Nevertheless, it is useful to set down for public record and historical value the reasons for its establishment. The geneticist, Maxine Singer, said it succinctly in an interview with Bill Moyers several years ago. A society that turns its back on science has to face decay and deterioration. It is the expansion and enrichment of research in the same way that land grant colleges and the GI Bill of Rights represented the enrichment of higher education in America. It is based on the principle that no one region, no one group of institutions, and no special communities have a corner on the market of good and great ideas, smart people, or outstanding researchers.
Great ideas can come from just about anywhere.
EPSCoR, as a concept, grew out of the recognition that inadequate infrastructure in some educational institutions and regions was due, in part, to a historical pattern of lack of federal funding. It grew much bigger as EPSCoR institutions themselves devised unique models for partnerships and outreach that have much broader application. Beyond these important understandings, EPSCoR was also an experiment in the way we think about research and development, as well as, research and education. These principles underscore EPSCoR's work and have ensured its success. In our system of higher education, research and education were designed to fit together and enhance each other.