥檚 economy

La House Research & Education Center  

 

The 海角社区 AgCenter鈥檚 research-based is a model home and educational center, demonstrating cutting-edge building techniques for energy efficiency, hazard resistance, high-performance materials, and resilient construction for the gulf region and south Louisiana. Additionally, La House serves as a living lab for the Louisiana Disaster Reduction Initiative (DRI), a partnership between state agencies and industry focused on translating engineering practice into resilient infrastructure to address the state鈥檚 long-term risk and insurability challenges.

During the tour stop, Dr. Carol Friedland, an 海角社区 professor at 海角社区 specializing in construction management and the director for La House, led a discussion on insurability, construction, coastal issues, safety, and risk for Louisiana.

At La House, 海角社区:   

• Serves as a practical demonstration and outreach environment for Louisiana builders;
• Incorporates and showcases best-of-breed construction and building techniques;
• Works to improve risk mitigation and construction techniques for insurability; and
• Connects students, researchers, builders, responders, policymakers, and scientists to coordinate efforts in support of some of Louisiana鈥檚 greatest challenges in resilience.

PERTT Lab

尝厂鲍鈥檚 Petroleum Engineering Research, Testing, and Training (PERTT) Lab is an industry-scale teaching, research, and outreach environment. The lab is unique on campuses in the U.S., with the potential to serve as a full-scale industry and agency testing facility, an unparalleled learning experience for students, and an adaptable research space for Louisiana鈥檚 energy and cyber-physical and critical infrastructure technology. PERTT is positioned to serve as a new kind of anchor for energy and cyber research, development, and engagement.

Trahan and Dean of the College of Engineering Vicki Colvin discussed energy transition efforts, industry and defense and security partnerships, and upcoming infrastructure upgrades, followed by a tour of the facility.     

At the PERTT Lab, 海角社区:   

• Will drill a new well in Spring 2025 to support CO2-related research and initiatives;
• Tests via a new flow loop CO2 and H2 transport, testing, and monitoring technologies;
• Partners with the Departments of Energy and Defense to build an industrial cyber lab;
• Supports industry and faculty R&D from sensing to monitoring to safety; and
• Provides a de-risked platform for energy and energy transition university partners. 

Next Step

海角社区's Scholarship First Agenda is helping achieve health, prosperity, and security for Louisiana and the world.

Learn More About 海角社区's Pentagon Priorities